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juniper8482's review
emotional
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Gun violence
thenovelmaura's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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? No
5.0
I absolutely loved this powerful YA historical fiction read and I hope you'll consider adding it to your TBR. I want to start my review by saying that the word "internment" is a euphemism for the mass incarceration of these American citizens during World War II. It is more accurate to describe the places where Japanese Americans were held as either prison or concentration camps, and I will be using the language of incarceration here.
Honestly, I when I saw that there were 14 main characters in this book, I was a bit wary! I thought it would be hard to keep track of everyone, and I did use guide at the front of the book many times! However, Chee's characters were so distinct and vibrant that I only needed a brief reminder before I placed them within the group. Through these teens, Chee is able to explore a multitude of reactions to the injustice of their incarcerations; Frankie and Aiko's anger, Bette and Stan's optimism, Mas and Yum-Yum's sense of duty.
I deeply appreciated the range of this book, from the initial evacuation, to the relocation to Tule Lake, to the deployment of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and everything in between. I don't often cry while reading, but I teared up at both the beginning and the end of this one. Despite the heavy subject, there were also many moments of levity, humor, and hope. This topic likely hits close to home if you are related to a formerly-incarcerated Japanese person, so I understand if it's not one you feel comfortable picking up. But for everyone else, this is a must-read.
Honestly, I when I saw that there were 14 main characters in this book, I was a bit wary! I thought it would be hard to keep track of everyone, and I did use guide at the front of the book many times! However, Chee's characters were so distinct and vibrant that I only needed a brief reminder before I placed them within the group. Through these teens, Chee is able to explore a multitude of reactions to the injustice of their incarcerations; Frankie and Aiko's anger, Bette and Stan's optimism, Mas and Yum-Yum's sense of duty.
I deeply appreciated the range of this book, from the initial evacuation, to the relocation to Tule Lake, to the deployment of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and everything in between. I don't often cry while reading, but I teared up at both the beginning and the end of this one. Despite the heavy subject, there were also many moments of levity, humor, and hope. This topic likely hits close to home if you are related to a formerly-incarcerated Japanese person, so I understand if it's not one you feel comfortable picking up. But for everyone else, this is a must-read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
library_dreamer's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
keelin's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Death of parent, Death, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse
michelejenn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
jaec11's review
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.5
This book was challenging and emotional and painful, but in a remarkable way.
It is the story of Japanese Americans during WWII, and it follows a group of 14 as they put in internment camps and then spread out from there.
It is heartbreaking to read these stories, but so necessary. You can feel the pain and the hope and the love and the family through the stories. It is emotional and impactful
I did find it hard to keep track of the characters at time, and how they were interconnected, but they really created a sense of family and community that was heartwrenching to read
PG++ for racism and violence
It is the story of Japanese Americans during WWII, and it follows a group of 14 as they put in internment camps and then spread out from there.
It is heartbreaking to read these stories, but so necessary. You can feel the pain and the hope and the love and the family through the stories. It is emotional and impactful
I did find it hard to keep track of the characters at time, and how they were interconnected, but they really created a sense of family and community that was heartwrenching to read
PG++ for racism and violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Hate crime, and Forced institutionalization
storiesandsidequests's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This historical fiction YA novel is the collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II. As a Japanese-American, this book hit so hard. I’m not generally an emotional person but I teared up several times reading this. Although the characters are all connected, it was a little difficult keeping track of all of them since there are so many perspectives. However, it was easy to connect with each character when we were reading from their point of view.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Violence
emilyeehaw's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
oh this was lovely. it combined so many of my favorite things: historical fiction from non-white perspectives, the found family trope/group of ragtag kids finding each other, multiple points of view...truly loved it!
this book follows 14 perspectives during the 1940s when Japanese people living in america were forcibly removed from their homes and put into detention centers, basically prisons just for their identity. through these 14 different lenses we get to see how the war and the racism and prejudice of the 1940s has impacted them and their families.
though i have read several books about this time period, it is always horrifying to read about the reality of the situation and how Japanese people were treated. traci chee did a great job of exploring these atrocities and connecting it to modern day....how history will repeat itself if we're not aware of what's going on in our world.
though i struggled to connect with some of the perspectives, i still loved the overall story and how it incorporated mixed media elements.
this book follows 14 perspectives during the 1940s when Japanese people living in america were forcibly removed from their homes and put into detention centers, basically prisons just for their identity. through these 14 different lenses we get to see how the war and the racism and prejudice of the 1940s has impacted them and their families.
though i have read several books about this time period, it is always horrifying to read about the reality of the situation and how Japanese people were treated. traci chee did a great job of exploring these atrocities and connecting it to modern day....how history will repeat itself if we're not aware of what's going on in our world.
though i struggled to connect with some of the perspectives, i still loved the overall story and how it incorporated mixed media elements.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Violence
wenwanzhao's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Racism
k_nandezzz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
Reading from all of the different perspectives was so great! We really got to see what each character was feeling and the things they went through together and separately. It was really hard to read at times and it made me cry and sad and feel hopeful at times as well. It was such a heartbreaking story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia