Naomi's Tree

by Joy Kogawa, illustrated by Ruth Ohi (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, $19.95 hardcover)

There's a cherry tree in Naomi's backyard that came to Canada as a seed in the sleeve of her Japanese grandmother's kimono.

Called
the “Friendship Tree,” it offers Naomi shade for tea parties with her
dolls. It also rains down showers of pink petals in the spring and
provides tasty fruit in late summer.

But when the Second World
War breaks out and Japanese Canadians are interred in camps, Naomi must
leave her home and beloved tree behind.

This book, marking 80
years of Canada-Japan relations, is based on author Joy Kogawa's own
life. Years later, she returned home to find the cherry tree was still
alive, ailing but still welcoming.

Visitors to Vancouver can see
Friendship Trees at Vancouver City Hall — and visit Historic Joy
Kogawa House, now a writers' residence.