candywalsh's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book, an unforgettable historical drama. One of my all-time favorites: historical fiction at its best. I was learning about World War II by reading about fictional characters who were so very alive and real to me, I was always wanting to learn more about them and their lives. It would make a great movie! I also appreciated reading about the Crystal City Texas Internment Camp, as our bookclub read Jan Jarboe Russell’s non-fiction book, The Train to Crystal City.
indianajane's review against another edition
4.0
This book started out really slow. I almost gave up halfway through because it just wasn't moving forward. The story could have made for a five-star book, but there's something about Meissner's writing that keeps me from going there. This was, however, far better than the previous book of hers that I read.
jenmearz's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nursenell's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book about a Japanese American teenager, Mariko, and a German American teenager, Elise, who meet at an interment camp in Crystal City, Texas. They become best friends despite the fact the the German Americans and Japanese Americans try to avoid one another within the camp. Elise is from Iowa, Mariko from Los Angeles. They are both U.S. citizens by virtue of being born in the U.S. Their parents are resident aliens who had been in this country two decades but had not gotten around to becoming naturalized, which until the paranoia of WWII wasn't a problem. The story follows Elise and Mariko as they, along with the parents and siblings, are sent back to Germany and Japan, countries neither teenager has ever lived in. The bond the two girls formed is strong but will it stand the test of time and distance?
lexicon1982's review against another edition
4.0
“We decide who and what we will love and who and what we will hate. We decide what we will do with the love and hate. Every day we decide. It was this that revealed who we were, not the color of our flesh or the shape of our eyes or the language we spoke.”
This is a story worth reading ; everyone should learn about the unspoken truth of internment camps on American soul, things they don’t teach in highschool history class! We should never assume that our freedoms couldn’t be taken away on a whim, between the fine line of individual freedoms and “national security”!
Having the story follow the Sontag family after their repatriation back to Germany really highlighted the struggle these interned families faced, they became caught between two worlds. Gripping and powerful testament to the human spirit! 4 out of 5 stars!
This is a story worth reading ; everyone should learn about the unspoken truth of internment camps on American soul, things they don’t teach in highschool history class! We should never assume that our freedoms couldn’t be taken away on a whim, between the fine line of individual freedoms and “national security”!
Having the story follow the Sontag family after their repatriation back to Germany really highlighted the struggle these interned families faced, they became caught between two worlds. Gripping and powerful testament to the human spirit! 4 out of 5 stars!
julibug86's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting book - author did a good job of weaving in facts about the war and giving a little known perspective.
bigskybooks's review against another edition
5.0
Title: The Last Year of the War
Author: Susan Meissner
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Historical Fiction
This book is a powerful tale of friendship between Elise, who is German American and Mariko who is a Japanese American. They meet at an interment camp in Texas. I believe this was my first book about interment camps.
Elise and her family are sent there despite her German parents being legal US residents for nearly two decades. Her father out of the blue is arrested on suspicion of being a nazi sympathizer. Mariko’s family is sent to the interment camp after Pearl Harbor. It was heartbreaking to read about these times in our country that legal residents were stripped of rights and made to be something they weren’t.
Eventually Elise’s family is exchanged for American prisoners (I had no idea this was a thing!) and sent back to Germany. Her and Mariko try to stay in touch by letters but it is difficult as Germany is still at war. They eventually lose touch. Until the power of the internet and a little something called a google search…
Rating: Five stars! Ugh Susan Meissner can write. Historical Fiction fans if you don’t know this author, please, please , please pick up her books! This one is up there as one of my favorites!
Author: Susan Meissner
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Historical Fiction
This book is a powerful tale of friendship between Elise, who is German American and Mariko who is a Japanese American. They meet at an interment camp in Texas. I believe this was my first book about interment camps.
Elise and her family are sent there despite her German parents being legal US residents for nearly two decades. Her father out of the blue is arrested on suspicion of being a nazi sympathizer. Mariko’s family is sent to the interment camp after Pearl Harbor. It was heartbreaking to read about these times in our country that legal residents were stripped of rights and made to be something they weren’t.
Eventually Elise’s family is exchanged for American prisoners (I had no idea this was a thing!) and sent back to Germany. Her and Mariko try to stay in touch by letters but it is difficult as Germany is still at war. They eventually lose touch. Until the power of the internet and a little something called a google search…
Rating: Five stars! Ugh Susan Meissner can write. Historical Fiction fans if you don’t know this author, please, please , please pick up her books! This one is up there as one of my favorites!
iggyebab's review against another edition
2.0
There is something in this author’s writing style that reminds me of textbooks and lectures. Although the story was fascinating, it felt lecturey. The internment camps in America during WWII are glossed over in history books. This book started out well but it seemed to trip over all the information.
I was not able to connect with these characters and the story moved very slowly.
I loved the idea of giving Alzheimer’s a name so you can blame someone for stealing your memories. However, the rest of the story was flat.
I was not able to connect with these characters and the story moved very slowly.
I loved the idea of giving Alzheimer’s a name so you can blame someone for stealing your memories. However, the rest of the story was flat.
lola425's review against another edition
3.0
Read for book group. Should encourage good discussion about an aspect of WWII that is not often explored in historical fiction about WW II.