Ship of Dolls, Shirley Parenteau
Ship of Dolls, Shirley Parenteau
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Ship of Dolls

Author: Shirley Parenteau

Narrator: Kate Reinders

Unabridged: 5 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/05/2014

Synopsis

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.

About Shirley Parenteau

Shirley Parenteau is the author of many books for young people, including the picture books Bears on Chairs, Bears in Beds, and Bears in the Bath. About this book, she says, “My granddaughter’s participation in Hinamatsuri in Japan led me to research the Girls’ Day festival online. One link took me to the Friendship Dolls Project, a story I immediately wanted to share through the eyes of a girl taking part.” Shirley Parenteau lives with her husband in Elk Grove, California.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Helen on April 28, 2015

Eleven-year-old Lexie has been sent to Portland to live with her grandparents. She is homesick for her mother and dreams of being back in San Francisco with her. Lexie’s Mum, however, is a nightclub singer and has a new husband and her lifestyle has become unsuitable for raising a child. At school in......more

Goodreads review by Mandy on October 27, 2014

I bought this book at my local Books-a-Million, and let me tell you it was worth every penny! I have undiagnosed ADD, abd hardly ever finish a book, but I finished Ship of Dolls in just 5 DAYS! This is definitely, without any doubt, the best book I have ever read! The only bad thing is I have yet to......more

Goodreads review by Emily on August 23, 2020

3.5 stars This is, in essence, everything I loved between the ages of eight and twelve. It's like American Girl books, but for older kids! It's wholesome, it's relatable, and the character development is especially good. Lexie is eleven years old and eager to please and also strives to be the best–whi......more

Goodreads review by Mississippi Library on June 05, 2015

Ship of Dolls is a superb addition to historical fiction for middle school readers. The actions and reactions between 11-year-old Lexie, short for Electra, and her grandparents were terrific. Parenteau does a great job of describing their growing love for each other and their transition into a famil......more

Goodreads review by Christina on June 21, 2014

I let my 11YO daughter rate this one, and she gives it 4.5 stars, although "it's not really about dolls." Set in the '20s, the story is about Lexie, who has been sent to live with her paternal grandmother after her flapper mother takes to singing in nightclubs and hanging out with/marrying(?) some n......more

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