shonaningyo's review against another edition
3.0
[spoiler]GODDAMNIT. REMIND ME TO NEVER EVER SIMPLY WRITE MY REVIEWS ON GOODREADS PLAIN. ACCIDENTALLY CLICKED THE BACKSPACE BUTTON AND IT TOOK ME TO THE PREVIOUS PAGE, EFFECTIVELY ERASING MY REVIEW!!! GOD. DAMNIT [spoiler]
Weedflower is a book about a 12 year old girl named Sumiko who lives in California with her aunt and uncle's family, along with her littler brother Takao, her two older cousins, and her grandfather whom she affectionately refers to as "Jii-chan". They work on a farm where they grow flowers and sell them on the market. They live a relatively peaceful life despite the ongoing war. Everything changes when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. Suddenly everyone of Japanese ancestry is being rounded up by the military and sent to internment camps stationed in the middle of nowhere. It is very confusing for Sumiko as well as frightening, but her family and the other "prisoners" try to make the best of it by cultivating the desert much to the amazed surprise of the local Mohave tribe and the military. Sumiko even befriends a Mohave boy who has reservations (no pun intended) on being nice to her but eventually lets up.
The story ends on an unfinished note. I really wished that it had continued on and frankly I felt that the supposed friendship between Sumiko and the Mohave boy (I forgot his name, I'm so sorry) wasn't as strong or well-rooted, I guess, as the narrative would have liked me to believe. Sumiko had never had a friend before, so I guess you would fly into your first friendship with all earnestness but still...
It's still a good story, I just feel that it should have expanded a little more on certain parts...
Weedflower is a book about a 12 year old girl named Sumiko who lives in California with her aunt and uncle's family, along with her littler brother Takao, her two older cousins, and her grandfather whom she affectionately refers to as "Jii-chan". They work on a farm where they grow flowers and sell them on the market. They live a relatively peaceful life despite the ongoing war. Everything changes when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. Suddenly everyone of Japanese ancestry is being rounded up by the military and sent to internment camps stationed in the middle of nowhere. It is very confusing for Sumiko as well as frightening, but her family and the other "prisoners" try to make the best of it by cultivating the desert much to the amazed surprise of the local Mohave tribe and the military. Sumiko even befriends a Mohave boy who has reservations (no pun intended) on being nice to her but eventually lets up.
The story ends on an unfinished note. I really wished that it had continued on and frankly I felt that the supposed friendship between Sumiko and the Mohave boy (I forgot his name, I'm so sorry) wasn't as strong or well-rooted, I guess, as the narrative would have liked me to believe. Sumiko had never had a friend before, so I guess you would fly into your first friendship with all earnestness but still...
It's still a good story, I just feel that it should have expanded a little more on certain parts...
crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
I am listening to Weedflower on CD. I have enjoyed getting to know Sumiko. Kadohota presents Sumiko as a young girl trying to find her way during a difficult time for her family. The children have trials, but they also find ways to have fun while they are kept in their internment camp. In some ways, the children like the freedom that they have in the camp. They eat and play with their friends every day. But in this situation, family ties wear down.
I found it interesting that the camp was on reservation land. Since Sumiko becomes friends with a Mohave boy it is easy to start seeing parallels with the Mohave and Japanese. They were not granted the same freedoms that other citizens had. Like, I didn't realize that there were states that did not grant Native Americans the right to vote even after the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. Some states used residency laws and other technicalities to keep Indians from voting up until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It just blows my mind. Also, it was interesting/sad that even the Japanese were given electricity and ice, but the Mohave didn't have such luxuries.
I have learned a lot while reading this book, but it isn't just a book about discrimination. It is also a book about perseverance, friendship, and family. It is definitely worth the time.
As usual with historical fiction, I was curious about the history as I read, so I picked up the non-fiction book Children of Manzanar. It was very helpful to see what a camp looked like and to see that the children had good times there along with tough times. It was sad to hear about the breakdown of families and the loss of their belongings. There were so many things done to them. It is difficult to accept man's inhumanity to man. On a side note, Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams were the photographers for some of the pictures featured. I have since found out that at the time, Dorothea's photos were kept hidden for the duration of the war. I am guessing our politicians didn't think it looked very good for the United States to also have places that looked like concentration camps. To see what Poston (the camp in Weedflower) looked like, you can visit the Poston Internment Camp blog.
For younger readers, I would also recommend the middle grade book Syvia and Aki which is based on the experiences of two young girls. The picture books are also fantastic.
For more titles on this topic, visit Cynthia Leitich Smith's Page
I found it interesting that the camp was on reservation land. Since Sumiko becomes friends with a Mohave boy it is easy to start seeing parallels with the Mohave and Japanese. They were not granted the same freedoms that other citizens had. Like, I didn't realize that there were states that did not grant Native Americans the right to vote even after the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. Some states used residency laws and other technicalities to keep Indians from voting up until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It just blows my mind. Also, it was interesting/sad that even the Japanese were given electricity and ice, but the Mohave didn't have such luxuries.
I have learned a lot while reading this book, but it isn't just a book about discrimination. It is also a book about perseverance, friendship, and family. It is definitely worth the time.
As usual with historical fiction, I was curious about the history as I read, so I picked up the non-fiction book Children of Manzanar. It was very helpful to see what a camp looked like and to see that the children had good times there along with tough times. It was sad to hear about the breakdown of families and the loss of their belongings. There were so many things done to them. It is difficult to accept man's inhumanity to man. On a side note, Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams were the photographers for some of the pictures featured. I have since found out that at the time, Dorothea's photos were kept hidden for the duration of the war. I am guessing our politicians didn't think it looked very good for the United States to also have places that looked like concentration camps. To see what Poston (the camp in Weedflower) looked like, you can visit the Poston Internment Camp blog.
For younger readers, I would also recommend the middle grade book Syvia and Aki which is based on the experiences of two young girls. The picture books are also fantastic.
For more titles on this topic, visit Cynthia Leitich Smith's Page
lorathelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first real experience reading anything about Japanese internment camps during WWII. I really enjoyed learning about this topic, even though it was from a fictional perspective. The main character, Sumiko, was able to bring her emotions through the page into the reader. Character development was excellent!
I thought it was interesting when the author introduced an American Indian into the story (the camp was on an indian reseservation). I found myself wanting to learn more and more about the relationship between the indians and the japanese.
The book was very interesting and really sparked my interest in this time period. I also was so connected to all of the characters (even if they were minor) that I found myself crying hysterically by the end of the book.
I thought it was interesting when the author introduced an American Indian into the story (the camp was on an indian reseservation). I found myself wanting to learn more and more about the relationship between the indians and the japanese.
The book was very interesting and really sparked my interest in this time period. I also was so connected to all of the characters (even if they were minor) that I found myself crying hysterically by the end of the book.
cchipman's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was one of my favorite books as a kid, and it held up well during this re-read. The writing is simple but poignant. It’s written for kids, but is great for all ages. I really love this book.
chadstep's review against another edition
3.0
Meh, seems like something I'm supposed to like. A little too historical-y and not enough sadness of a true crime by the government. Bonus points for the mentioning of Quakers though.
kaloughl's review against another edition
4.0
This was a cute story with an important backdrop. Sumiko lived with her Auntie, Uncle, Jiichan, two older cousins, and younger brother on their flower farm in CA. When Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, Sumiko and her family as well as hundreds of thousands of Japanese American citizens and immigrants were rounded up on the West Coast and put into incarceration camps. Sumiko was sent to Poston which was erected on Mohave land. She soon befriends a local Mohave boy despite dissent between the Indigenous population and the Japanese Americans.
I think the most unique part of this book was examining the delicate relationship between the local Indigenous population and the Japanese Americans. Both were confined to this land by the US government. To the Mohave, it feels as though their land was taken from them to house other people. And those people, no matter the wrongs done to them, are given running water, electricity, and food while the Mohave live in poverty. To the Japanese Americans, they just had their rights stripped away and are essentially imprisoned for the length of the war. Tensions rise when the Mohave put up a barbed wire fence to separate the two groups. Both are treated unfairly but somehow they get pitted against each other because of circumstances. The friendship between Sumiko and Frank is really precious. Despite aggression on both sides, they continued to meet up and learn from one another. While Kadohata touches on some very interesting topics amidst the Japanese American incarceration camps, I almost wish there was more leaning into the Indigenous population and their history.
My other favorite part of this book was the love and passion Sumiko has for dirt and growing flowers. I feel like the protagonists of middle grade and YA literature often balk at family responsibility and the family business but Sumiko embraces it wholeheartedly. I loved that she was able to grow a little garden and befriended an older man in doing so.
Overall, this was a cute story that holds importance as well. I did feel this book moved a little slowly despite it's length and while it still shines with Kadohata's wonderful characters, fell slightly flat compared to some of her other works. I really enjoy that she has written books telling all aspects of the Japanese American incarceration camps!
I think the most unique part of this book was examining the delicate relationship between the local Indigenous population and the Japanese Americans. Both were confined to this land by the US government. To the Mohave, it feels as though their land was taken from them to house other people. And those people, no matter the wrongs done to them, are given running water, electricity, and food while the Mohave live in poverty. To the Japanese Americans, they just had their rights stripped away and are essentially imprisoned for the length of the war. Tensions rise when the Mohave put up a barbed wire fence to separate the two groups. Both are treated unfairly but somehow they get pitted against each other because of circumstances. The friendship between Sumiko and Frank is really precious. Despite aggression on both sides, they continued to meet up and learn from one another. While Kadohata touches on some very interesting topics amidst the Japanese American incarceration camps, I almost wish there was more leaning into the Indigenous population and their history.
My other favorite part of this book was the love and passion Sumiko has for dirt and growing flowers. I feel like the protagonists of middle grade and YA literature often balk at family responsibility and the family business but Sumiko embraces it wholeheartedly. I loved that she was able to grow a little garden and befriended an older man in doing so.
Overall, this was a cute story that holds importance as well. I did feel this book moved a little slowly despite it's length and while it still shines with Kadohata's wonderful characters, fell slightly flat compared to some of her other works. I really enjoy that she has written books telling all aspects of the Japanese American incarceration camps!
a_manning11's review against another edition
4.0
Kadohata does a great job at describing life for Japanese Americans before and during the internment camps.
The story starts out kinds of slow, and has a somewhat of an open ending, but the precious part of this book are its characters and their lives.
The story starts out kinds of slow, and has a somewhat of an open ending, but the precious part of this book are its characters and their lives.
psychedporlibros's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
dogearredpage's review against another edition
5.0
So simply written yet such a profound story. Simile doesn't change as drastically as the world she finds herself in 1942 America. Each character holds a place of tenderness in your heart! Love the fact that this story of internment includes the story of Native Americans. I know that Sumiko got her flower shop one day!
kdepenhart's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5