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A review by storiesandsidequests
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
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.
Graphic: Death, Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Violence