Orchards — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
An ALA-YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
After a classmate commits suicide, Kana Goldberg—a half-Japanese, half-Jewish American—wonders who is responsible. She and her cliquey friends said some thoughtless things to the girl. Hoping that Kana will reflect on her behavior, her parents pack her off to her mother's ancestral home in Japan for the summer. There Kana spends hours under the hot sun tending to her family's mikan orange groves.
Kana's mixed heritage makes it hard to fit in at first, especially under the critical eye of her traditional grandmother, who has never accepted Kana's father. But as the summer unfolds, Kana gets to know her relatives, Japan, and village culture, and she begins to process the pain and guilt she feels about the tragedy back home. Then news about a friend sends her world spinning out of orbit all over again.
Frequently asked questions
Is Orchards appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The narrative addresses the suicide of a classmate, Ruth, which is a significant event that influences the protagonist's journey. This theme of violence is portrayed through the emotional aftermath of bullying and its tragic consequences. No scary content is detected in the search results related to the book's narrative.
Does Orchards have violence?
The narrative addresses the suicide of a classmate, Ruth, which is a significant event that influences the protagonist's journey. This theme of violence is portrayed through the emotional aftermath of bullying and its tragic consequences.
Does Orchards have scary content?
No scary content is detected in the search results related to the book's narrative.
Does Orchards have religious themes?
The story involves a Jewish character, as Kana is described as having a Jewish father. However, the religious themes are not central to the plot.
Does Orchards have racial/cultural content?
The protagonist, Kana, is described as biracial (Black and white), which is a significant aspect of her identity and experience in the story. The narrative explores her feelings of displacement and belonging.
Does Orchards have profanity?
No profanity is detected in the search results related to the book's narrative.
Does Orchards have climate change?
The setting includes an orange orchard in Japan, which may imply themes related to nature and agriculture. However, there is no explicit environmental activism or climate change discussion in the narrative.
Does Orchards have sexual identity?
No sexual content is detected in the search results related to the book's narrative.
Does Orchards have gender roles?
No explicit gender roles or themes are detected in the search results related to the book's narrative.
Does Orchards have lgbtq+ themes?
The book features a biracial lesbian protagonist, Kana Golberg, who navigates her identity and experiences related to bullying and loss. This representation normalizes LGBTQ+ identities within the narrative.
