Reviews

Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

halfpintlaur's review against another edition

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5.0

Yonsei here! My grandparents also found love in the camps (Rohwer). This book is a very important part of history that isn’t talked about often. Scholastic offering publication under the premise that all references to racism were removed is an absolute outrage, not to mention a move in the opposite direction that society needs to strive for. In awe that the author refused their “offer.” Hearing the story, I knew I needed to purchase a copy to keep the history alive and teach my son the injustice that the Japanese Americans (and so many others) have faced in American history.

chelseavk's review against another edition

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inspiring fast-paced

4.0

draculaura21's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I cried. Would give more stars if I could. Absolutely beautiful.

readmoreyall's review against another edition

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5.0

The book is gorgeous and the authors note is AMAZING.

taylormadespines's review against another edition

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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 against another edition

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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.

terrapoetic's review

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hopeful inspiring reflective

3.5

beyondevak's review against another edition

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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

dipali17's review against another edition

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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 against another edition

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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.