Prabhjot Kaur's Reviews > A Scarf for Keiko

Sam and Keiko are neighbours and they also go to the same school. Sam is Jewish and Keiko is Japanese-American. This story takes place in 1941 when American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan. Sam's brother Mike is fighting in the war. At school Sam and Keiko along with other kids knit stuff for the soldiers. Keiko is good at it but Sam struggles. Keiko offers to help him but he declines as no one talks to Japanese people anymore since the war declaration.

Sam learns that Keiko's family much like all the other Japanese-American families is being moved to an internment camp in the desert because the government thinks that people with Japanese ancestors are spies. Keiko has left knitted socks for Mike and her bike for Sam to use until she gets back and that's when Sam realises that he should knit a scarf for Keiko as she would need it to keep warm.

It was such an emotional story conveying how people have suffered racism and xenophobia and still continue to suffer even today. I loved this simple story with equally simple illustrations but the message it conveys is very important and powerful. There should be more books like these for kids in my opinion.

4.5 stars