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The No-No Boys (Home-Front Heroes)

by Teresa R. Funke (Goodreads Author)

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 17 ratings · 8 reviews

Based on a true story in the winter of 1943... Fourteen-year-old Tai Shimoda's family has lost everything. Like many other Japanese-Americans at the start of World War II, Tai's family has been forced to leave their home and move to Tule Lake Relocation Center-a desolate camp surrounded by barbed wire in northern California. Though he misses his home in Sacramento, Tai kee...more

Paperback, 164 pages

Published November 1st 2008 by Bailiwick Press

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May 13, 2012 Abi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mg-historical-fict

Tai is a young teenaged American kid during WW2. His parents immigrated from Japan, but he was born here. Now, because of the war, they and other Japanese people are living behind a fence in a military-controlled internment camp. This book is the story of Tai's struggle to choose a side: between his father's pro-America and "the fence post that sticks up is hammered down" stance and his older brother's anger at the American government (THEIR government) for locking them up when they did nothing...more Tai is a young teenaged American kid during WW2. His parents immigrated from Japan, but he was born here. Now, because of the war, they and other Japanese people are living behind a fence in a military-controlled internment camp. This book is the story of Tai's struggle to choose a side: between his father's pro-America and "the fence post that sticks up is hammered down" stance and his older brother's anger at the American government (THEIR government) for locking them up when they did nothing wrong. Tai is an average, sports-loving, crush-having kid, but due to his heritage and when he was born, he does not have average choices.

This book was 2.5 stars for me. There were lovely moments in the story (everything involving Eiko, his aunt, was wonderful, as were any bits of dialogue or action). I learned new facts about life in Japanese internment camps (even though I have read several stories set there - for instance, I'd never thought much about the pledge to be loyal and join the military if called upon that Japanese-American boys/men over 18 were asked to sign, or that families were moved based on whether or not they signed that pledge). I can also see how accessible this would be for young and/or literal readers. The sentences are clear, the narrative structure is straightforward, etc.

However, the exposition slowed things down for me (but provided careful insights into historical facts). That's the kind of book it is - careful, and a blend of information and story - and I'm not the right reader for that. I like artistry and fast-pace action, while Teresa R. Funke excels at clarity, simplicity, and accuracy.

I did connect with Tai, though, as the book went on. I was moved by his struggles with his brother and father and dealing with the crushing blow of what happens to Eiko. However, I was confused at one part in the last 3rd of the book, where this shy boy appears to be cavalierly asking his crush, Kiomi, to dance. In another couple of pages, though, he has a conversation with her that makes more sense to me. (He's awkward as they talk about writing each other if they're moved to different camps - it rings true to his character.) This left me wondering if someone was kicking themselves for missing a mistake, or if I just really, really misunderstood something.

Otherwise, the book is logical, readable, and has a clear story arc. Good for those interested in the stories of Japanese-American children in WW2, and part of a SERIES of carefully researched stories about what kids did back at home during that war (all inspired by real tales).(less)

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Jun 29, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

** Please note I did receive a copy of this book from Goodread's "First Read" giveaway. **

First of all a big thank you to Teresa Funke for the kind note with the book and for signing it. That was an unexpected kindness from an author and I appreciated it.

The Japanese Internment is a subject near my heart. I first learned about the event in middle school when I was brainstorming ideas for a History Fair. My mom was the one who taught me what happened and frankly, I was shocked. I understand more...more ** Please note I did receive a copy of this book from Goodread's "First Read" giveaway. **

First of all a big thank you to Teresa Funke for the kind note with the book and for signing it. That was an unexpected kindness from an author and I appreciated it.

The Japanese Internment is a subject near my heart. I first learned about the event in middle school when I was brainstorming ideas for a History Fair. My mom was the one who taught me what happened and frankly, I was shocked. I understand more about it now that I am an adult, but it still deeply bothers me and I have nothing but compassion for the Japanese-Americans who were forced to leave everything and be relocated into camps during WW II.

As I student-taught last year, I was able to teach an entire unit on the Internment to a 7th grade Honors English class. It was an amazing experience. It's vitally important our children learn this type of history so we will NEVER repeat such actions again. I'm always on the lookout for good YA literature on the Internment and Funke did not fail to please.

The book focuses on Tai Shimoda and his family who were forced to leave their home in California and were "relocated" to Tule Lake Relocation Center (also in CA). Funke does a great job of relating what life was like at Tule Lake as well as showing the mix of confusing feelings the Japanese-Americans encountered. When Japanese-Americans entered the camp, they were asked to fill out a form which questioned their loyalty to America as well as asking if they would be willing to serve in the US Army. Most marked "yes-yes" but some chose "no-no"--some because of hurt and anger, others because they believed it would allow their families to stay together.

I liked that the book was straight-forward and relateable to an YA audience. I got a good sense of the camp and the dilemma that families faced and the different attitudes they had toward what they were facing. It is simply written and would be totally appropriate for 5th grade and up. I'll be adding "The No-No Boys" to my collection of Japanese Internment YA Literature and hopefully into my class curriculum.

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Jul 24, 2012 Eden Steffey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Megan

Recommended to Eden by: Goodreads

I really enjoyed reading this book. I received this book as a winner of a goodreads drawing and am so glad I did! It is set in 1943 at a Japanese Interment Camp and centers around a 14-year-old boy who is struggling to decide whether to stay loyal to the United States or whether to follow in his older brothers footsteps and become angry and resentful to the country he is a citizen of, but was willing to put him in a camp. I have read many stories about this period in the history of the United St...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Teri rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

Teresa Funke's The No-No Boys is part of her Home-Front Heroes series about World War II, written for youth. I felt it was well written and worthy of adult readership. The story centers on a young boy, Tai, and life in a Japanese internment camp during the war. I've done some research on Grenada, the internment camp in Colorado and felt that Funke does a great job of giving the reader an internal view of life in these camps.

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Aug 03, 2012 Marianne Mitchell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've enjoyed reading all of Teresa Funke's WWII historical fiction books but this one is my favorite. She's done excellent research into an era that isn't talked about enough in this country--when we put our own citizens in internment camps and treated them like the enemy. Kids and adults should read this book so this kind of treatment never happens again.

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Jun 05, 2012 Carol marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I grew up in Northern California and I never realized this had happened there. Can't wait to read more about it.

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Sep 28, 2011 Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think I read a different book with the same title on the same subject.

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Jul 31, 2009 Mike rated it 5 of 5 stars

C'mon now, she's my sister, so she's always going to get five stars. Honestly, though, I think this is her best effort to date. The book reads very well. Perhaps it's because its main character is a boy, so I relate better. Either way, this would be a great book for a young reader as it recalls the unforgivable act of imprisoning U.S. citizens during the war.

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Apr 27, 2013 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Shelves: historical-fiction

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Shelves: middleschool, ya-sci-fi-fantasy

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Jun 21, 2012 Jerica rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads

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About Teresa R. Funke

Teresa Funke is the author of six novels for adults and children about World War II including Remember Wake, Dancing in Combat Boots, and the Home-Front Heroes Series. She is also a popular writer's coach offering one-on-one and group coaching to clients nationwide. She is also a keynote speaker.

Her short stories, articles, and essays have appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and anthologie...more

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“One day this war will end. And when it does, Tule Lake will be just a memory.” — 2 people liked it

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