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taylormadespines's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
carolineinthelibrary's review
5.0
This is an absolutely beautiful story about George and Tama and the love they built in Minidoka, a Japanese American internment camp. If you want a sweet and inspiring story about what it means to be human, this is it.
beyondevak's review
5.0
Quick Summary: A love in the midst of a trial no-fi story
My Review: Love in the Library written by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrated by Yas Imamura was a beautifully written and illustrated book based on the lives of the author's grandparents. It tells of the love they found together while they were interned during WWII.
My Final Say: This story, like so many others, reveals a very necessary truth from U.S. history that deserves to be told. Although the book focuses on a treasure that was found between two young people in love, it also shined a light on the dark foolishness that existed which caused the unfair and harsh treatment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War.
Other: I love that the author gives a voice to those who were for a time considered voiceless. I remain impressed by her unapologetic and unwavering stance. Additionally, the artwork depicted on each page was perfect. The colors, movement, and range spoke volumes.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Youth to Adult
Suggestion: Family Read Aloud, School/Community Library, Youth Book Club, Multicultural Studies Lit Program
#libraryfind
#recommendedread
My Review: Love in the Library written by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrated by Yas Imamura was a beautifully written and illustrated book based on the lives of the author's grandparents. It tells of the love they found together while they were interned during WWII.
My Final Say: This story, like so many others, reveals a very necessary truth from U.S. history that deserves to be told. Although the book focuses on a treasure that was found between two young people in love, it also shined a light on the dark foolishness that existed which caused the unfair and harsh treatment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War.
Other: I love that the author gives a voice to those who were for a time considered voiceless. I remain impressed by her unapologetic and unwavering stance. Additionally, the artwork depicted on each page was perfect. The colors, movement, and range spoke volumes.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Youth to Adult
Suggestion: Family Read Aloud, School/Community Library, Youth Book Club, Multicultural Studies Lit Program
#libraryfind
#recommendedread
dipali17's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Powerful, beautiful, necessary.
ryanwriter's review
5.0
Excellent picture book about falling in love in the midst of such a terrible injustice. And today Scholastic showed their moral cowardice by wanting to license the book if the author censored her afterword (https://www.npr.org/2023/04/15/1169848627/scholastic-childrens-book-racism) of mentions of racism. The US government, starting under President Carter, then continuing under President Reagan admitted that the mass incarceration of American citizens was based on "race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership." (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-2007-pt3/html/CRECB-2007-pt3-Pg3719.htm) The record shows that the point of the legislation and the Day of Remembrance was about learning, reconciliation, and healing. A quote from the record, by Mr. Honda, "It is critical that we educate all Americans of the Japanese American experience during World War II, as well as the experience of other Americans, like the Japanese Latin Americans." Scholastic isn't interested in educating anyone, or in respecting those wronged in this country—if they were, they wouldn't have made the author an offer contingent on censoring what she wrote.
xsleepyshadows's review
5.0
I read this for library card sign up month about a year ago.
Finding love in a library at a Japanese internment camp is both lovely and heartbreaking. It's amazing how love can grow despite such hardships, it carries a hopeful tone.
Finding love in a library at a Japanese internment camp is both lovely and heartbreaking. It's amazing how love can grow despite such hardships, it carries a hopeful tone.
eleana_p's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kellyjcm's review
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Based on the true story of how the author’s grandparents met at Minidoka, a Japanese internment camp. Text and author’s note emphasize that this miraculous event does note excuse or minimize the pain and trauma of being wrongfully imprisoned. Bittersweet and lovely.
Illustrations evoke the 1940s with a nostalgic air. Gouache and watercolor.
Illustrations evoke the 1940s with a nostalgic air. Gouache and watercolor.