Publication Date: 26th Feb 2013 (1st published Jan 2013)
Pages: 320
Book Source: Thanks Harlequin Mira
Synopsis: In the dark days of war, a mother makes the ultimate sacrifice Lucy Takeda is just fourteen years old, living in Los Angeles, when the bombs rain down on Pearl Harbor. Within weeks, she and her mother, Miyako, are ripped from their home, rounded up-along with thousands of other innocent Japanese-Americans-and taken to the Manzanar prison camp.
Buffeted by blistering heat and choking dust, Lucy and Miyako must
endure the harsh living conditions of the camp. Corruption and abuse creep into
every corner of Manzanar, eventually ensnaring beautiful, vulnerable Miyako.
Ruined and unwilling to surrender her daughter to the same fate, Miyako soon
breaks. Her final act of desperation will stay with Lucy forever...and spur her
to sins of her own.
Bestselling author Sophie Littlefield weaves a powerful tale of stolen innocence and survival that echoes through generations, reverberating between mothers and daughters. It is a moving chronicle of injustice, triumph and the unspeakable acts we commit in the name of love.
My Thoughts:
Miyako Takedo and her daughter Lucy are just 2 of the thousands of innocent Americans forcibly detained in prison camps for their Japanese ancestry. Sophie Littlefield draws from first person accounts, journals and interviews of internees so the detail felt credible and held my attention completely.
I was unbelievably shocked at Miyako's desperate act to keep her daughter safe. I'm not passing judgement but it's beyond heartbreaking that a mother feels she is left with no choice but the one she makes.
The effects ripple through generations, fast forward to 1978 and it's Lucy's daughter, Patty focusing on her mother's past and secrets. I'm not giving any more away, it's a slow reveal and one you just have to read yourself.
Manzanar's appalling conditions, cruelty, sexual harrassment and abuse is harrowing to read but a nation's failure of conscience should be compulsory reading.
Garden
Of Stones was an inexplicably moving account of the internment of
Japanese-Americans during WWII after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. It's a tale
of love, sacrifice, survival and the unfathomable cost of fear and social
prejudice on innocents.
Miyako Takedo and her daughter Lucy are just 2 of the thousands of innocent Americans forcibly detained in prison camps for their Japanese ancestry. Sophie Littlefield draws from first person accounts, journals and interviews of internees so the detail felt credible and held my attention completely.
I was unbelievably shocked at Miyako's desperate act to keep her daughter safe. I'm not passing judgement but it's beyond heartbreaking that a mother feels she is left with no choice but the one she makes.
The effects ripple through generations, fast forward to 1978 and it's Lucy's daughter, Patty focusing on her mother's past and secrets. I'm not giving any more away, it's a slow reveal and one you just have to read yourself.
Manzanar's appalling conditions, cruelty, sexual harrassment and abuse is harrowing to read but a nation's failure of conscience should be compulsory reading.
California - Japanese Americans being taken to Manzanar prison camp
Source- United States Library of CongressWant to know more about Sophie Littlefield? Visit her website
This sounds a lot like a book I would love!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a heart-wrenching book. Thanks for telling us about it because I hadn't heard of it before.
ReplyDeleteWow!! This sounds amazing! I am adding it to my list!!
ReplyDeleteI have long been interested in the internment of the Japanese during the war and have read several novels about it. I'd love to read this one!
ReplyDeleteWonderful review :) This is definitely going on my wishlist!
ReplyDeleteI've read a bit about this scenario in several books and always found it sad.
ReplyDeleteAha, the zombie lady, yes wanna try a book by her
ReplyDeleteWhat a shameful time in American history. I'm always drawn to these stories and will certainly have to read this one!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I was fascinated by this story.
ReplyDeleteShelleyrae @ Book'd OUt
A heartbreaking time for sure, even for us looking back in embarrassment. This book looks very good.
ReplyDelete