mjsmilliken's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
louetta's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this story. I was aware this was a second book, didn't read the first one, and it didnt take away from my enjoying it.
The writing was good and I was captivated from the first paragraph. The author has a gift of description of places and emotions that put you right there with her characters. And I Loved the characters!
My heart broke when they were placed in the Japanese internment camps during WW2, How awful! I was ashamed for my country!
Many emotions during this book! It was wonderful and I fully recommend it!
5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for allowing me to read and review.
The writing was good and I was captivated from the first paragraph. The author has a gift of description of places and emotions that put you right there with her characters. And I Loved the characters!
My heart broke when they were placed in the Japanese internment camps during WW2, How awful! I was ashamed for my country!
Many emotions during this book! It was wonderful and I fully recommend it!
5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for allowing me to read and review.
alliepeduto's review against another edition
4.0
This was an extremely difficult book to read for me, but like the other Alan Brennert books I’ve read, it was emotionally resonant and impeccably researched. I encourage anyone with an interest in Japanese internment in the 1940s to read this, as the sources are comprehensive and the fictional lens allows multiple stories and perspectives to be shared.
This story is also partially set in Hawaii, and I would be remiss to not mention the ongoing tragedy of the Maui Wildfires. There are several scenes in this novel set in Lahaina, which broke my heart because the city has always been the heart of historical culture on the island. I urge everyone if you are able to check out the link below and donate.
https://bookriot.com/maui-relief-effort-readathon/
This story is also partially set in Hawaii, and I would be remiss to not mention the ongoing tragedy of the Maui Wildfires. There are several scenes in this novel set in Lahaina, which broke my heart because the city has always been the heart of historical culture on the island. I urge everyone if you are able to check out the link below and donate.
https://bookriot.com/maui-relief-effort-readathon/
mapmurph's review against another edition
5.0
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I don't know where to start. We all know that there is American history that we aren't shown in school. I was appalled to hear about some of the conditions in the Japanese internment camps. This book is fictional but still based on history in some ways. I think the author did some justice to the camps and conditions, without getting too dramatic but not downplaying it either.
I was so glad that this book followed Ruth and her family. When I read the first book Moloka'i, I always wondered if we'd hear from Ruth at some point. The small part she played in the first book just wasn't enough.
I loved this series of books. I highly recommend reading Moloka'i and then this book when it is published.
I don't know where to start. We all know that there is American history that we aren't shown in school. I was appalled to hear about some of the conditions in the Japanese internment camps. This book is fictional but still based on history in some ways. I think the author did some justice to the camps and conditions, without getting too dramatic but not downplaying it either.
I was so glad that this book followed Ruth and her family. When I read the first book Moloka'i, I always wondered if we'd hear from Ruth at some point. The small part she played in the first book just wasn't enough.
I loved this series of books. I highly recommend reading Moloka'i and then this book when it is published.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING: 4.5 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
What a fabulous follow-up to Moloka'i and Rachel's story. As the title suggests, this novel looks at Ruth's story from her birth. If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one as it gives us Ruth's point of view and her hardships. We see Ruth's struggles and lonliness in the Home for Girls, to finding her forever family with a Japanese family. She is half Hawaiian and half Japanese and feels like she does not fully fit in anywhere. Brennert lets the reader into Ruth's life and gives her more depth than just Rachel's daughter from book one. The time period in this book also touches on the Japanese interment camps during World War II which is really well done. Brennert gives readers a sense of what every day was like in these camps versus just the general facts. While you could read this book on it's own you will get many spoilers for book 1 and yet not enough to real understand why Ruth was given up. I am so happy I read Moloka'i so recently as I could read this book a few weeks later.
(Review Not on Blog)
What a fabulous follow-up to Moloka'i and Rachel's story. As the title suggests, this novel looks at Ruth's story from her birth. If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one as it gives us Ruth's point of view and her hardships. We see Ruth's struggles and lonliness in the Home for Girls, to finding her forever family with a Japanese family. She is half Hawaiian and half Japanese and feels like she does not fully fit in anywhere. Brennert lets the reader into Ruth's life and gives her more depth than just Rachel's daughter from book one. The time period in this book also touches on the Japanese interment camps during World War II which is really well done. Brennert gives readers a sense of what every day was like in these camps versus just the general facts. While you could read this book on it's own you will get many spoilers for book 1 and yet not enough to real understand why Ruth was given up. I am so happy I read Moloka'i so recently as I could read this book a few weeks later.
dawndola's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
antidietleah's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
dannycakez8808's review against another edition
5.0
I started this book as soon as I finished Moloka'i. This book had me engaged from page 1 and i wss infatuated with the story of Ruth. This book teaches us the seldom talked about history of Japanese Americans. We followed the story of Ruth and her family going into the concentration camps during WW2 in California-both in Tanfran and Manzania. You won't find this in most history books. The story was raw and painful but one that everyone needs to hear.