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4th out of 36 books
—
20 voters
Desert Exile
In the spring of 1942, shortly after the United States entered into war with Japan, the federal government initiated a policy whereby 110,000 persons of Japanese ancestry were rounded up and herded into camps. They were incarcerated without indictment, trial, or counsel - not because they had committed a crime, but simply because they resembled the enemy. There was never a...more
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
January 1st 1982
by University of Washington Press
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A history of a family taken brutally from their home by their own country, in direct violation of the US Constitution. Imprisoned by racism, greed and fear, and must importantly by their fellow citizens. But it not a story about bitterness and anger, its a story of hope and defiance. That the power of the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the belief that all men are created equal is just more powerful then petty and cruel policy makers. The Politicians that uses "Family Values" and "Patrioti...more
While a memoir, this important book documenting the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII comes across more factual than as a personal narrative. The Tanforan racetrack and Topaz center were some of the most miserable, badly built "camps" which heightens the sense of outrage at the internment of innocent people. The story really highlights the "gaman," or patient fortitude, the JA people exhibited while their basic rights were trampled and their savings and livelihoods stolen. Photos add...more
I liked this book quite a bit. I have studied the Japanese internment camp that was in Delta Utah for the past few semesters in different history classes, and this book finally made it real for me. I was outraged at the treatment of these US citizens, and awed by the fortitude and perserverence of Yo and her family. Everyone should read this book, so that this horrible and embarrassing event in American history is not repeated.
I read this book when I was in college for an Immigration History class. I really enjoyed this book because it helped me to better understand the effect that the bombing of Pearl Harbor had on the nation. I think it is important to look at the good things our government has done as well as the questionable things. This book gives you a new perspective on life and the struggles that some individuals were forced to endure.
I had to read this for school but it was an easy read from a point of view. It's been several years since I've read it but it was sad to read from some of the unfairness that many Japanese individuals had to struggle through during that time. This is a fast read, recommend.
Interesting true story of a japanese family that was exiled by the US during WWII. But I really hated the dumb question she asks "Why didn't the US pick on the germans or italians?" Well, maybe it's because they didn't bomb Pearl Harbor.
I'm not really sure why this is a separate book from Journey to Topaz, apart from the fact that they are written for different age groups. Both books tell the story of the author's internment during WWII, which is very interesting and well-written.
I had no idea anything like this had occured here in the U.S. This was quite an eye opener. I really enjoyed this book and am saddened that this was a reality for American citizens.
Beautifully written book about being alive in internment camp during WW11 when Japanese Americans were uprooted from their homes. This is a book that everyone should read.
This book is similar to "Farewell to Manzanar" in that it chronicles the life of a Japanese American family in a concentration camp during World War II.
An account of the Japanese Internment. This is written very well. I absolutely love her attitude as her family suffers all sorts of atrocities due to their Japanese heritage. I think this is a very important story to read so we can understand what America truly is and what it means to us. Also, what can happen when we group and begin to judge people based on their ethnicity and/or their appearance. A real eye opener.
For me, this is a subject that was only briefly touched on in high school histor...more
For me, this is a subject that was only briefly touched on in high school histor...more
The story of a middle class Japanese-American Family that is stripped of their hard earned life and thrown into unbearable conditions.
Paints a picture of what Japanese-Americans had to endure during World War 2.
VERY interesting.
A bit dry, but there are great excerpts and poems to use in class.
Somewhere near the all time bottom of summer reading picks. This book had a worthy subject--the internment of japanese-americans during the pacific war--but failed on the literary side.
It was ok.
It's a vivid account, very much in the vein of a lot of Holocaust literature. It's almost hard to read, too, considering its place in our country's history.
I had no idea anything like this happened in the 19th century! Very informative.
mandatory reading for class....we'll see how it goes.
This is a story of injustice, racial prejudice, endurance, and family devotion. Few people are aware of the shameful treatment accorded Japanese immigrants (Issei) and their American born children (Nisei) in the U.S. following Pearl Harbor and during WWII that Yoshiko Uchida documents in her book.
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Yoshiko, born on November 24, 1921, was the second daughter of Japanese immigrant parents Takashi and Iku. Her father worked as a businessman for Mitsui and Company in San Francisco, and Iku wrote poetry, passing along her love of literature to her girls. Though the Great Depression raged, the Uchida family enjoyed comforts because of Takashi's well-paying job and their own frugality. Yoshiko love...more
More about Yoshiko Uchida...
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