i am currently reading this lovely tale of two japanese-american sisters who move to Georgia in the late 1950s. their family is poor by middle class american standards, both parents work odd late shifts at a chicken processing plant, struggle with health care for a sick daughter, and dream of owning a house. it is beautifully written and won the newbury award. the author touches on hard social issues from the kids perspectives - girls snub them at school because of their race & where their parents work, and the family is given a room in the back of a hotel in white Georgia. i think this is a wonderful book and recommend it for children ages 9 & up. i am enjoying it very much & i'm 41 yo!