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This is more a 3.5, but since Goodreads doesn't allow 1/2 stars and 3 stars feels too low for such a good book. Back in 2012, I tried reading this and couldn't get into it, but I recently saw it was available as an audiobook on Overdrive and thought I'd try it again in this format. I really enjoyed the story about 2 6th graders in the early part of WWII, Henry, who is Chinese and Keiko, who is Japanese and their friendship during the time before and during the Japanese internment that occurred i
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This is a charming and fascinating book about two young people coming of age during wartime. Coming from different cultural backgrounds, their young friendship is cut short by the U.S. internment camps - a dark chapter for our country. I liked the way the thread of jazz music was used throughout the story and how the quest for a rare recording symbolized the idea of never giving up hope.
I loved the book. Unlike alot of books, it was easy to get into and to follow.
Although the author says he is not making a judgment about the internment, in a way, all books are and this book is no different, even though primarily it is a book about long lost love, cultural barriers, family, and friendship. The author's presentment of the facts is one of many perspectives in the same way as there were thousands of internees.
What I found wanting to know more about oddly enough was Henry's mother ...more
Although the author says he is not making a judgment about the internment, in a way, all books are and this book is no different, even though primarily it is a book about long lost love, cultural barriers, family, and friendship. The author's presentment of the facts is one of many perspectives in the same way as there were thousands of internees.
What I found wanting to know more about oddly enough was Henry's mother ...more
Dec 25, 2011
Gina
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
history,
ww2,
books-i-own-read,
published-2000-s,
war,
family,
ccc-club,
drama,
contemporary-fiction,
pacific-northwest
This is a Romeo and Juliet like story of a forbidden friendship between Henry, a Chinese American boy and Keiko, a Japanese American girl, set during WWII in Seattle. Life is difficult for both of them. They face racism and prejudice on a daily basis and Henry's father does not approve of the friendship. After the devastation of Pearl Harbour, the US government decides to send all the people of Japanese decent to live in internment camps until the war is over. Henry and Keiko find themselves sep
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I really enjoyed the writing and the story was really good, though I'll admit I wasn't exactly interested in the topic at all. It wasn't horribly exciting....I kept waiting for something climactic to happen and it just didn't. Things felt so easy (example: Henry sneaks into the camp to stay at Keiko's house and then is able to sneak right out completely unnoticed; things resolving with Chaz). I also felt that the book ended very abruptly. Even just one more chapter including their conversation w
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Wonderful,book. Made me cry on a plane. Sigh. Such a great read.
Feb 27, 2012
Sandy
marked it as to-read
Aug 08, 2013
Amy :)
marked it as to-read
May 07, 2014
Jirrine
marked it as to-read
Apr 10, 2017
Katie
marked it as to-read
Oct 15, 2017
☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣
marked it as to-read
Oct 18, 2017
Mary-Megan
added it
Apr 25, 2018
Megan
marked it as bfl
Oct 05, 2018
Brindi Michele
marked it as to-read
Nov 08, 2018
JackAttack
marked it as tbr-pre-2025
Mar 08, 2019
Veronica
marked it as to-read
