   | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 08/01/2016 *Starred Review* Between March 31 and August 7, 1942, a total of 110,000 Japanese Americans were uprooted from their homes and moved to relocation centers, which Marrin—echoing then–Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes—calls concentration camps. It is Marrin’s well-documented contention that this shameful act of resettlement was rooted in wartime hysteria and enduring racism, a theme that informs this masterful account. It begins with two introductory chapters that outline the history of the Pacific, focusing on Japan’s role in its evolution and noting its own tradition of racism. Marrin then turns his focus to the often unhappy experience of nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century Japanese immigrants, called by newspaper entrepreneur William Randolph Hearst “the yellow peril.” This brings us to Pearl Harbor and an extensive account of its aftermath, culminating in the resettlement of Japanese Americans. Marrin’s latest is an exceedingly rich and thorough account of the war in the Pacific and the enduring struggle for justice that culminated in 2004 with President George W. Bush’s dedication of the World War II Memorial and his acknowledgment of Japanese American contributions. As with Marrin’s Flesh and Blood So Cheap (2011) and FDR and the American Crisis (2015), this is a prodigiously researched, indispensable work of history, generously illustrated with period photographs. It belongs on every library’s shelves. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. School Library Journal - 10/01/2016 Gr 7 Up—The Japanese American internment during World War II is the subject of National Book Award finalist Marrin's latest historical nonfiction for adolescents. He ties together chronological events with thematic elements (how racism operated during World War II) to tell the story of this dark time in U.S. history: "Our government failed in its duty to protect the rights of everyone living in the United States." Marrin demonstrates great attention to detail in conveying the experiences of Japanese Americans who were removed from their homes and forced to live in "relocation" centers, relying on interviews, speeches, newspaper articles, and official and personal correspondence from the time period. Of particular interest is the chapter on the Yankee Samurai, Japanese American war heroes who fought bravely for the United States while their families were denied freedom at home. Back matter includes an extensive list of suggested further reading. VERDICT Packed with details yet well organized and carefully annotated, this excellent treatment of a shameful episode in U.S. history is highly recommended for library collections serving teens.—Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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