OBAASAN’S BOOTS

 

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                                                    "They had everything taken from them because they were Japanese." 

Obaasan's Boots is a beautifully written mid-grade book exploring family, hardship, and the quiet magic of everyday life. This story shares the intimate and ongoing effects of post war on Japanese Canadian families. Themes of resilience, love, and intergenerational connection are detailed through gardens, food, and relationships.

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Cousins Lou and Charlotte don’t know a lot about their grandmother’s life. When their Obaasan invites them to spend the day in her garden, she also invites them into their family’s secrets, revealing the painful story of Japanese internment. Her family was forced apart, communities were uprooted, moved into camps, their belongings stolen. 

Each step Obaasan takes in her boots is a story. Lou and Charlotte struggle with the injustice, as they marvel at their grandmother’s strength. They begin to understand how their identities have been shaped by racism, and that history is not only about the past.
The writing is simple yet profound, making this story accessible to children while offering moments that resonate deeply with adults. The authors, cousins themselves, beautifully convey the warmth of Obaasan's wisdom, illustrating how family traditions and seemingly ordinary objects can hold extraordinary significance. Vibrant and tender illustrations bring Obaasan's wisdom and stories to life. 

Whether reading Obaasan's Boots aloud to a child or savoring its quiet wisdom yourself, this book leaves a lasting impression. A must-read for anyone who appreciates stories of love, tradition, and the unique bond between grandparents and grandchildren.
 

Blurb for Thought: 

The table is full of delicious food. Pan-fried salmon, snow peas with bacon, sushi, plain rice, chow mein and a roast with gravy. There are both chopsticks and forks. I grab a fork, while Lou reaches for chopsticks and starts loading her plate using the wrong ends.

 

Find it: At Kinder Books

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