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“it was a very nice story”
shaylah j wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book is not so much an analysis of the internment of the Japanese-Americans as it is primarily the story of one girl who had to go through that experience, and how she dealt with it.
Ranko wrote this review Sunday, December 21 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The book talks about how the Nisei were culturally more American than Japanese, maintaining some traditions from their Japanese heritage, but mainly adapting American cultural practices. Many of them did not even really speak much if any Japanese.
She writes about how she attended (before the internment) both American public school and the traditional Japanese language school. This was quite a burden for elementary-school students. She talks about how the Chinese in Chinatown looked down on the Japanese. She also talks about the stereotyped editorial cartoons in the papers, how people stared at them, how others refused to serve them, and how they still tried to say they were really Americans.
She writes about how, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, men from the FBI rounded up various persons of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast (she and her family were in Seattle). Eventually she ends up in the Puyallup assembly center (known as Camp Harmony). Early on, she notes, about half the camp suffered from food poisoning.
Like the other internees, they eventually got moved to a relocation center/internment camp, in their case Camp Minidoka. She writes about how one man died from exposure to the cold because he didn't have proper clothing (although the internees really didn't have time, or foreknowledge, to pack “proper” clothing.)
It's a very personal type of writing and very interesting. The majority of the book is devoted to her life before the assembly and internment camp, but the parts on the camps are still quite fascinating.
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“I thought this book was wonderful! The author has such a charming style of writing. She combines a light sense of humor with some very serious issues. I enjoy reading about other cultures, and it was interesting to read about the intertwining of the Japanese and American cultures and how she dealt with being removed to an internment camp in the country that was her home.”
Ruth C wrote this review Sunday, October 26 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“My library is participating in the “One Book, One Community” program and as a library employee I was happy to read this book and to support this excellent program. The author lives in a neighboring city and I look forward to meeting her at one of the seventeen special events and book discussion sessions planned for the program.
Karen K - Ohio wrote this review Monday, September 29 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The first half of the book is a touching and humorous account of a young girl growing up in Seattle, raised by loving parents who happen to be Japanese immigrants. Ni means second and Sei is generation.
The second part of the book is heartbreaking as the author and her family face discrimination and prejudice and eventual evacuation to concentration camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. But even their incarceration is told with humor and optimism. ”
“Fast, gentle read. An interesting look at a young girl growing up more American than Japanese in San Francisco and suddenly finding her family and neighbors are outcasts forced to live in bunkers at the fairgrounds. I wish the author spent more time talking about her very interesting post-war life, but look forward to hearing her in person at an event for our city's "One Book, One Community" program.”
Sherie B wrote this review Friday, September 19 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“it was ok... i got to learn a little something about japanese culture”
dianlyn c wrote this review Sunday, April 6 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No![melissa =]](http://shelfari-userimages.s3.amazonaws.com/usr1425123633378435806988750.jpg)
“this book was ok.. it was kinda slow for me. but the way her parents japanese culture intertwines with the american culture around her is interesting.”
melissa =] wrote this review Tuesday, February 5 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A great book. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and didn't realize much of this had occured because we didn't learn about it in school. A must read for anyone in PNW, or if you like WWII era biography.”
Hollye K wrote this review Tuesday, December 18 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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