The Taste of Rain

by Monique Polak

It is 1945, and thirteen-year-old Gwen has been a prisoner at the Weihsien Internment Camp in northern China for nearly two and a half years. Gwen is one of 140 children who were enrolled at a boarding school in Chefoo when the Japanese Imperial Army invaded China. Life in the camp is difficult. There is not enough food or water, and even the children are forced to do hard labor. But Miss E., one of their teachers from Chefoo, has come up with an unusual she will follow the Girl Guide Code, treating Gwen and her friends as if they are part of a Girl Guide troop. Girl Guides promise not only to stay positive in the most challenging situations but also to do good turns, meaning they must be kind to others without any expectation of reward. Gwendolyn hopes that when she grows up, she will be as courageous and optimistic as Miss E. But then Gwen learns that Miss E. is not as full of answers as she seems, and she realizes that in order to protect a friend, she will have to do something that could never be considered a good turn.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, World War II, Friendship, Fiction, War, China

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2019

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I found this book about the Weihsien Internment Camp! I had never heard of this place in northern China, where the Japanese held hundreds of prisoners during WW2. The prisoners were mostly the children of missionaries to China who had been at boarding schools when the war broke out. This was a wonderful book to read about a very little-known aspect of WW2. I think it could be a great tool for history teachers to use. A word of caution; there are some pretty graphic details about prisoner abuse and camp life. For this I think the book would be better suited for more mature middle-grade readers.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a heart ranching story of the 28 girls living in a hut with their teacher Miss E. in Weihsien Civilian Assembly Center, a Japanese prison in Northern China, during WW11. 13 year old Gwen, one of them, is the narrator and gives us the grim realities of prison life. By 1945, she had been interned for 2 years and a half along with other children who were enrolled at a boarding school in Chefoo when the Japanese Imperial Army invaded China.

Although the story is meant for young readers as an adult I found it well told, compelling and very much engaging. We do not see much fiction set during this time and even less being told through the eyes a young teenager. Gwen’s story is based on true accounts.

As the narrative unfolds in the present tense and the condition in the camp is detailed enough but in a tone considerably softened for the ears of a young audience, we live the horrors of beatings, starvation and lack of everything. By the end we are left to our imagination to what happened to Gwen’s fate with the arrival of the American troops. This story leaves several threads hanging, quite disappointing not to know.

The other characters in this tragic story are Miss E., the Japanese guards, a kindly Japanese officer, Lu, a Chinese laborer and some of Gwen’s friends give us heart rending moments.

“The Taste of Rain” is the sort of book that will engage as well as inform young adults and grown-ups as well.

I received this ARC from Orca Book Publisher via the First Reviewer Program for my thoughts

[Melissa T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story. It's an unusual take on a harsh time. I usually steer away from books about World War II just because they're so heavy in terms of the subject matter.

This one is heavy too, but it's very appropriately written for the age group. It's told in simple language with straightforward processing of the emotions that come with being held prisoner in a concentration camp.

I'm glad that Miss E was written as fallible. She was positive and cheerful most of the time, but even she had her limits. Gwen, who most admired Miss E. even had her moments of imperfection, some of them quite serious.

There are some words and phrases that were repeated a bit too much, like them being girl guides, and using the word sojourners instead of prisoners. And there were a lot of religious overtones, which aren't my thing, but they were nicely incorporated into the story.

There wasn't a lot of emotional investment for me, and the ending felt a little abrupt, but overall an enjoyable read.

*I won a copy of this book in a giveaway from Librarything*

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for a free digital copy.

This story covers part of WWII history that I had never read about before: a prison camp in China run by the Japanese whose prisoners included many missionary children who were in boarding school in China. Their teachers use the Girl Guide Code to keep their students positive and hopeful. I really enjoyed learning about this facet of history I had never heard of before. I thought even the more gruesome parts of this story we're handled in a way that young people would be affected but not overly so. (That being said: this is a book about a prisoner of war camp, so if you are ultra sensitive this is a book you might need to pass on.) I really enjoyed how the story unfolded quickly but with care in not glazing over or dwelling on the more difficult plot points.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of WWII era fiction and nonfiction, but surprisingly I had never read much of anything about the Asian continent during the war. I was really surprised to learn about the internment camps and look forward to reading more about them. Thus I was really pleased to be given the opportunity to read this ARC by Netgalley. It is mid grade historic fiction told from the perspective of Gwen, a 13 year old daughter of an American missionary who has been interned since the Japanese took over her school upon invading China. She and her classmates are under the watchful eye of their teacher and Girl Guide Leader, Miss E, who encourages them to follow by the Guide Law in order to keep their spirits high. She is reminded me a bit of Mary Poppins, unerringly positive and practically perfect in every way. About halfway in we see some cracks in this facade which shows us just how strong of a woman she really is. I really liked the idea of this book but overall it felt a bit rushed and incomplete. Some might chock that up to being for younger readers but to me it felt like maybe the author was in a rush to meet her deadline. I would have liked more closure in regard to Matthew as well as what happened after the Americans liberated the camp. The story hinted at some discord or disconnect with Gwen’s parents so I would have loved to see them reunite before the finish of the book. A good effort but it needs more.

[Julia Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this middle grade novel. It's historical fiction and set in WWII, but it tells the story of students from a boarding school in China spending the war imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp. Their teacher encourages them to follow the Girl Guide Code of Conduct, which emphasizes positive thinking and going good deeds, in order to lift their spirits. This is a part of history that I didn't know anything about. It was well written, had a great message, and I really loved the characters, especially Miss E!

[Pammycats · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Taste of Rain
Written By: Monique Polak

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The title is from a Jack Kerouac haiku
“The taste
of rain
-- Why kneel?”

I did have to take some time to think on this poem. I’m not sure I’ve quite got my mind around it yet but to me it means that life is too wonderful to allow myself to be defeated.

This book is based on real Girl Guides at the Weihsien concentration camp (run by the Japanese during WW II). Their leader - Miss E - guides them through the experience by following the Girl Guide philosophy - always be optimistic and do good without the promise of reward. This is a hard idea to follow but it is especially difficult in the camp. They face deprivation and hardship. These united girls find that this selfless bravery helps them face the cruelty of their world. Does this sound a little bit too good to be true? Well, the girls find this out too. It’s hard to be optimistic in the face of so much unfairness. The girls find that life is complicated. We all make mistakes but must keep trying to do our best. Making mistakes is how we discover who we really are and who we want to be.

There are lots of real people scattered throughout the story. There is the Olympic medalist Liddell who really perished at the Weihsien camp. Major Staiger was really the leader of the group that liberated their camp. The main protagonist- Gwen - is based on real life survivor Mary Previte. She went on to do all sorts of amazing things including making it her mission to track down all the members of the rescue team and thank them. The joyous rescue scene retold at the end of this book is also recounted by Ms. Previte at weihsien-paintings.org/Mprevite (website listed at the end of the book). This website was amazing with all sorts of artifacts and articles from the people who were there. I loved the pictures there which just made my reading experience so much more emotional. Some more resources I found (not listed in the book resource section) were two podcasts - “Witness History” and “ Reply All”. The book does list the podcast, “This American Life”. Anyway, this real story has so many great resources out there for further reading.

The ending of this book is perfect. The camp has been liberated. The girls are facing a very uncertain future. The camp experience was horrific but the girls had a family that they could rely on with each other and their teacher. The unknown - no matter how happy you are to face it - is daunting. The book does not provide a “happily ever after” ending but it does leave us feeling the uncertainty of the characters.

Overall, I recommend this book for its delicately nuanced retelling of an amazing real story.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free advanced copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

In the darkest moments, having hope and a positive attitude is sometimes the only thing that can help you survive. That’s the theme of this upper elementary/middle grade novel that tells a different WWII story than usual. We follow the fictionalized account of 13-year-old Gwen who narrates life for her and her classmates as prisoners of the Japanese at the Weihsien Civilian Assembly Center in China. The students have been living in the prison for several years after their boarding school was captured by the Japanese during their invasion of China during WWII. The girls have survived through the leadership of their teacher Miss E, who has them follow the Girl Guide Code (the British version of the Girl Scouts) and continue their lessons as best they can to maintain some sort of structure in such horrible conditions. Miss E is their rock and attempts to put a positive spin on everything to help keep the girls from falling apart mentally and emotionally.

While this book is recommended for ages 9+ it still deals with some of the horrific things these children would have experienced in a prison camp. One student gets electrocuted from a loose wire on an electric fence, also a Japanese soldier who is caught helping the girls gets tortured and killed. The girls also have to kill a beloved pet pig for food. The author does a good job of presenting these traumatic events in an age appropriate way.

[Lori]

This book is a middle grade novel. I enjoy reading these kinds of novels.
I learned quite a few things from this book.
One I didn't know that WW2 affected China. In was surprised when I opened this book.
2 I didn't know that the Japanese invaded China. Not many authors write much about this subject.
3. I learned that these events were based on real life people. How fascinating!!
4. The Girl Guides. I didn't know there was such a thing. Aren't these sort of like the Girl Scouts?
I loved that this was told from a 13 year old girl named Gwen who was held in an internment camp. I can't imagine the fear and uncertainty that goes on just to survive.
I think the one person that I really liked and respected most was Mrs. E. Why, because her attitude was over and beyond positive! She kept up her cheerfulness so that the others wouldn't get down or discouraged by the events happening around them.
I did not like the Japanese soldiers!! Big bullies!!
There are some slow spots in the book But that is to be expected! Don't let that discourage you. Keep reading! It really is an excellent read!!
In my opinion this book is appropriately named.
After being held that long and Then suddenly wow! I'm not sure how I would act!! After all, I would feel like these are my family. I would almost hate to be parted from Mrs. E and the girls!
I strongly recommend it!
My thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy. NO compensations were received amd all opinions are my own.

[Nelda Brangwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children’s novels do a wonderful job in introducing readers to unknown events in history. Ms. Polak ws inspired by an NPR story about a woman who had been in a Japanese prison in China during World War II. Building on the NPR story, Polak has created a story told in first person by one of the young prisoners. Gwen, had been sent to a boarding school while her parents continued to do Christian missionary work in China. When the school was captured by the Japanese, they along with the teachers are sent to the Weihsien Internment Camp in northern China. There Miss E, one of the teachers, created a Girls Guide approach to surviving. Well-written, the story doesn’t shy from horrors such as the killing of a Japanese guard who sympathized with the captives. The story has been softened for younger readers, but readers will know the suffering and the strength of the school children and their teachers. The story ends with the liberation of the camp. For girls, in particular who are interesting in history, this is an excellent book to give them. (LibraryThing review copy)

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gwen and her classmates were students at a school in Chefoo before the Japanese Imperial Army invaded and took over. Then they were transferred to the Weihsien Internment Camp where they become prisoners. There was never enough food or water, and the students were always in fear of the soldiers. Their teacher, Miss E., is a constant source of optimism, but even she has her limits.

As soon as two of the students escape the Camp, life becomes even more difficult as the soliders buckle down and become even more brutal. The students and their teacher have to do things they never imagined themselves doing just to survive. But will it be enough?

Gwen is based on a real life survivor of the Weihsien Internment Camp and a testament to what optimism can do to help a person through a nearly impossible situation. I appreciated this story because it chronicles a time and place during the war that is not usually talked about.

[Leah Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story about a young girl named Gwen and her classmates who were students at Chefoo school. This book documents their lives in the Weihsein internment camp which is run by the Japanese imperial army.

They eat nothing but Broomcorn, eggplant and stale bread, sleep on pallets, and disease runs rampant through the camp. When two of the young boys escape life become even harder for the prisoners.

I loved the girls teacher Miss E. their Girl Guide leader who continues to practice the Girl Guide codes and keep them positive throughout their whole terrible imprisonment. She kept her head high and helped the girls always look on the bright side even when it seemed impossible.

As a lifelong Girl Guide I really loved to see how the Girl Guide codes helped these girls through the worst time of their lives.

[Danielle Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. First of all, I loved getting to read a piece of WWII historical fiction about a topic I hadn’t read much about before. I’ve read one other book about a Japanese internment camp in China, but I’d never read about the Girl Guides during that time. I agree with some of the other reviewers that there were some relationships I would have liked to have closure with. The reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 was because of the pig slaughter scene. I get what the author was trying to accomplish - even children could not be protected from seeing such things during that time. But it was incredibly graphic and I was a little taken aback. Besides that, I thought it was a well-written read!

[Trinity Conde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical fiction book was published in 2019 and was named an Outstanding International Book. This story takes place during World War 2 when a group of girl guides living at a private school in Chefoo, China are taken to an internment camp in called Weihsien. Over the three years they are held here with their teacher Ms. E, they try to do good deeds everyday, keep up with their school lessons, and continue to be upstanding Christians, but there are so many challenges to face within the walls of that camp. I would love to use this story as part of a text set to teach students about the realities of World War 2 and what it was like for children during this time.

[Karen Upper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is narrative takes place during World War II, it is unlike any previous stories of this genre that I have read.
Set in China during the Japanese occupation, it is a raw and at times emotional telling of 140 children in an internment camp for over two and half years. Despite all the horrors and deprivation they endured, the Girl Guide Code instilled by their beloved teacher, allows them all to ride above the indignities, displaying compassion, kindness and compassion.
Highly recommended for Middle Grade readers!!
Five stars!!!

[Em (Makenna) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gwen has been stuck in an internment camp in China for almost two and a half years. Using the Girl Guide code, she has to remain strong so that eventually she will get to be free again.

What I liked:
-This was more of an unusual setting for the time period, so I enjoyed that it was different.

Didn't like as much:
-It got a little boring in the middle/end

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This terrific book is set in World War 2 in the Pacific, which sets is apart from many of the middle grade fiction books about this time period. The story is about a group of girls who are in a Japanese prison camp along with their relentlessly positive teacher. The girls all react to the imprisonment differently and there are many surprises along the way. I think the kids will enjoy this one a lot and teachers will be pleased to have a different kind of voice in the World War 2 genre.

[Shelley Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Middle grade chapter book about a side of WWII camps not typically covered in literature. Told from perspective of 12 year old girl, story shows emotions and hopes of this age while lightly touching on the hunger, grief, horrifying tragedy that happened there. The Taste of Rain is based on a true story with actual characters that can be researched for further detail. I look forward to reading more novels by Monique Polak and I highly recommend this for 4th grade and higher.

[Sylvia McNicoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fictionalized true story was a wonderful exploration of how humanity survives impossible circumstances. A teacher, through ultra-positivity, keeps her students coping despite starvation and sometimes brutal treatment in a Japanese internment camp during WWII. I discovered this novel after listening to Monique's video in this presentation: https://youtu.be/S_CePCX9wLM

What should we read while we're surviving a pandemic? Sometimes a metaphor for our experiences works best.

[Lisa Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book by author Monique Polak, although I learned fairly quickly that my SEcond World War information is lacking. I didn't know about these camps, nor the fact that children (children!) where treated in so badly. So while it was good, it was also awful - how these children are treated and why they are there in the first place.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story, even if it is a middle readers fiction book.

[Jill CD · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 an interesting story about an internment camp in China in the 1940’s. It is well written with some tragic scenes but those that like historical fic may enjoy. Grades 6 and up

[Joanie Paquin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an enjoyable read. It is well written.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was an easy read. The topic that was addressed is disheartening but how the girls tried to make the best of everything was heartwarming.

[Heatherhelmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Taste of Rain is based on the true story of Gwen, a girl, along with her fellow boarding school friends, who got taken to an interment camp in Weihsein. This book was an easy and interesting read and I would recommend it for youth and adults alike.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is the first middle-grade book I've read since junior high school. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.
Full review: https://sarahsreads.home.blog/2019/09...