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Rinko #2
The Best Bad Thing
Twelve-year-old Rinko is looking forward to her summer vacation. But when her mother asks her to spend a month helping Mrs. Hata, a widowed friend, Rinko is sure her summer will be ruined. Everyone has told Rinko Mrs. Hata is crazy, and a series of unpleasant incidents don't help Rinko's outlook. But by summer's end, Rinko comes to understand that people are not always what they seem, and what appears to be a "bad thing" can sometimes be something very good!
132 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
9 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Yoshiko Uchida
51 books96 followersYoshiko, born on November 24, 1921, was the second daughter of Japanese immigrant parents Takashi and Iku. Her father worked as a businessman for Mitsui and Company in San Francisco, and Iku wrote poetry, passing along her love of literature to her girls. Though the Great Depression raged, the Uchida family enjoyed comforts because of Takashi's well-paying job and their own frugality. Yoshiko loved to write, and her stories played out on pieces of brown wrapping paper. She also kept a journal to record her thoughts and events.
Enveloped in love and tradition at home, Yoshiko weathered the prejudice she sometimes faced. Many white students at University High School in Oakland didn't invite her to their parties and wouldn't socialize with her, deeming her a foreigner. Even while attending the University of California at Berkley, Yoshiko often faced the same dilemma of being ostracized. She found friendships with other Japanese American students and was preparing to graduate when Pearl Harbor was bombed, changing her life.
The United States government rounded up 120,000 people of Japanese descent and put them into camps. The Uchida family first resided in a horse stall at a racetrack in California, surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. Though difficult to endure, the next move was worse. Almost 8,000 Japanese were sent to a relocation concentration camp called Topaz in the Utah desert. The detainees suffered from violent dust storms, scorpions, snakes, and exceedingly poor living conditions. Yoshiko taught second grade children there until she received a fellowship from Smith College to earn a master's degree in education.
Yoshiko and her sister both left the camp in May of 1943, with their parents gaining release later that year. Teaching for several years in a Quaker school outside of Philadelphia, Yoshiko decided to quit teaching and find work that allowed more time for writing. She moved to New York City and began as a secretary, penning stories in the evenings. Asked to contribute to a book about Japanese folk tales, Yoshiko discovered that though the book didn't come to be, with time she could create a full collection of folk tales. Writing a few pieces for adults, Yoshiko realized she was better suited for children's books.
A Ford Foundation fellowship sent her to Japan to research the culture and their stories. Spending two years, Yoshiko found her time to be healing as she learned about her own ancestry. The pain of the concentration camps lessened, and she began writing about the experiences in fictional books such as Journey to Topaz and Journey Home. Her career as an author soared as people regarded her as a pioneer in Japanese American children's literature. The author of almost forty works, including Japanese folk tales and stories of Japanese American children making their way in the world, Yoshiko traveled extensively, lectured, and wrote. After suffering from a stroke, Yoshiko passed away on June 25, 1992, in Berkeley, California.
Enveloped in love and tradition at home, Yoshiko weathered the prejudice she sometimes faced. Many white students at University High School in Oakland didn't invite her to their parties and wouldn't socialize with her, deeming her a foreigner. Even while attending the University of California at Berkley, Yoshiko often faced the same dilemma of being ostracized. She found friendships with other Japanese American students and was preparing to graduate when Pearl Harbor was bombed, changing her life.
The United States government rounded up 120,000 people of Japanese descent and put them into camps. The Uchida family first resided in a horse stall at a racetrack in California, surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. Though difficult to endure, the next move was worse. Almost 8,000 Japanese were sent to a relocation concentration camp called Topaz in the Utah desert. The detainees suffered from violent dust storms, scorpions, snakes, and exceedingly poor living conditions. Yoshiko taught second grade children there until she received a fellowship from Smith College to earn a master's degree in education.
Yoshiko and her sister both left the camp in May of 1943, with their parents gaining release later that year. Teaching for several years in a Quaker school outside of Philadelphia, Yoshiko decided to quit teaching and find work that allowed more time for writing. She moved to New York City and began as a secretary, penning stories in the evenings. Asked to contribute to a book about Japanese folk tales, Yoshiko discovered that though the book didn't come to be, with time she could create a full collection of folk tales. Writing a few pieces for adults, Yoshiko realized she was better suited for children's books.
A Ford Foundation fellowship sent her to Japan to research the culture and their stories. Spending two years, Yoshiko found her time to be healing as she learned about her own ancestry. The pain of the concentration camps lessened, and she began writing about the experiences in fictional books such as Journey to Topaz and Journey Home. Her career as an author soared as people regarded her as a pioneer in Japanese American children's literature. The author of almost forty works, including Japanese folk tales and stories of Japanese American children making their way in the world, Yoshiko traveled extensively, lectured, and wrote. After suffering from a stroke, Yoshiko passed away on June 25, 1992, in Berkeley, California.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 1, 2020
Rinko #2
When Mrs. Tsujimura’s friend, Mrs. Hata, loses her husband, she just cannot cope; there is the sadness of losing a loved one, the entire crop of cucumbers to be harvested and two very naughty sons, Zenny and Abu, to be taken care of...
Mrs. Tsujimura decides to send her daughter during the summer holidays as a Help. It is amazing how the Japanese rush to help one another in times of crisis. And crisis does descend on the Family.
The naughty little boys, Zenny and Abu, play a very dangerous game of jumping on and off freight cars and during one such game, Abu is very badly injured, Mrs. Hata rushes him to the hospital where he just about makes it.
When Mrs. Hata goes to get her little truck loaded with the harvested cucumbers she finds it gone, stolen, the produce too stolen.
Rinko’s parents rush to help Mrs. Hata, sadly we are not told how Mrs. Hata copes...
Rinko was supposed to spend only a part of her holidays at Mrs. Hata’s and her parents ask her if she would like to go home, but unsurprisingly knowing how the people of Japan never let their friends and family down, Rinko refuses to come home.
She now loves Mrs. Hata and cannot imagine leaving her alone with the harvest and Abu so very ill.
Strangely, the Kenny Rogers’s song played in my mind...
"You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
With four hungry children and a crop in the field
I've had some bad times, lived through some sad times
But this time your hurting won't heal
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille"
Yes, the Japanese never desert their friends and family in times of crisis. I am greatly humbled...
The illustrations in this book are beautiful, just about amazing.
When Mrs. Tsujimura’s friend, Mrs. Hata, loses her husband, she just cannot cope; there is the sadness of losing a loved one, the entire crop of cucumbers to be harvested and two very naughty sons, Zenny and Abu, to be taken care of...
Mrs. Tsujimura decides to send her daughter during the summer holidays as a Help. It is amazing how the Japanese rush to help one another in times of crisis. And crisis does descend on the Family.
The naughty little boys, Zenny and Abu, play a very dangerous game of jumping on and off freight cars and during one such game, Abu is very badly injured, Mrs. Hata rushes him to the hospital where he just about makes it.
When Mrs. Hata goes to get her little truck loaded with the harvested cucumbers she finds it gone, stolen, the produce too stolen.
Rinko’s parents rush to help Mrs. Hata, sadly we are not told how Mrs. Hata copes...
Rinko was supposed to spend only a part of her holidays at Mrs. Hata’s and her parents ask her if she would like to go home, but unsurprisingly knowing how the people of Japan never let their friends and family down, Rinko refuses to come home.
She now loves Mrs. Hata and cannot imagine leaving her alone with the harvest and Abu so very ill.
Strangely, the Kenny Rogers’s song played in my mind...
"You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
With four hungry children and a crop in the field
I've had some bad times, lived through some sad times
But this time your hurting won't heal
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille"
Yes, the Japanese never desert their friends and family in times of crisis. I am greatly humbled...
The illustrations in this book are beautiful, just about amazing.
August 19, 2011
The Best Bad Thing is a good story about an 11 year old Japanese American girl whose mother makes her move in with a needy (and possibly crazy?) widow for a month to help out. Apparently even in the 1930s, moms made their kids do things they didn't want to do, little brothers were a pain in the you-know-what, and undocumented immigration was a contentious issue. Good book--but now I'm hungry for onigiri!
August 4, 2016
I read this a very long time ago as a kid and it was one of my first favorite books of all time. While I don't remember many details, I know a younger version of me would say highly recommended! :)
February 21, 2008
yoshiko uchida is a great historical fiction writer. she writes about historical things that are interesting and go with the story well. i enjoy all her books.
i liked the sequel to A Jar of Dreams; it was about not judging people by their first impressions, because there maybe something much nicer on the inside.
i liked the sequel to A Jar of Dreams; it was about not judging people by their first impressions, because there maybe something much nicer on the inside.
September 12, 2024
This is another one of those "child is forced to do something they don't want but ultimately appreciates it" stories, huh. Like, I get "go to other people's funerals, or they won't go to yours" (haha) but not "stay for A WHOLE MONTH at a near stranger's house"!! Luckily for young adult stories, it works out, but imagine if it hadn't? Especially considering the second "bad thing"—YIKES
(I may be overestimating how "near stranger" Mrs. Hata and her boys are, but it still strikes me as a weird demand to put on a child, to be live-in help for a whole month... true, I'm not and may never be a parent, but especially in this day and age, who would trust their child to actually be helpful for an entire month!)
Outside of my weird hang-up over what I'm sure was absolutely a thing back in 1935, it's a good story overall, with the benefit of being an English-language book about Japanese people written by a JAPANESE PERSON! How curiously rare, especially pre-2000s! ...I guess, to be fair, possibly I just have better access to books now than before, I don't know. I know my childhood red state wouldn't have been terribly great about that kind of thing.
Probably what I like best is that, had I been Rinko in 1935 America, I probably would have done EXACTLY what she did, 100%, down to the making up a new fancy middle name (which I did change, actually, but for other reasons). Definitely refreshing reading what feels like wholly and transparently autobiographical material, vs. plagiarised lawsuit material.
(I may be overestimating how "near stranger" Mrs. Hata and her boys are, but it still strikes me as a weird demand to put on a child, to be live-in help for a whole month... true, I'm not and may never be a parent, but especially in this day and age, who would trust their child to actually be helpful for an entire month!)
Outside of my weird hang-up over what I'm sure was absolutely a thing back in 1935, it's a good story overall, with the benefit of being an English-language book about Japanese people written by a JAPANESE PERSON! How curiously rare, especially pre-2000s! ...I guess, to be fair, possibly I just have better access to books now than before, I don't know. I know my childhood red state wouldn't have been terribly great about that kind of thing.
Probably what I like best is that, had I been Rinko in 1935 America, I probably would have done EXACTLY what she did, 100%, down to the making up a new fancy middle name (which I did change, actually, but for other reasons). Definitely refreshing reading what feels like wholly and transparently autobiographical material, vs. plagiarised lawsuit material.
April 22, 2024
Took me a weekend to read it. Such a good book! It's definitely a quick read, worth the read, set in the 1930, lessons learned for a little girl sent off to help a widowed woman for a month. The best bad thing of all.
June 25, 2025
Read this long ago in middle school and enjoyed it a lot, found it again and thought my two middle school age daughters might enjoy it but I reread it first just to make sure it still held up. And it does, what a wonderful book. Looking forward to passing it on to my girls now.
October 12, 2025
A fine little read about grief and prejudging people. Touches on immigration, welfare, widowhood.
I let my 9 yo read this.
CC: No language. Another kid who isn’t too high on religion, but she’s just a kid and has time to grow.
I let my 9 yo read this.
CC: No language. Another kid who isn’t too high on religion, but she’s just a kid and has time to grow.
September 25, 2018
Lovely, heartwarming
Read
February 3, 2021Asian American
Grades: 3-5
Lexile: 820L
Grades: 3-5
Lexile: 820L
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2023
Probably would have liked this better as a kid.
August 1, 2010
Rinko is a young Japanese American girl who enjoys life and is at that age where she’s trying to figure things out, mostly herself. She’s got a very strong, assertive mother who has such a good heart that she volunteers Rinko to live with a family friend who really needs an extra set of hands for the next month or so. Rinko doesn’t want to go, but she’s been raised to perform without complaint and she rises quite well to the occasion. Uchida deftly writes a coming of age story that is filled with several underlying themes that never weigh the story down. Uchida was the first Nissei (Japanese born American) to write about Japanese culture for young people. She wrote more than 30 books before passing away in 1992. May she rest in peace.
June 25, 2015
Guys I'm beginning to notice that I read a lot more diverse titles when I was a kid than I thought I did. Good job, baby!Britt, well done.
Ok, review time. I ADORED this book when I read it as a kid. Rinko was so real and had such a fantastic voice. I wanted to be her best friend. And I was fascinated by all the Japanese cultural elements in this book, just as much as I was fascinated with the time period. There's a sort of wistful quality to this book, a sort of summer-days-of-childhood remembrance in the author's tone that made me nostalgic, even though I was only like 9 when I read it. It's stayed with me for over 15 years, a fond spot in my childhood reading experience, and one I plan to repeat because this is the kind of book that does not get less awesome as you age.
Ok, review time. I ADORED this book when I read it as a kid. Rinko was so real and had such a fantastic voice. I wanted to be her best friend. And I was fascinated by all the Japanese cultural elements in this book, just as much as I was fascinated with the time period. There's a sort of wistful quality to this book, a sort of summer-days-of-childhood remembrance in the author's tone that made me nostalgic, even though I was only like 9 when I read it. It's stayed with me for over 15 years, a fond spot in my childhood reading experience, and one I plan to repeat because this is the kind of book that does not get less awesome as you age.
July 4, 2013
Rinko went to Mrs. Hata's house to help moving. She have 2 sons. They have a lot of troubles and also really terrible thing happen.
What is the 'best bad thing'?
I recommened this book to the great historical fiction reader.
What is the 'best bad thing'?
I recommened this book to the great historical fiction reader.
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February 5, 2009JAR4-Uch
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews