Holly Thompson
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OrchardsOrchards Book Group Discussion Guide (322.6KB)
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Orchards, a novel in verse by Holly Thompson
After a classmate commits suicide, Kana Goldberg—a half-Japanese, half-Jewish American—wonders who is responsible. She and her cliquey friends said some thoughtless things to the girl. Hoping that Kana will reflect on her behavior, her parents pack her off to her mother’s ancestral home in Japan for the summer. There Kana spends hours under the hot sun tending to her family’s mikan orange groves. Kana’s mixed heritage makes it hard to fit in at first, especially under the critical eye of her traditional grandmother, who has never accepted Kana’s father. But as the summer unfolds, Kana gets to know her relatives, Japan, and village culture, and she begins to process the pain and guilt she feels about the tragedy back home. Then news about a friend sends her world spinning out of orbit all over again. Holly Thompson’s dazzling novel in verse gives voice to the complex emotions of a girl whose anger, confusion, and regret transform into newfound compassion and a sense of purpose. Published by Delacorte/Random House February 2011 2012 APALA Asian/Pacific Award for Literature Nominated for YALSA's 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults Shortlisted for a Red Dot Book Award 2011-2012 Shortlisted for a Sakura Medal Award 2012 *STARRED REVIEW* "The narrative is rich in authentic cultural detail and is complemented by attractive woodcut illustrations of Japanese imagery to evoke the story’s setting. Thompson has crafted an exquisite, thought-provoking story of grief and healing that will resonate with teen readers and give them much to discuss." --School Library Journal "A fast-paced page-turner that explores the rippling effects of suicide." --Kirkus Reviews "Eloquently captures a teenager's anger, guilt, and sorrow after a classmate takes her own life.... Understated yet potent verse." --Publishers Weekly "Readers will want to talk about the big issues, especially the guilt of doing nothing." --Booklist "Thompson expertly depicts the dualism in Kana.... Teens who enjoy learning about other cultures will relish Thompson's ability to evoke the sights, smells, an tastes of Japan, while poetry fans will enjoy the novel's unique format." --VOYA "A true achievement. Stunning storytelling wrapped in remarkable poetry. Beautiful." --Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank and Fallout Order Orchards (hardcover) from Amazon.com Order Orchards (Kindle edition) from Amazon.com Order Orchards (hardcover) from Amazon Japan Order Orchards from Random House |
