Eric G., South River High School
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We Are Not Free follows 14 Japanese Americans who live in Japantown, San Francisco whose lives are irrevocably changed by the Japanese Bombing of Pearl Harbor and the entry of the US into WW2. Due to distrust by the government all 14 of these individuals and their families are relocated to the Topaz incarceration camp in Utah and are faced with injustice and harsh conditions. The individuals are forced to separate due to their paths diverging as some join the US military and others refuse and are transported to the Tule Lake camp, while others are relocated. In my opinion We Are Not Free is a wonderfully written and heart-wrenching historical fiction. The book is written from the point of view of each individual and changes point of view every chapter. Each character is wonderfully developed and written and has a special way of telling their part of the story, either with poetry, letters, or in a diary format. This makes each character evoke an emotional response in the reader. Some of my favorite raw and emotional moments were the chapters following Mas and Twitchy, two characters who join the army and are sent to fight in fierce battles in Europe. The author includes Historical photographs and documents that enhance the text and emphasizes the struggles of the characters. Overall, I would recommend this book to an older audience who is interested in learning about this period of American History. Click here to check out We Are Not Free by Traci Chee |