Kiku Hughes

With a nod to Octavia Butler, Kiku Hughes imagines her teenage self getting cast back into time, literally following the footsteps of her teen grandmother into an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II.

This is an excellent companion to George Takei's They Called Us Enemy, showing how these events can reverberate through the generations that follow. Hughes also ties those past events to the modern politics of Donald Trump, demonstrating the importance of remembering, show more sharing, and educating everyone about this dark chapter of American history in order to keep it from repeating.

Its a thick book, but it reads quickly with an emphasis on emotional impact over pedantic history in order to draw you in and make you want to learn more after you finish. show less

In this graphic novel, Hughes brings to life an ugly chapter of American history in a completely unique way. Through the perspective of a modern teen, we learn about the Japanese internment camps in the US during World War II and how the cycle of racism continues to this day. I've read a lot about these camps, but this is one of the first stories I've read that showed how people tried to rebuild their lives after. It's an important part of the story, and Hughes does a fantastic job show more connecting the dots through the generations of this family. The elegantly simple illustrations really contributed to the feeling of being a visitor in time, taking a glimpse into something that was all too real to the people living it. My only quibble is that the main character felt a bit flat, especially compared to her vividly imagined companions. Even then, I could see Kiku being a relatable protagonist with whom to experience this story.

I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

A beautiful story about generational trauma and the scars that discrimination leaves behind for years to come. Kiku is reluctantly visiting San Francisco with her mother to research her grandmother's interment during WWII. Kiku knows very little about her family history when she finds herself thrown back in time. At first she thinks it was just a delusion but then it happens again. And then another time. The last time, she is stuck in the past for over a year.

She finds herself confined in show more the same camp and her grandmother. Although she feels out of place, she realizes that everyone around her is feeling the same way. They have all been displaced. They are all uncertain if they have a home to return to and what their future will be like. She learns to survive and draws strength from the friendships she makes there.

When she finally returns to her time, Kiku discovers that her mother was similarly displaced. They go on to travel together, visiting moments in their mother and grandmother's past. They decide to let these powerful experiences direct them towards making the world a safer place for marginalized people. show less

Spectacular graphic novel by debut author Kiku Hughes, writing from the heart about her grandmother's experience with incarceration at the Topaz camp in Utah during WWII. The visual storytelling is extremely eloquent, and I think that the juxtaposition of a modern girl time traveling works incredibly well to emphasize the parallels with current events. It left me wanting to know more about Ernestina's life after the camp and how she became a single mother of 4, but somehow that omission show more created a necessary boundary, a reminder that this is a real person's story, and her privacy should be real as well. I also absolutely loved the unremarked-upon lesbian relationship that Kiku's character formed with another woman from camp. Really strong work. I look forward to seeing more from this author. show less