Journey to Topaz Study Guide

Eleven-year-old Yuki Sakane is excited for Christmas to arrive. Although there is no snow in Berkeley, California, Yuki remembers that when she was six years old there was snow. Yuki has a full, round face framed by bangs and straight, black hair that falls to her shoulders. Mrs. Sakane is preparing dinner for the Sakane family, a family of Japanese Americans. Yuki goes into the yard, plays with her dog Pepper and watches a big gray carp swim in the yard pond. Today is Sunday, and usually Sunday dinners consist of Japanese food served for several guests. Today, however, there will be no guests, which Yuki prefers. Mrs. Sakane calls Yuki for dinner, and Yuki calls Mr. Sakane, who is gardening. Yuki goes inside the house and briefly watches her canary, Old Salt, who is named after a neighbor's recently deceased parrot. Yuki doesn't think the name Old Salt is particularly fitting for a canary, but she used the name to honor the neighbor's pet. (read more)