Dash

Although Mitsi Kashino and her family are swept up in the wave of anti-Japanese sentiment following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mitsi never expects to lose her home -- or her beloved dog, Dash. But, as World War II rages and people of Japanese descent are forced into incarceration camps, Mitsi is separated from Dash, her classmates, and life as she knows it. The camp is a crowded and unfamiliar place, whose dusty floors, seemingly endless lines, and barbed wire fences begin to unravel the strong Kashino family ties. With the help of a friendly neighbor back home, Mitsi remains connected to Dash in spite of the hard times, holding on to the hope that the war will end soon and life will return to normal. Though they've lost their home, will the Kashino family also lose their sense of family? And will Mitsi and Dash ever be reunited?

Kirby Larson is the acclaimed author of the 2007 Newbery Honor book Hattie Big Sky; its sequel,Hattie Ever After; The Friendship Doll; Dear America: The Fences Between Us;Duke; Dash; and Audacity Jones to the Rescue. She has also written a number of picture books, including the award-winningTwo Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival andNubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle. She lives in Washington with her husband.