American Tomodachi

Peg O'Brien is a perky, happy, and typically sarcastic pre-teen living a happy life in small town America until she gets news that will change her life forever. The good news -- her father finally gets the promotion he's always wanted. The bad news -- the family must relocate to Tokyo. Peg is devastated to move away from her home, her country and her best friend to live in a strange new place.

Once in Japan, Peg must adjust to a new language, a confusing city, and impossible experiences like eating soup with chopsticks, and the complexities of taking baths with groups of strangers. At home, she must deal with a family led by a mother who is becoming obsessed with anything Japanese, a once-attentive father who disappears into his job as a workaholic salaryman and a creepy older brother who keeps getting, well, creepier.

But, worst of all, Peg must try make new friends in Japan while struggling against all odds to keep a long distance friendship with her oldest and dearest pal back home.

Bill Anderson was born in the Midwest, United States, where he dreamed of growing up to be the first baseman of the Chicago Cubs, have a dog like Lassie, and marry a girl like the Flintstones' Betty Rubble. After coming to the realization that he would never be President of the United States, he quit his government job and began writing. He now lives in Northern California with his son Lucifer, daughters Wasilla and Exema, and his wife Betty.