Vancouver, 1942. When best friends Esther and Michiko spot the beautiful Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret dolls—in vogue at the time—in the local toy store window, they long to get the dolls for their shared birthday. But when Esther receives the doll and Michiko doesn’t, their friendship starts to unravel.

The story is set against the backdrop of an atmosphere of increasing hostility and racist attacks upon the Japanese community—culminating in the Internment.

As the story opens, restrictions on Japanese Canadians are increasing. Then Michiko and her family are sent away. With such enormous barriers erected between them, Esther and Michiko are left to their own devices as to how to mend their friendship.

Praise for The Princess Dolls:

“Ando’s vivid black-and-white illustrations add power and appeal . . . a lovely, old-fashioned feeling story.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Ando’s illustrations depict important moments with depth and detail.” — Horn Book Guide Reviews

“As bigotry toward Japanese Canadians grows more apparent in the community, (Esther and Mariko’s) friendship suffers. Then the unthinkable happens: Michiko and her family are sent away to internment camps. . Esther’s and Michiko’s behaviors could prompt useful discussions about privilege as well as bigotry. Ando’s elegant black-and-white illustrations capture life in motion. A gentle yet thoughtful historical tale.” — Booklist Librarians, October 2018.

Schwartz deftly shows how a once-simple friendship can be complicated by class and race. Black-and-white illustrations depict important moments with depth and detail.”  — Horn Book Guide Reviews

Awards:

Finalist for the Vine Awards for Canadian Jewish Literature 2020

Winner of the Western Canada Jewish Book Award 2021

Shortlisted for the Chocolate Lily Award 2019

CCBC Best Books 2019

About the Illustrator:

Born in Osaka, Japan, Mariko Ando now lives in Vancouver, BC.