Interesting in theory but poorly executed ( )

Haruko, a Japanese American, and Margot, a German American, are both living in Crystal City, Texas. They moved from their homes in Colorado and Iowa to the internment camp there. The girls form an uneasy and semi-secret friendship.. Both girls are there with their families for reasons that are not clear to them and living in a prison changes their families.

This is a good look into a part of WWII we in America do not like to think about. The author's note explains her research and interest in the topic. ( )

Margot, the daughter of German immigrants, and Haruko, the daughter of Japanese immigrants, meet in a WWII internment camp in Texas. Margot's mother is in ill health, and her father is sinking into German Nazi thinking. Haruko, consumed with worry for her brother, a soldier, and is nagged by a constant worry that her father is keeping secrets.

This book utilized short snippets from each of the girls, which read like interviews about past events. This was an interesting format, and helped build the suspense of the story. Geared towards young adults, the book was well written and engaging. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars. ( )

I first learned about the internment camps in the US from WWII when I was in college. I had no clue they had even existed. I'm glad authors are still writing about them so that more people can learn about the horrible practice. Seeing it through the eyes of teenagers somehow makes it feel even more poignant. ( )

While I was working after college I craved learning and I took a class on Asian Immigration to United States and my professor had been one of the Japanese internment camps in California. One of the students challenged as to why it was important! We were all shocked. She told of being a girl scout and she thought she was 100% American. Neighbors were burying their china in the backyard and all of her family was taken to the Santa Anita stables to await reassignment. Also of what it was like to have guards standing around and knowing that you could not leave.

Years later, I moved to Texas and was looking for a historical fiction CD to listen to and I found this one. I did not know that there was a camp in Crystal City, Texas. All the time that I was listening, I was comparing this to the ones in California camps. Later I found a lot of information about the Crystal City Camp and it rang true for this story.

I liked how author did show the level of suspicion rampant in the general population. Her research emphasized that at the end of the book and when you think about the total story, that is an underlying theme among the prisoners, the two girls, the guards and outside the camp. It is subtle but easy to find. It reminds me of what my mother said. People at his work called him a "commie" because he was not service during WWII. In fact, he tried to sign up but was told that he more valuable to the country at home! Please think about suspicion when reading or listening to this book.

The love story is interesting between Margot and Haruko because the two girls did not express it openly even to each other. The times must be considered. There has been much change since then. Wanting to have an apartment together was and their dreams of it was the dearest part of the book for me. I reminded me of two sweet women that I knew as a child. I knew that they loved each other very much but that was in the 1950's. But even they were effect and endangered by suspicion . I love the story. The only jarring thing for me was one the speakers on the audio had a definite "Valley girl" way of talking. It took me away for the story at times. ( )