Literature Analysis #2

General:
1. The book I read is Myeko's Gift by Kay Haugaard. This story is about a girl named Myeko, the main character, who just moved to California from her native land Osaka, Japan. Myeko is terrified to be in a place she knows nothing about. As soon as she starts going to school and doing things the American way she  is alienated and alone. She doesn't have friends because everyone sees her as a stranger and the kids like to stick to the usual. However little by little the children begin speaking to Myeko and noticing that she really has some fascinating ideas and talents. As time passes Myeko becomes accepted and great friendships are made by the end of the book.
2. The theme of this book is acceptance and friendship. Myeko is a young girl who really can't do anything to change and be like every other kid in her class. However as the kids begin to accept Myeko she also starts the process of accepting her new home. At the beginning of the book (page 13) Myeko states that she feels alone because no kid speaks to her. However as time passes (page 48) the kids really begin to accept Myeko and her culture like the rice cakes and Kimono she took to school on a new years season day. Knowing that others accept you makes you comfortable in accepting yourself and those aspects of you that you have never liked.
The other theme I chose was friendship because through the gift of friendship was the only way that Myeko was aloud to be free and happy in California. Being different and not knowing anyone or anything from somewhere you now need to call home is extremely difficult. However when you find that one person who decides to show you around and is able to put all differences aside it really feels like you have the chance to fit in and not be secluded. I think friendships are a very important thing but now idea people take the to loosely and abuse them and I think this book really brings me back to that idea that friendships are something we should value no matter how big or small.
3. The author's tone if very positive and doesn't really show the depressing mood that Myeko is going through. I think this is mostly because this is for young readers. However there is a lot of respectful tones, due to Japanese culture, that are used when Myeko is speaking to any member in her family when she is at home and when she first starts making friends. The respectful tone that runs through the whole book can be seen on page fifteen where Myeko is speaking to her mother and she responds with "I am sorry, honorable parent,..." This is just one of the examples that are shown throughout the book. I think the main reason that this tone settles throughout the book is because Myeko is Japanese and like every Asian culture they are very respectful people and live by honor systems from the younger to the old.
"...she started out with her box on her wagon."(page 63) The one friend names Carol who Myeko was now very close too could not visit Myeko to celebrate the Doll Festival because she got her appendix removed. However in that quote what Myeko was carrying the dolls in the box to celebrate at the hospital with Carol because no one was home to drive her she had to find a way on her on. This shows a lot of hope in the child's heart to do the best. Throughout the book Myeko hopes she won't disappoint anyone because she really wants to make friends so doing things like carrying that box really makes you understand she is a very young soul that is trying to make everything okay.
4. The text in the book always brought me back and reminded me who Myeko was and that she wasn't an American that she was trying however to make America her home. Through the book (pages 11, 51, 105) her language of respect and cultural differences appear. Whether she is making Origami or trying to pronounce the English words correctly it really makes you understand who this little girl is and that she is different.
    Imagery is another big element used through out the book. For example on page forty six we are given a vivid picture of a Kimono. Seeing as most of are at a young age are not familiar with other cultural things we would not know what it is. However on page forty five we are told how its a "beautiful red dress with butterfly long sleeves.." It really makes you imagine how the dress looked when Myeko had it on.
    I think both the themes and tones that I mentioned in the prior questions really give this story a great flowing sequence that makes it a page turner for anyone of any age reading it. Unless they are completely against learning of other cultures of course.
     I think symbolism is another great aspect of this book. on page one hundred and forty eight the little bird that Myeko and Harriet share really becomes a representation of the lovely friendship they have developed. It was a gift and now evidence that they really can be friends and really do care for each other which is totally opposite from the beginning where Harriett really did not like Myeko.
     The last and most obvious element is setting. If this story was not in California and how Myeko has to adjust then this story would not work. I think the most important part is that she is a stranger and she really doesn't feel like she can fit in because everything is so unusual to her. Even if at the end she can adapt this new setting what makes this story what it is. '

CHARACTERIZATION
1. On the cover of the book we are given a picture of the Myeko so I think that would count as direct characterization. However as for indirect characterization I think her family all being natives from Japan you get the idea that she is very tiny with straight black and and Asian eyes. Now this might be your typical stereotype but by experience I have come realized that these are all true to the people. I think its hard to comprehend at a younger age but since I have now studied more about international cultures..especially Asian cultures I can truly say that making her a native from Japan in itself is indirect characterization.
I think the fact that Myeko is not American and America is really mixed in looks indirect characterization is used to kind of mold Myeko into the person you think she looks like. Also even though there is a picture (direct characterization) on the front cover you can still picture something completely different with the indirect characterization ideas.
2. The characters in this story are very flat I would say. Just because personally to me they are very stereotypical figures. Your typical Asian or your typical white kid. There are not really any specific examples that I can pull out of any page but through the story line you can see when you follow a character that they end up doing what you expected them to do in the end. They are all kids to though so I think that is another factor as to why they are this way.
3.I think I met myself in this book when I first came here. Although I don't have great memory I can see myself in Myeko. Coming to America when I was six from Mexico was really the scariest thing on this planet. However being little its easier to make friends and adapt just like Myeko did. I am just about a hundred percent sure that we had very similar journey's. I can't really pull out textual support because its more of a heart feeling that I ended up getting at the end when she finally calls America home. I don't know if America is my home yet but I am sure glad she found hers.




First off I want to state that this book is a 160 page book that is at around a sixth grade reading level. Seeing as I forgot to read a book I decided to read this book. I had never analyzed this book however and I think there is a deeper meaning then a child's literature book. This is why I analyzed this book which even though is intended for a younger audience is one of my favorites. Yes I procrastinated and that was part of the reason I read this book but as a more mature person I think I can properly analyze this book and make others realize meaning behind books that you would not even see when you were younger. I guess I kind of cheated on this analysis but then again it did take just the same amount of energy and thought any other analysis would have taken me. I hope that this is demonstrated through my analysis.