Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on
Elise transports us to her youth. Here we bear witness to events as they unfolded in 1943 through her. Elise’s world is turned upside down. She is a fourteen-year-olds American of German descent who loves her home, family and friends. Her parents are both, legal U.S. residents and have been for nearly two decades. Their world crumbles when her father is suddenly arrested on suspicion of being a Nazi sympathizer.
Meanwhile in California, Mariko Inoue who lives with her parents and siblings in Little Tokyo. We gain Mariko’s perspective as she too witnesses her father being arrested after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Mariko and her family are ordered to pack up only what they can carry. They are being sent to an internment camp.
The author did a wonderful job conveying the families emotions, neighbors reactions and the tension felt throughout the world during these troubling time. I loved the blending of historic details and sentiments of the people.
Both Elise and Mariko’s families end up in a family camp, where German and Japanese family’s are housed behind wire fencing. Here the two become friends despite the racial tension.
The tale that unfolds was as beautiful as it was painful. Meissner through Elise’s POV and Mariko’s shared the tension of the time, the frustration their families felt and the ugly hatred brought on by fear. Yet despite that, the two young girls find friendship and dream of the future.
Before their stories are complete we will travel to worn torn Europe, suffer losses and wrap ourselves in the everlasting bonds of friendship.
I laughed and I cried as Meissner gave face and heart to the events that unfolded. The audio was narrated by Kimberly Farr. I felt she did a splendid job giving voice to each of the characters. I have no idea if her German or Japanese was accurate, but it felt authentic. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 1 April, 2019: Finished reading
- 1 April, 2019: Reviewed