Mitsi Kashino loves her dog, Dash, more than anything. She also loves learning, her family, and her two best friends. Once Pearl Harbor happens during World War II, everything in her life changes. Now, her friends won't speak to her, and the class bully antagonizes her event more. People on the street stare and make fun of her, and before long, her family is forced to go to an incarceration camp. After having to leave her beloved dog and home beyond, Mitsi struggles to adjust to her new life, full of hope that one day she will be reunited with Dash.

DASH by Kirby Larson is a wonderful middle grade historical novel. Though I had heard of the incarceration camps before, I didn't know much about them or what the experience of living in one might be like for a young girl. Mitsi's story is touching and memorable, and the adorable dog, Dash, adds an additional moving layer to the story. The bond the two share is consistently present throughout the novel even though they are apart for most of it.

I also love the strong friendship aspect to the story. Mitsi is young, but that doesn't mean prejudice isn't around her and her friends. Seeing them all deal with it through her eyes is interesting and eye opening. It really makes you think about how different age groups handle tough situations and realities.

Overall, DASH is a great novel for any middle grade reader to pick up. The writing is smooth, the story is quick and beautiful, and it will leave you wanting to know more about what happened to Japanese Americans during that time. Kirby Larson is an excellent writer, and I can't wait to explore more of her works.