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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Great book! WWII from the perspective of a family of Japanese descent in Hawaii in 1941. Fear-driven prejudice is rampant and times are challenging, to say the least. Baseball, war, true friendship... this book would be great for 5th grade and up interested in historical fiction. I read this book as an evaluator because it was on the "red flag" shelf in the elementary library. It does contain the "d word" about 6-7 times, which is unfortunate because the book would be just as good without it.
I really enjoyed listening to this book on audio. I thought the narrator did a lovely job of varying his speed when things were more pensive versus more exciting. Plus, I think I would have been one of those haoles that would have mis-pronounced Tomi's name.
As far as the story, I thought it was steeped in history and honesty and complex connections. Tomi's story, I imagine, is not unusual in Hawaiian families, and I liked learning about a less commonly known part of U.S. history. It makes sense to me that there were many Japanese immigrants in Hawaii, but I didn't know there were internment camps there, too.
That being said, I had two different groups of students reading this book in my 9th grade classrooms. Both opted to read it after a book talk in class. One group were all girls, and they were fairly high-level readers and confident analyzers. I think they grasped more of the book than the other group, a group of boys varying from readers who were below grade level to on grade level. Two of the boys wanted to read the book because they love sports, but playing baseball was such a small part of the story that they really just read the first chapter or two and then stopped. One of the boys enjoyed reading it in middle school and thought rereading it would be easy, but I think he was surprised to find that he noticed different things through our reading group lens of "power." The final boy in that group was reading it for the first time, and I feel certain got through the whole thing, but some parts of the experience of growing up in Hawaii and the various groups of people who live there were fairly hard for him to understand. I explained some of the power dynamics between haoles and native Hawaiians and Japanese immigrants, but I think those discussions happened too late in the book for him and he just missed understanding some things.
All in all, I enjoyed the book certainly, but I don't really feel like I need to continue on in the series, even though it looks like book #3 (why not #2?) picks up with Tomi immediately after this book ends.
As far as the story, I thought it was steeped in history and honesty and complex connections. Tomi's story, I imagine, is not unusual in Hawaiian families, and I liked learning about a less commonly known part of U.S. history. It makes sense to me that there were many Japanese immigrants in Hawaii, but I didn't know there were internment camps there, too.
That being said, I had two different groups of students reading this book in my 9th grade classrooms. Both opted to read it after a book talk in class. One group were all girls, and they were fairly high-level readers and confident analyzers. I think they grasped more of the book than the other group, a group of boys varying from readers who were below grade level to on grade level. Two of the boys wanted to read the book because they love sports, but playing baseball was such a small part of the story that they really just read the first chapter or two and then stopped. One of the boys enjoyed reading it in middle school and thought rereading it would be easy, but I think he was surprised to find that he noticed different things through our reading group lens of "power." The final boy in that group was reading it for the first time, and I feel certain got through the whole thing, but some parts of the experience of growing up in Hawaii and the various groups of people who live there were fairly hard for him to understand. I explained some of the power dynamics between haoles and native Hawaiians and Japanese immigrants, but I think those discussions happened too late in the book for him and he just missed understanding some things.
All in all, I enjoyed the book certainly, but I don't really feel like I need to continue on in the series, even though it looks like book #3 (why not #2?) picks up with Tomi immediately after this book ends.
Great read - the story of a Japanese-American family in the days before and after the attack on Pearl Harbour. War creates such fear of whole groups of people, such complex reactions, politics, and saftey concerns, that kindness is forgotten and the innocent are punished. Eye opening for students.
A perfect almost teen boy book, also enjoyed by dad. This is a perfect mix of sports and young male bravado with some important messages and themes thrown in. Some of the antagonists were fairly one dimensional and too true to the stereotype but it is a great story filled with love for family, horrible things wars bring and great friendships. Americas past actions are far from perfect and the internment of japanese-americans was one of the darker parts, this novel tries to show both sides good and bad without making too many strong judgements (until the afterword). My son is a reluctant reader, not only did he read this with his class willingly, he suggested we listen to it on a long vacation road trip. Recommended for any boys (or girls) 9-15
PRESENTATION
Japanese American Tomi just wants to fit in, but in the polarized climate of Honolulu just prior to the United States entering WWII, "Japs" are anything but trusted. It doesn't help that his immigrant Grandfather is fiercely patriotic, displaying his Japanese flag and samurai sword whenever he gets the chance. When Pearl Harbor is bombed, this implicit mistrust becomes explicit, and Tomi's father and grandfather are sent to internment camps. Tomi must now be the man of the house, but he's still dealing with bullies and misunderstanding close to home. Salisbury's ability to capture the fear of the time period against a backdrop of breathtaking beauty and normal teen concerns make this novel one of my favorite works of historical fiction. Recommended for reluctant readers of all stripes as well as middle grade and teen readers interested in one boy's account of the events of Pearl Harbor during WWII.
Japanese American Tomi just wants to fit in, but in the polarized climate of Honolulu just prior to the United States entering WWII, "Japs" are anything but trusted. It doesn't help that his immigrant Grandfather is fiercely patriotic, displaying his Japanese flag and samurai sword whenever he gets the chance. When Pearl Harbor is bombed, this implicit mistrust becomes explicit, and Tomi's father and grandfather are sent to internment camps. Tomi must now be the man of the house, but he's still dealing with bullies and misunderstanding close to home. Salisbury's ability to capture the fear of the time period against a backdrop of breathtaking beauty and normal teen concerns make this novel one of my favorite works of historical fiction. Recommended for reluctant readers of all stripes as well as middle grade and teen readers interested in one boy's account of the events of Pearl Harbor during WWII.
This was a solid story. I really liked the unique perspective taken in this novel of a Japanese-American in the midst of the Pearl Harbor bombing. Most WWII books focus on Nazi Germany and ignore the atrocities committed in our own country, so it was kind of refreshing to see Salisbury tackle such an important component of America’s troubled past. Using this historical background, Salisbury also managed to create a fantastic coming-of-age story that highlighted how drastically a war can change a young man’s life.
To read more of my thoughts on this book, check out
https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/2021/02/12/under-the-blood-red-sun-by-graham-salisbury/
To read more of my thoughts on this book, check out
https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/2021/02/12/under-the-blood-red-sun-by-graham-salisbury/
See "recent reads review" on youtube channel (linked in bio)
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Blood
☼ 215/ 100
This was a fantastic story that was gifted to me by an old coworker when I asked for book recommendations that made her cry. Whilst I didn't cry this was a very emotional story.
It follows Tomi, a Hawaiian-Japanese boy whose grandparents had immigrated from Japan to Hawaii to escape poverty. It takes place during World War II, when the U.S. had yet to 'join' the war and Tomi believes the war won't touch him since he's in the middle of the ocean. That all changes when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor and Japanese men are taken from their families and arrested. Tomi now has to take care of his little sister and mother. Not only is this a novel about history but it also tells the story of Hawaiian locals and friendship excellently, in my opinion.
I was born and raised in Maui, Hawai'i my whole life, and one thing Graham Salisbury did fantastic was getting the lingo DOWN. I find it hard to read books that are told in a certain dialect/ accent, but I guess growing up here helped me not struggle that much in this novel.
I will say this was well-written, but I found myself bored because I think this is written for a younger male audience and I am the opposite of both of those things. I was mostly bored of this though because I didn't realize I had watched the movie for this back in high school and they did a fantastic adaptation, so the plot of this was repetitive in my brain.
I'm probably going to pass this book along since I probably won't think about this book again, but I am glad I read it.
This was a fantastic story that was gifted to me by an old coworker when I asked for book recommendations that made her cry. Whilst I didn't cry this was a very emotional story.
It follows Tomi, a Hawaiian-Japanese boy whose grandparents had immigrated from Japan to Hawaii to escape poverty. It takes place during World War II, when the U.S. had yet to 'join' the war and Tomi believes the war won't touch him since he's in the middle of the ocean. That all changes when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor and Japanese men are taken from their families and arrested. Tomi now has to take care of his little sister and mother. Not only is this a novel about history but it also tells the story of Hawaiian locals and friendship excellently, in my opinion.
I was born and raised in Maui, Hawai'i my whole life, and one thing Graham Salisbury did fantastic was getting the lingo DOWN. I find it hard to read books that are told in a certain dialect/ accent, but I guess growing up here helped me not struggle that much in this novel.
I will say this was well-written, but I found myself bored because I think this is written for a younger male audience and I am the opposite of both of those things. I was mostly bored of this though because I didn't realize I had watched the movie for this back in high school and they did a fantastic adaptation, so the plot of this was repetitive in my brain.
I'm probably going to pass this book along since I probably won't think about this book again, but I am glad I read it.
This was one of the great books from my childhood. Well done.