Hi everyone! Today I couldn’t be more excited to share with you the exclusive cover reveal for my friend Lois Sepahban’s forthcoming 2016 middle grade debut, Paper Wishes! Set within the confines of Manzanar, one of the ten camps where Japanese citizens were wrongfully incarcerated during World War II, Sepahban’s novel promises to provide a heart-wrenching and much-needed exploration of one of the most shameful occurrences in America’s history, offering a diverse, emotional and educational experience for young readers. Please read on to learn a little more about the inspiration behind Paper Wishes and why Manami’s story is one close to the author’s heart.
A Note From The Author
It is impossible to grow up in central California without being aware of Manzanar. It’s like the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. But it’s big and it’s right there. Two of my classmates in elementary school had a family history that their mother shared with our class, too – their grandparents had been forced to live in an internment camp during the war. So, these camps, specifically Manzanar, were always interesting to me and whenever they would be mentioned, my ears would perk up. Three years ago, I was reading a nonfiction book about the children who had lived at Manzanar, and I decided I wanted to write a book about a child who lived there. I also knew that I wanted to have a “forbidden” love story as an important part of the story. So I began to do research – I read old newspaper articles, I watched interviews, I checked out books at the library. One day, I read an old interview and the man, who had been at Manzanar, said that one day, dogs just started showing up at the camp. They didn’t know where they were coming from. When I read that, I got goosebumps on my arms and I knew I had my story.
About Lois Sepahban
Lois Sepahban grew up in central California. She spent her childhood reading, climbing trees, and leading her brother and sister on hunts for buried treasures. In college she studied languages and books. She is married and has two children. She lives on a small farm in Kentucky where she has a barn that she fills with animals who need homes. She has two dogs, six cats, and lots of sweet and fluffy chickens. Lois is represented by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Title Paper Wishes
Author Lois Sepahban
Pages 208 Pages
Genre Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Publisher Margaret Ferguson Books
To Be Published January 2016
Find It On Goodreads
Manami is a ten-year-old girl, born on Bainbridge Island in Washington to Japanese parents. In March of 1942, following orders for relocation in Executive Order 9066, Manami and her family and the entire Japanese-American population of Bainbridge Island, are sent to Manzanar, an internment camp in central California. On the day they are to leave their island home, Manami is distressed when she learns that they are leaving her dog behind, too. When no one is watching, she hides her dog inside her coat. She manages to sneak him onto the ferry that takes them to the mainland, but a soldier spots him before she can board the bus that will take them to the train station. What happens next causes Manami to stop speaking. At the camp, it is up to Manami to hold her family together. And she can only do that by learning to speak again.
29 Responses
AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!
This cover is EVERYTHING!!! I’m so glad we get to see this, Lois. It’s so beautiful! <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
Thank you, Brooks!! I’m feeling pretty excited about My Seventh-Grade Life in Tights! 🙂
Wow, Lois! I love the way the cover evokes a time in history, but still feels modern. It’s so inviting. What a thrill to see it!
Laura Shovan recently posted…Poetry Friday: Poetry in Medicine
Thank you, Laura!! I can’t wait to see the cover of The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary!!
Oh my, this cover is absolutely beautiful!! And this book sounds fantastic as well 🙂
Thanks for sharing this Lois and Jen!
Milka@ReadReadRead recently posted…Book Review: Mosquitoland by David Arnold
Thank you, Milka!! 🙂
Go, Lois!! I can’t wait to hold this book in my hands! And the cover is so perfect. Thanks for sharing her story, Jen!!
Thank you, Maria!! <3
Gorgeous cover!
Thank you, Kathy!! 🙂
Oh, Lois, this cover is stunning perfection. And the extra glimpse into your story research gave me chills. A fabulous cover for an equally fabulous book.
Marisa Reichardt recently posted…Officially Official Book Cover for UNDERWATER
Thank you so much, Marisa! I’m so excited to read Underwater!!
This cover is absolutely gorgeous! I can’t wait until it comes out. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing. :b
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian recently posted…Interview with KayCee K. of Double Decker Books!
Thank you so much, Krystianna! 🙂
Lois!!!
The cover is just beautiful!!! What wonderful art! I’m so impressed and can’t WAIT to read!!!
Thank you, Janet!! I can’t wait to see the cover of Into the Dim!!
I’m sorry! I didn’t put the http before the website!!
Janet B Taylor recently posted…Seeing your cover for the first time
So poignant and yet it is also clearly a moment of decision. I love this cover, Lois! I bet the full jacket will be amazing (and the book, of course!!!) Who is the artist?
Thank you so much, Kell! The lovely Julia Kuo is the illustrator. 🙂
Ohhh my, this is simply gorgeous! (+ it sounds like a novel that’s right up my alley!)
Leah recently posted…The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim (+ a 2-book giveaway pack!)
Thank you so much, Leah! 🙂
WOW, this cover is absolutely beautiful, and the story sounds powerful and poignant.
Jessica Lawson recently posted…Nooks & Crannies: One-Month-Until-Release ARC Giveaway!!!
Thank you, Jessica! 🙂
This cover is so beautiful! And the story is going to be beautiful, too. Yay!
Thank you, Bridget! I’m so excited to see the cover of The Rat Prince!! 🙂
Beautiful cover! I’m looking forward to reading this (even though I’m betting it will make me cry!) It sounds like an important and powerful story.
Jenn Bertman recently posted…The Writing View From Here
Thank you so much, Jenn! 🙂
Lois, I cannot get over how beautiful and poignant this cover is! I looked at it, read the summary, looked back at the cover and immediately teared up! A gorgeous cover for what I’m sure is a gorgeous book–can’t wait to read! <3
Thank you, Julie! The illustrator, Julia Kuo, is amazing. 🙂