Description
Twelve-year-old Sumi, a Japanese Canadian girl living in Vancouver in 1926, takes her older sister's place working at Gibson's Landing so that Yoshi can go summer school to become a dressmaker. Dealing with unfamiliar customs and the racism of the time makes Sumi want to give up and go home, but as she becomes involved in supporting striking workers at the local factory, she finds new courage and a will to become the journalist she knows she can someday be.
Based on the true story of Eiko Kitagawa Maruno, the author's mother-in-law, this is a story of bravery, adventure, and valuable Canadian history.
Author Bio
JENNIFER MARUNO, retired elementary school principal, is the author of seven novels for middle grade and young adult readers as well as two picture books. Former Vice-President of the CANSCAIP, among other literary roles, Jennifer currently enjoys mentoring other writers. Her latest picture book, While You Sleep, published in 2022 by Pajama Press received starred reviews from Kirkus and Quill and Quire. She lives in Burlington, Ontario.
Review text
"Jennifer Marumo has based Sumi's Story on the experiences of her mother-In-law, Eiko, who worked in Gibson's Landing when she was a young girl. Readers will truly feel the injustice of Sumi's situation and her shock at the way she is treated by some of the white people in the town… Maruno is especially successful at evoking the tightly-knit Japanese-Canadian community and the manner in which community members support each other. She conveys the political and historical in such a personal way that she is sure to open both hearts and minds to a part of Canadian history that should not be forgotten."
— CCBC Children's Book News
"Infused with cultural details, as of bento boxes and flower arranging, The Go-Between is an illuminating, based-in-truth historical novel in which a girl learns to stand up for herself against anti-Japanese sentiments."
— Foreword Reviews
"The Go-Between is a powerful novel that conveys the societal atmosphere of the 1920s in British Columbia and people's attitudes towards the Japanese immigrants and their descendants.
Highly Recommended."
— CM Magazine
Biographical note
Jennifer Maruno is the author of the picture books While You Sleep and Moose's Roof as well as historical novels including Cherry Blossom Winter and Warbird.
