Reviews

Heartbreaking account of the Japanese American experience during the period of forced incarceration after the Pearl Harbor bombing from the perspective of a group of teenagers from the Japantown neighborhood in San Francisco. Incredible use of many interrelated characters to provide a multitude of perspectives of their experience, the injustice, the inhumanity and the challenges they faced both externally and internally. Highly recommend.

roseleaf24's review

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5.0

This is a heartbreaking read about the internment of the Japanese during World War II. The multiple viewpoints allows for a fuller understanding of the effects and experiences of this horrible party of our history, but as they reach get one solid chunk of the narrative, it's not confusing at all. The love between friends, the community that develops wherever you are, and the desolation of grief are all shown here in beautiful ways. There is so much here that applies to our country today, as well. And as I have in the last five years heard this imprisonment and relocation used as an example of what it is okay for us to do to those we distrust for no legitimate reason, I have to say it is an important book that I hope everyone reads.

katsbooks's review against another edition

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emotional informative 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? No

5.0

“Gaman. The ability to hold your pain and bitterness inside you and not let them destroy you. To make something beautiful through your anger, or with your anger, and neither erase it nor let it define you. To suffer. And to rage. And to persevere.”

“I want to believe in right and wrong. Here is what's right. Here is what isn't. Here is the line. Here is the question: If I go to war for America, if I kill for America, if I support an America that doesn't support me, and I supporting my oppressors? Am I killing their enemies so they can later kill me?”

“We could do everything right, and they’d still think we were dangerous.”

“We are not free. But we are not alone.”

haniah__x's review

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4.0

That cover is gorgeous though. And the back!

We Are Not Free truly enlightened me of a horribly hushed up side of the war that I hadn't even heard of before - when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry were removed from their homes and forced into incarceration camps. Their own country had imprisoned them.

So to Traci Chee, I am incredibly grateful because the best books always teach you something.

Here are some quotes I think best sum up this book:

"Why won't they just call this what it is? Why does everyone keep lying?
They said we were citizens. They said we were "dangerous". They said it was an "evacuation" and a "migration", not an incarceration.
They said the camps were full of opportunity.
They said they weren't violating our rights."

"If I go to war for America, if I kill for America, if I support an America that doesn't support me, am I supporting my oppressors? Am I killing their enemies so they can later kill me?"

"We could do everything right, and they’d still think we were dangerous."

"I'm not guilty of anything but being born with this face."

"Tyranny is locking us up. Tyranny is taking our freedom. Tyranny is right here. Tyranny is American."

aweekinthelife's review against another edition

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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? No

5.0

a stunningly written novel where each chapter is from the perspective of a different SF Japantown teen starting in 1942. the different perspectives tie together really well to tell a cohesive yet diverse story and the stories start in the weeks leading up to Japanese incarceration through the end of the war.

audiobook was phenomenal with a whole group of narrators that really did a phenomenal job bringing the characters to life. highly recommend for everyone.

bizzybeph's review

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challenging emotional funny informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

tilla's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.5

This was so good. The writing really made me feel for all of these characters and was so good at shedding light on a part of history I only know about on a surface level. The bonds between the characters were beautiful. At first I didn't know how to feel about every chapter being from a different character's view, but it worked so well with how they were all part of each others lifes. Almost all chapters had a lump forming in my throat and tears coming to my eyes.

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