Ship of Dolls
Written by Shirley Parenteau
Narrated by Kate Reinders
3.5/5
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
It's 1926, and the one thing eleven-year-old Lexie Lewis wants more than anything is to leave Portland, Oregon, where she has been staying with her strict grandparents, and rejoin her mother, a carefree singer in San Fransisco's speakeasies. But Mama's new husband doesn't think a little girl should live with parents who work all night and sleep all day.
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 to acccompany the doll will be sent to the farewell ceremony in San Fransisco, she knows she just has to be the winner. But what if a jealous classmate and Lexie's own small lies to her grandmother manage to derail her plans?
Inspired by a project organized by teacher-missionary Sidney Gulick, in which US 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 young listeners who enjoy historical fiction, and for doll lovers of all ages.
Related to Ship of Dolls
Related audiobooks
Where the Ground Meets the Sky Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Center of Everything Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I, Emma Freke Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Every Single Second Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Small Mercies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBarn Boot Blues Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAbby, Tried and True Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Steering Toward Normal Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Where You've Got to Be Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSardines Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Phantom Limbs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOut of Place Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brave in the Woods Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlue Daisy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Graveyard Riddle: A Goldfish Boy Novel: A Goldfish Boy Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGolden Ticket Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Latke, the Lucky Dog Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMostly the Honest Truth Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Front Country Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNext Door to Happy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Copycat Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Almost There and Almost Not Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shine On, Luz Véliz! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKyra, Just for Today Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The True Definition of Neva Beane Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Midnight at the Shelter Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Home for Goddesses and Dogs Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Storm Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Children's Toys, Dolls & Puppets For You
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: Jurassic Carp Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Last Stop on Market Street Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Too Many Toys Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5They Threw Us Away: The Teddies Saga Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: The Seaquel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Merry Christmas, Blue Kangaroo! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stuffed Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Faithful Friends: Favorite Stories of People in the Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5They Stole Our Hearts: The Teddies Saga, Book 2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Robot Zot! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, the Movie - Audio Play Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lilly and Her Unicorn Doll Vol. 1: Love and Helpfulness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When I Grow Up (Peppa Pig) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Flying Bath: Book and CD Pack Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Toy Dance Party Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mr. Macky Is Wacky! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Rat with the Human Face Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Nutcracker Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: Live and Let Swim Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fancy Nancy: Fanciest Doll in the Universe Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: Fins of Fury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: Any Fin is Possible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Adventures of Pinocchio: The Tale of a Puppet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPeppa's Windy Fall Day (Peppa Pig) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBook Buddies: Dazzle Makes a Wish Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Reviews for Ship of Dolls
17 ratings3 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In 1926, a teacher missionary organized an event for the American children to send more than 12,000 dolls to Japan in hopes of avoiding a future war. Clearly, the mission didn't work but Parenteau's novel based on this little-known event in history works from the get go. What kid wouldn't want to pick up a book that starts with "I dare you. I double-dare you" (Parenteau, p. 1). Lexie is immediately caught up in a moral dilemma that never lets up. She wants the chance to hold the doll, so she takes the dare -- something her strict grandparents with whom she is living would not approve of. But there's a little bit of her carefree mother in her, and her mom who is nurturing a new marriage and a singing career in California would definitely accept a dare. Getting caught trespassing (in her teacher's house no less ) just to hold the special doll that her class is sending to Japan starts a whole chain of events that makes Lexie think hard about what's right, about who to believe, and what makes her happiest. A fast-paced historical novel with lots of action, Ship of Dolls holds particular appeal for young girls. It deals with getting caught up in lies, jealousy, and competition as the girls are promised that whoever rights the best letter will accompany the doll to San Francisco.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In the 1920s children in American saved their pennies to send dolls to Japan. In all, over 12,000 dolls were sent to Japan in an act of friendship and as an attempt to prevent war between the two countries. Lexie, an 11-year-old, is excited about the doll her class is sending for that and another reason: Lexie is in Portland with her grandparents while her widowed mother is in San Francisco and Lexie wants to win the honor of accompanying the doll to its sendoff in San Francisco so she can also see her mother. This has a strong story line with an interesting bit of forgotten history.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Pace was off, and the only consequence seemed to be that she would get yelled at.