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cfh's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
bougies_et_etoiles's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing, fast-paced novel following the perspectives of three teenagers navigating a world that has turned their comfortable lives upside down during the hardships that WW2 brought. Highly recommend it for anyone interested in seeing what life was like for Germans and Japanese in America and in Europe and the Orient, for this book allows you to travel while sitting on a couch.
justicepirate's review against another edition
3.0
This story takes us through the perspectives of three characters during WWII. The first one is a Japanese born woman who has lived and traveled around the world due to her father being a diplomat. Her name is Emi Kato. She is in love with Leo and is so sad to be leaving him, as he is from Austria, a place she had lived in for a time. In the early part of the book we don't really know much about him other than her obsession. As the story goes on we learn much more about his life (more in the second half). The second character we learn a lot about is Christian, who is an American born to German parents. He struggles with life in an internment camp.
This story is filled with passion and love as well as the hatred of people who are of different races. It is also about how a heart can change and how other hearts can have persistence and patience. It is a sad story many times and is not meant for those who are minors. It was well written.
This story is filled with passion and love as well as the hatred of people who are of different races. It is also about how a heart can change and how other hearts can have persistence and patience. It is a sad story many times and is not meant for those who are minors. It was well written.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
What an epic story! Emi Kato is the daughter of a Japanese diplomat living in the United States as Pearl Harbor occurs. She has two loves in a short amount of time and this story documents those loves as they happen and what happens after.
The best thing about this book is that Emi, Christian and Leo each get the opportunity to narrate their part of the story. I love how the book was crafted and where you initially meet Emi and then the going back in time to see how she meet each boy and their impact on her life. Emi is the main character, but Christian and Leo are so integral to the story and showing the many different impacts that World War II on different types of people.
What an epic story! Emi Kato is the daughter of a Japanese diplomat living in the United States as Pearl Harbor occurs. She has two loves in a short amount of time and this story documents those loves as they happen and what happens after.
The best thing about this book is that Emi, Christian and Leo each get the opportunity to narrate their part of the story. I love how the book was crafted and where you initially meet Emi and then the going back in time to see how she meet each boy and their impact on her life. Emi is the main character, but Christian and Leo are so integral to the story and showing the many different impacts that World War II on different types of people.
ori_gina_lity's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn’t swept away at the outset of this book, nor in the first 100 pages. It might have been the fact that I’ve read several WWII novels but I’m so glad I stuck with this one. 3 distinct voices make up this romantic Multi-point of view story, the romantic elements appeared early in the novel but I was pleasantly surprised by the grit and realistic nature as their stories progressed. 4/5 stars.
sarah_reading_party's review against another edition
4.0
Worth the read if you like historical fiction! There was so much going on in this book... so much travel, so many relationships and back and forth, so much historical detail. It was a bit overwhelming at times, but it was so rich and beautiful as well. I always appreciate a non-European WWII book and this fits the bill perfectly (though part does take place in Europe).
kpitsker's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Well written and offered a different perspective (or really several perspectives) on WWII. Slow overall, but the final section felt rushed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, War, and Rape
Moderate: Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Death, and Violence
annelisengan's review against another edition
3.0
Another facet of WWII. But the romances felt too contemporary, not with the restriction of that era.
mrshuisman's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
toritori's review against another edition
Interesting premise and I like the prose. Picked it out completely at random from the library.
However, due to the content (mainlypregnancy loss ), which is NOT a deal breaker for me but in this case felt just poorly handled I am gonna drop this. I probably would have pushed on but since I just wasn’t having fun when this happened I will DNF. Too many books to read for me to read something I’m not enjoying
However, due to the content (mainly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death