Blog 18: Yoshiko Uchida

Book Selection: "The Best Bad Thing"
Author: Yoshiko Uchida
Jacket Painting: Kinuko Craft

(1) According to Rinko's mother, bad things come in three. Rinko is determined that the first bad thing that happened to her occurs when her mother and father request that she go help out a widowed woman, Mrs. Hata, and her two sons. Mrs. Hata has taken over growing cucumbers for a living after her husband passed away. Rinko is adamant about not wanting to go, but she eventually caves in and decides it is the Christian thing to do. Rinko promptly sprains her ankle once she is there when she attempts to jump from a moving freight train. The third bad thing occurs when Mrs. Hata's youngest son, Abu, jumps from a freight on a different day and his arm is run over. Mrs. Hata rushes him to the hospital and in her rush, she leaves the keys in her truck that transports the cucumbers. Sadly, someone steals the truck while they are in the hospital causing a fourth bad thing to happen. Rinko is saddened by these events, but is also determined to help Mrs. Hata as much as she can.

(2) I really enjoyed this book. I especially appreciated the Japanese culture that was injected into the story. I am particularly interested in the Japanese culture right now as I am tutoring an eight year old girl who just moved from Japan. It is interesting to me to learn as much as I can about this different style of living. I think this is an excellent read for middle school aged kids. It would likely even be appropriate as a read aloud for younger students.

(3) Although I have not read any other books by Yoshiko Uchida, it is evident that she typically adds in Japanese culture to each of her books. Below is a brief list of books that she has written.

"The Dancing Kettle"
"The Magic Listening Cap"
"Takao and Grandfather's Sword"
"The Promised Year"
"Mik and the Prowler"
"New Friends for Susan"
"The Full Circle"
"Makoto, the Smallest Boy"
"Rokubei and the Thousand Rice Bowls"
"The Forever Christmas Tree"
"Sumi's Prize"
"Sumi's Special Happening"
"Sumi and the Goat and the Tokyo Express"
"The Sea of Gold"
"A Jar of Dreams"

and many others!

Images courtesy of http://images.google.com.