Dash Book Review

 Dash

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Larson, Kirby. Dash (Dogs of World War II). Scholastic Inc., 2014. ISBN: 978-1-51811-180-8

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Mitsi lives in Seattle during World War II with her family and her dog, Dash. Everything in her life is pretty great until the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Being Japanese-American soon became unfavorable. Her two best friends begin ignoring her, and she is harassed by the kids in her neighborhood. She befriends a neighbor, Mrs Bowker, who helps when some kids are harassing her. Mitsi’s family receives notice that they will be sent to an internment camp with very few belongings and no pets. Mitsi is devastated that she will have to leave Dash behind. She writes to the General in charge in hopes that he will allow Dash to stay with Mitsi.The general writes back that she cannot bring Dash because everyone is making sacrifices. The dreadful day comes when the Kashino family must leave and Mitsi must leave Dash. Life in the camp is crowded and different. Mitsi remains optimistic that their time there will be short, but she has her family. Soon things change; Dad and Mom are busy helping others, Oobachan has made friends as has Ted her older brother. Her only hope is in letters written to her from Dash. Mitsi meets Debbie and the two become fast friends. Life is somewhat normal until the Kashino family is moved to another camp in the dusty part of Idaho. Lucky for Mitsi, Mrs. Bowker is mailing her a locket to keep a picture of Dash in, and Debbie is in the makeshift apartment right next to her. Ted has fallen in with the wrong crowd and Mitsi desperately tries to get her brother back. The dusty camp is hard physically and emotionally. After some time, Debbie’s dad is reunited with his family in the camp, Ted realizes the errors of his ways, and Mitsi has begun school. One day news spreads that pets will now be able to live in camp with their family. Mrs. Bowker drives Dash to the camp and Mitsi feels a new sense of hope. 

 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Dash is a harsh reality into what it was like for Japanese-Americans forced to live in internment camps. The characters are relatable, especially Mitsi the main character. Her family is described as a typical nuclear family with the grandma living with them. Their Japanese culture is sprinkled throughout the book referencing traditions, language, and the getas sandals Mitsi borrows from a man in camp. Dash is a celebrity at camp because the drawings and a portrait of him. The plot is historically accurate without overwhelming the reader with complicated details. The different settings are described exactly as one would imagine the world during World War II. Intricate at times so the reader really feels connected to the setting. The theme of the book is assumptions based on fear. The mistreatment of Japanese-Americans must be talked about so we are not doomed to repeat history. The authenticity of this story is both fiction and facts. There was a real Mitsi who had a dog named Chubby who wrote to the General to allow her dog to come with her. Mitsi’s family lent memorabilia and diaries of her time in the camps. This book is intended for grades 4th and up and I am in agreement with that. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist (July 2014 (Vol. 110, No. 21))

Grades 4-6. Mitsi is happy with her life in Seattle, with her family, her friends, her teacher, and, most of all, her white dog, Dash. But after Pearl Harbor is bombed, life takes a turn for Mitsi’s Japanese American family, and they are forced to leave everything they know for an internment camp, including one special member of the household—Dash the dog. This heartfelt story brings close what a girl like Mitsi would have experienced: the loss of friendships, dizzying change, and fear of the future. But for Mitsi, perhaps the hardest thing to bear is missing Dash. Fortunately, a kind neighbor agrees to take him in, and soon she is receiving letters from him that brighten her world. Based on a true story of a girl who had to leave her dog, this book helps readers understand the hardship that Japanese American citizens endured while at the same time offering a story of one girl with relatable hopes and worries. What also comes through is how a strong family can pull together in the worst of circumstances.

5. CONNECTIONS

There are 3 other books in the series of World War 2 dogs:

Larson, Kirby. Code Word Courage. Scholastic Press, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-72546-074-4

Larson, Kirby. Duke. Paw Prints, 2015. ISBN: 978-1-48985-490-2 

Larson, Kirby. Liberty. Scholastic Inc., 2016. ISBN: 978-1-54900-281-6

Here is a novel study I found on Teachers Pay Teachers:

Related Websites:

Augustyn, Adam. “Japanese American Internment - Life in the Camps.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2019, www.britannica.com/event/Japanese-American-internment/Life-in-the-camps.

The National WWII Museum. “Japanese American Incarceration.” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, The National WWII Museum, 2018, www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/japanese-american-incarceration.