Social Studies Poetry Book Review — On Wings of Words — Whelan and Nascimbene

 Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers

Written by Gloria Whelan and Illustrated by Yan Nascimbene

Bibliography:

Whelan, G., & Nascimbene, Y. (2008). Yuki and the one thousand carriers. Sleeping Bear Press.

Summary:

This poetry book is a mix if prose historical fiction and the haikus that the main character, Yuki, writes on her journey from Kyoto to Edo in 1800s-1900s Japan. As stated in the author's note, during this time period, governors were required to split their time between the two cities. The prose offers information about how that journey would look to the travelers of the time, while the haikus provide an emotional perspective from the main characters point of view. 

Analysis:

This poetry book skews from the norm by incorporating a mixture of haiku poetry with informative prose, both of which add layers to the story and move the plot along. The prose supplies the reader with historical and cultural information and the haikus build up the character development of Yuki as she experiences the long journey from Kyoto to Edo with her family for the first time. 

Through the haikus, you can feel Yuki's hesitation and nerves as she leaves her home for the fist time. She questions when and how she'll get back. As they travel, her haikus show her appreciation of the surrounding environment and how she'll be longing to see it again. Further into the journey, she expresses how much she already misses home, and you can feel the weight of that emotion behind the words. Toward the end of Yuki's journey, her poetry turns to acceptance without explicitly saying it. The most the reader gets to understand her perspective is the last line, "I stop looking back." 

Nascimbene's illustrations beautifully highlight every step in Yuki's journey with her family. The drawings themselves resemble traditional Japanese art styles. Each segment of prose and haiku has its own image that only add to the story and emotions being told. 

Excerpt:

The carriers shout with excitement.

Mother and I peek out. There is the great city of Edo. We cross Nihonbashi Bridge, the point from which all distances in Japan are measured.

A path goes two ways

I have traveled one way, when

will I travel back?

Activity Idea:

Instruct students to think about any change they have experienced in their life. Now, have them write down some details from that time: environment, their emotions, specific events, etc. Using those details, tell them to create their own haikus, reminding them that a haiku follows a three-line form using five syllables, seven syllables, and then five syllables.