Orchards

Orchards
By Holly Thompson
Delacorte Press, 2011. 327 pgs. Young Adult

Kana Goldberg, who is half-Japanese, half-Jewish, gets sent to Japan for the summer to stay with relatives after one of her eighth grade classmates commits suicide. While there, Kana reflects on Ruth's death, and on her involvement; Kana and the other girls in the class excluded and picked on Ruth, never realizing how their comments hurt her. Kana must come to terms with that and figure out how to face the future.

This novel-in-verse is a moving look at life, death, guilt, and the human spirit. Much of the story is told as Kana speaks silently to Ruth, and it is a poignant look at a girl trying to make peace with her own guilt and with her deceased classmate. Beautifully written and addressing an important topic, this is a wonderful contribution to young adult literature.

AE