Twelve-year-old Sumi, a Japanese Canadian girl living in Vancouver in 1926, takes her older sister's place working at Gibson's Landing so that Yoshi can go summer school to become a dressmaker. Dealing with unfamiliar customs and the racism of the time makes Sumi want to give up and go home, but as she becomes involved in supporting striking workers at the local factory, she finds new courage and a will to become the journalist she knows she can someday be.
Based on the true story of Eiko Kitagawa Maruno, the author's mother-in-law, this is a story of bravery, adventure, and valuable Canadian history.
Jennifer Maruno is the author of the picture books While You Sleep and Moose's Roof as well as historical novels including Cherry Blossom Winter and Warbird.
"Jennifer Marumo has based Sumi's Story on the experiences of her mother-In-law, Eiko, who worked in Gibson's Landing when she was a young girl. Readers will truly feel the injustice of Sumi's situation and her shock at the way she is treated by some of the white people in the town… Maruno is especially successful at evoking the tightly-knit Japanese-Canadian community and the manner in which community members support each other. She conveys the political and historical in such a personal way that she is sure to open both hearts and minds to a part of Canadian history that should not be forgotten."
— CCBC Children's Book News
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