Book Reviews:

“Political history becomes personal narrative in this evocative story about a family’s connection to Manzanar, one of the WWII camps where Japanese- Americans were interned. Prior to moving from California to Boston, the Iwasaki pay a last visit to the grave of Grandfather Iwasaki. Gazing across acres of empty space that once housed close to 10,000 prisoners, Mr. and Mrs. Iwasaki share vivid memories of camp life with their two young children, Thomas and Laura. As they struggle to explain the unfair treatment accorded her ancestors, Laura listens quietly, then just before leaving, places one final memento on her grandfather’s grave. Bunting’s spare prose effectively matches the developmental level of the ages for which this book is geared, and will generate questions that both educators and parents will find difficult to answer. Stark watercolors of the present alternate with black-and-white drawings representing scenes from the past. Together, text and illustrations create and sustain a mood reflection and reminiscence suited to the topic.” – Kirkus Reviews, April 1998