By Mariko Nagai
This is a short quick read about a time in our history that we should be ashamed of; when we placed individuals and families of Japanese descent into internment camps. At the onset of the United States entering WWII, after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, there was a lot of anger directed towards specific people from Asia. Even families that had been in the United States for generations were suspect.
It is almost eerie to me to see the correlations on how we treated the Japanese and how the German's treated the Jews and their political enemies. In the United States we separated an encamped the Japanese, but we fed them and treated them decently, but we still forced them to leave their home and friends for no real reason. Even though we treated the Japanese better, the idea of being forced from work, home, school and loved ones is troubling and was very difficult for Mina to understand. She considered herself to be an American, having been born in the United States and could not understand the anger directed towards herself and her family. This book is told in poetic verse as Mina traverses her frightening future. Her father was taken initially, then her Grandfather, mother and brother, Nick, were moved to the first camp. They were housed together, but the fear, confusion and anger was evident in their day to day lives.
Mina manages to come to terms with her encampment and learns to appreciate wherever she is. Even when they are transported far from home to Idaho she adapts and appreciates the school and teachers that come to teach the children. While she adapts, her brother Nick becomes angry that he is not trusted by his country. He wants to prove his honesty and eventually enrolls as a serviceman, much to his families anguish.
Will Mina and her family be able to return to Oregon, or will they have to move across the country in order to achieve their freedom? Will Nick make it home from the war? Whatever the answers, this poetic read is very poignant and enjoyable. Some of the pieces were hidden in meaning and beautifully written! Although, I understand why she chronicled her journey in this method, I missed the details that would have been in a memoir, therefor I am giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars and would encourage poetry lovers and others to take a look at this interesting book. This book is appropriate for fourth grade and up.
Links
Author - Mariko Nagai
Japanese Internment Camps
Images
Mina manages to come to terms with her encampment and learns to appreciate wherever she is. Even when they are transported far from home to Idaho she adapts and appreciates the school and teachers that come to teach the children. While she adapts, her brother Nick becomes angry that he is not trusted by his country. He wants to prove his honesty and eventually enrolls as a serviceman, much to his families anguish.
Will Mina and her family be able to return to Oregon, or will they have to move across the country in order to achieve their freedom? Will Nick make it home from the war? Whatever the answers, this poetic read is very poignant and enjoyable. Some of the pieces were hidden in meaning and beautifully written! Although, I understand why she chronicled her journey in this method, I missed the details that would have been in a memoir, therefor I am giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars and would encourage poetry lovers and others to take a look at this interesting book. This book is appropriate for fourth grade and up.
Links
Author - Mariko Nagai
Japanese Internment Camps
Images
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