"Tender and funny, this story of friendship and family is reminiscent
of Beverly Cleary's work." -- School Library Journal
It's 1926, and eleven-year-old Lexie Lewis wants to leave Portland,
Oregon, where she has been staying with her strict grandparents, and
rejoin her mother, a singer in San Francisco. Meanwhile, Lexie's class
has been raising money to ship a doll to the children of Japan in a
friendship exchange -- and when Lexie learns that the girl who writes
the best letter will be chosen to go to the farewell ceremony in San
Francisco, she knows she just has to be the winner. Inspired by a
project in which U.S. children sent more than 12,000 Friendship Dolls to
Japan in hopes of avoiding a future war, Shirley Parenteau's engaging
story has sure appeal for readers who enjoy historical fiction and for
doll lovers of all ages.