The Fences Between Us (Dear America)

Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson brings us the first new Dear America diary in years, taking readers through the attack on Pearl Harbor, the start of World War II, and the Japanese incarceration.

With this sweeping tale of life on the World War II homefront, Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson brings her incredible talent to the Dear America series. When Pearl Harbor is attacked, America is finally unable to ignore the wars raging in Europe and Asia any longer. And one girl's entire life is about to change when everything she knows is turned on its head. After the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, where her brother, a navy sailor, is stationed, Piper Davis begins chronicling her compelling journey through one of history's most tragic and unforgettable eras.

Praise for Dear America

"More than a supplement to classroom textbooks, this series is an imaginative, solid entre into American history." -Publishers Weekly"An impressive series that will challenge students to make connections from prominent historical events to relevant life situations.... A wonderful asset to the classroom as well as to home libraries." -Children's Book Review Service"Engaging, accessible historical fiction." -SLJ"The Dear America diaries represent the best of historical fiction for any age." -Chicago Tribune

Kirby Larson is the acclaimed author of the 2007 Newbery Honor Book Hattie Big Sky; its sequel, Hattie Ever After; The Friendship Doll; Dear America: The Fences Between Us; Duke; Dash, winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction; Liberty; Code Word Courage; Audacity Jones to the Rescue; and its sequel, Audacity Jones Steals the Show. She has also cowritten the award-winning picture books Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival and Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle. She lives in Washington with her husband and Winston the Wonder Dog.

From Dear America: The Fences Between Us

Ten days since the attack. I feel like we are a shadow family. Our bodies are moving around to all the places we're supposed to go—Margie to college, me to school, Pop to church—doing all the things we're supposed to do, saying the usual things like, "Yes, school was good today," "I got an A on that Chem lab," or "Please pass the salt." But our real family is in the shadows, frozen in time and hanging on to every scrap of hope, while we wait, wait, wait to hear about Hank.