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carnisht's review
3.0
Tod Carnish Response #2
Eddy, a Japanese-American teenager, has lived in Hawaii his whole life. He has never felt out of place or like an “other,” until Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. He decides to fight for his country and enlist in the Army, but his experience is not what he expects. While the white soldiers are getting trained in combat and sent to the front lines, Eddy and his Asian-American comrades are stuck doing manual labor across America. They eventually find stability on an island off the coast of Mississippi where they are used in the training of K-9 units that are specially trained on how to hunt (and kill) Japanese.
This story sent me on a rollercoaster. When I first picked it up, the cover had me extremely turned off to the whole book. But, I chose to follow the old proverb and not judge the book by its cover. So I started reading it… and I was thoroughly shocked and impressed by how much I liked it. Then, about halfway through, I began losing interest and finding it difficult to keep going. It just grew to be a bit tedious and predictable and, unfortunately, a bit redundant. All of that aside, though, there were definitely some redeeming qualities to the story. First, I had literally never heard of these events. I knew about internment camps, and that’s about it. I was impressed by Salisbury’s ability to provide a unique, true story about World War II that I had no idea even existed. Even more so, this whole storyline revealed some atypical racist beliefs from America’s past (i.e. against Japanese – or Asians in general due to society’s ignorance). Again, I knew these beliefs existed, primarily due to the advanced nature of my high school’s history curriculum, but I never knew how unjust and widespread these biases were. Also, beyond all of this World War II drama, there was still a superbly interesting subplot of family dynamics. The relationships between Eddy and his Pop, his mother, and his brother were potentially my favorite parts of the book (if for no reason other than I hate war stories). I really liked seeing them develop from Eddy’s time at home, through his duration on Cat Island, and into his return home. I kept finding myself wondering what his family was doing and wanting more information on them, but I appreciated Salisbury’s inclusion of this subplot for the less war-interested readers.
Eddy, a Japanese-American teenager, has lived in Hawaii his whole life. He has never felt out of place or like an “other,” until Japan bombs Pearl Harbor. He decides to fight for his country and enlist in the Army, but his experience is not what he expects. While the white soldiers are getting trained in combat and sent to the front lines, Eddy and his Asian-American comrades are stuck doing manual labor across America. They eventually find stability on an island off the coast of Mississippi where they are used in the training of K-9 units that are specially trained on how to hunt (and kill) Japanese.
This story sent me on a rollercoaster. When I first picked it up, the cover had me extremely turned off to the whole book. But, I chose to follow the old proverb and not judge the book by its cover. So I started reading it… and I was thoroughly shocked and impressed by how much I liked it. Then, about halfway through, I began losing interest and finding it difficult to keep going. It just grew to be a bit tedious and predictable and, unfortunately, a bit redundant. All of that aside, though, there were definitely some redeeming qualities to the story. First, I had literally never heard of these events. I knew about internment camps, and that’s about it. I was impressed by Salisbury’s ability to provide a unique, true story about World War II that I had no idea even existed. Even more so, this whole storyline revealed some atypical racist beliefs from America’s past (i.e. against Japanese – or Asians in general due to society’s ignorance). Again, I knew these beliefs existed, primarily due to the advanced nature of my high school’s history curriculum, but I never knew how unjust and widespread these biases were. Also, beyond all of this World War II drama, there was still a superbly interesting subplot of family dynamics. The relationships between Eddy and his Pop, his mother, and his brother were potentially my favorite parts of the book (if for no reason other than I hate war stories). I really liked seeing them develop from Eddy’s time at home, through his duration on Cat Island, and into his return home. I kept finding myself wondering what his family was doing and wanting more information on them, but I appreciated Salisbury’s inclusion of this subplot for the less war-interested readers.
bookishquilter's review
4.0
I saw this book on the shelf of a bookstore and decided to grab it. I am fascinated about all things World War II, and I live on Oahu so I knew I would recognize some of the geography it mentioned.
I was quite surprised by the book. The description on the back doesn't quite prepare you for the dehumanizing "mission" these guys are sent on. This part of our history as a nation will always be a black mark, and a warning to the future. Fearing a certain race (or culture, or religion for that matter) can make even "decent" men into idiotic fools.
It is a good book to read and discuss, especially with the teenaged/young adult age range. The book has a discussion section at the end for starting the discussion, although you can really delve much deeper into the meaning of the book if you really look.
I would recommend it if you want to learn more about how our government treated even the most loyal Americans of Japanese descent.
I was quite surprised by the book. The description on the back doesn't quite prepare you for the dehumanizing "mission" these guys are sent on. This part of our history as a nation will always be a black mark, and a warning to the future. Fearing a certain race (or culture, or religion for that matter) can make even "decent" men into idiotic fools.
It is a good book to read and discuss, especially with the teenaged/young adult age range. The book has a discussion section at the end for starting the discussion, although you can really delve much deeper into the meaning of the book if you really look.
I would recommend it if you want to learn more about how our government treated even the most loyal Americans of Japanese descent.
shonaningyo's review
3.0
This book was interesting but it got dry in the second half. Still a very accurate depiction of Japanese American soldiers during WWII and how they were treated after Pearl Harbor.
jillmarie88's review
5.0
I was completely enamored by this book and could not put it down! This was a portion of our nation's history that I knew nothing about and this book did an excellent job shedding light on it!
backonthealex's review
4.0
Eddy Okubo, 16, may have parents who were born in Japan, but he was born in Hawaii and considers himself strictly American. Eddy is a smart kid and has already graduated from high school. So far, though, all has been doing is helping his father out with his boat building business, not really know what he wants to do in life.
Now, Eddy thinks enlisting in the US Army might be something he would like to do after hearing about it from his friends, Chik and Cobra, both 18, who have just been drafted. Trouble is that his Pop has other plans for him - he wants Eddy to go to Japan to learn about his culture and even expects Eddy to be loyal to the Emperor. Pop's attitude has caused many clashes between Eddy and his father, who still holds on dearly to his Japanese heritage.
But, with Japan already at war, both are aware that things are heating up on the island for the Japanese who live there and it is no real surprise when the boat they have just finished building is set on fire and sinks. In an attempt to prove his loyalty as an American citizen, Eddy forges his birth certificate and joins the army. No sooner does he announce this at home, and his father stops speaking to him.
Seven weeks later, on his first leave, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. Eddy's father sees the sneak attack as cowardly and shameful and tells Eddy "No make shame for this family. You go. Fight for your country. Die, even, but die with honor." (pg 41) Eddy races back to his barracks, where soldiers are being loaded into trucks, everyone except for Eddy, Chik and Cobra and about 600 other island boys. Instead, they are given tools and told to dig trenches on the base, and for the first time, they are referred to as "Japs" by their new Lieutenant. Worse still, as they dig the trenches, machine guns are pointed at their backs, ready to shoot should they make one wrong move.
From then on, life in the army changes for Eddy and his friends. No longer treated like soldiers, they become "grunts" and "Japs," isolated from the rest of the soldiers. Eventually, the small number of Japanese Americans are separated from the rest of the island boys and forced to live in tents near the shoreline, again with machine guns pointed their way at all times. Their job - to shoot any Japanese soldiers who might try to land or be shot themselves.
After a while, they are sent to the mainland, and while traveling to Camp McCoy, WI, they see other Japanese Americans who have been herded into internment camps. At Camp McCoy, Eddy's unit is finally given the designation the Hundredth Infantry Battalion and for once, their immediate superiors are also of Japanese descent.
After a short stay at Camp McCoy, around 25 members of the Hundredth are transferred again. A Swiss émigré had managed to convince President Roosevelt that dogs could be trained to sniff out enemy Japanese because they have a different smell than non-Japanese people. Eddy and his friends are picked to go the Cat Island, MS, where they must participate in the training of army dogs by becoming the "hate bait" necessary to teach the dogs to hate and kill Japanese soldiers under the direction of the Swiss émigré.
This is the longest and by far the most disturbing part of Eyes of the Emperor. And as I read it, it boggled my mind to think that we could treat human beings with such complete disregard for their lives, since much of what they were forced to do is insulting, humiliating and dangerous. But remembering his father's words, Eddy always does what he is ordered to do - with honor.
In his very informative Author's Note, Salisbury writes that Eddy's story is based on real events and interviews he had with soldiers from the Hundredth Infantry Battalion Separated (as they were referred to, meaning separated from the rest of the army). Some of the characters in the story are real men who actually experienced the events Salisbury writes about. In addition, many of the men in the battalion eventually went on to distinguish themselves in battle when they were finally allowed to do what they had signed up for. In fact, Salisbury points out that every man who was on Cat Island received at least one purple heart and one bronze star. Salisbury has written a sensitive, perceptive yet hard hitting novel dealing with xenophobia and how it is experienced by those it is directed at simply because of how they look. Indeed, this novel resonates even today.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was bought for my personal library
Now, Eddy thinks enlisting in the US Army might be something he would like to do after hearing about it from his friends, Chik and Cobra, both 18, who have just been drafted. Trouble is that his Pop has other plans for him - he wants Eddy to go to Japan to learn about his culture and even expects Eddy to be loyal to the Emperor. Pop's attitude has caused many clashes between Eddy and his father, who still holds on dearly to his Japanese heritage.
But, with Japan already at war, both are aware that things are heating up on the island for the Japanese who live there and it is no real surprise when the boat they have just finished building is set on fire and sinks. In an attempt to prove his loyalty as an American citizen, Eddy forges his birth certificate and joins the army. No sooner does he announce this at home, and his father stops speaking to him.
Seven weeks later, on his first leave, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. Eddy's father sees the sneak attack as cowardly and shameful and tells Eddy "No make shame for this family. You go. Fight for your country. Die, even, but die with honor." (pg 41) Eddy races back to his barracks, where soldiers are being loaded into trucks, everyone except for Eddy, Chik and Cobra and about 600 other island boys. Instead, they are given tools and told to dig trenches on the base, and for the first time, they are referred to as "Japs" by their new Lieutenant. Worse still, as they dig the trenches, machine guns are pointed at their backs, ready to shoot should they make one wrong move.
From then on, life in the army changes for Eddy and his friends. No longer treated like soldiers, they become "grunts" and "Japs," isolated from the rest of the soldiers. Eventually, the small number of Japanese Americans are separated from the rest of the island boys and forced to live in tents near the shoreline, again with machine guns pointed their way at all times. Their job - to shoot any Japanese soldiers who might try to land or be shot themselves.
After a while, they are sent to the mainland, and while traveling to Camp McCoy, WI, they see other Japanese Americans who have been herded into internment camps. At Camp McCoy, Eddy's unit is finally given the designation the Hundredth Infantry Battalion and for once, their immediate superiors are also of Japanese descent.
After a short stay at Camp McCoy, around 25 members of the Hundredth are transferred again. A Swiss émigré had managed to convince President Roosevelt that dogs could be trained to sniff out enemy Japanese because they have a different smell than non-Japanese people. Eddy and his friends are picked to go the Cat Island, MS, where they must participate in the training of army dogs by becoming the "hate bait" necessary to teach the dogs to hate and kill Japanese soldiers under the direction of the Swiss émigré.
This is the longest and by far the most disturbing part of Eyes of the Emperor. And as I read it, it boggled my mind to think that we could treat human beings with such complete disregard for their lives, since much of what they were forced to do is insulting, humiliating and dangerous. But remembering his father's words, Eddy always does what he is ordered to do - with honor.
In his very informative Author's Note, Salisbury writes that Eddy's story is based on real events and interviews he had with soldiers from the Hundredth Infantry Battalion Separated (as they were referred to, meaning separated from the rest of the army). Some of the characters in the story are real men who actually experienced the events Salisbury writes about. In addition, many of the men in the battalion eventually went on to distinguish themselves in battle when they were finally allowed to do what they had signed up for. In fact, Salisbury points out that every man who was on Cat Island received at least one purple heart and one bronze star. Salisbury has written a sensitive, perceptive yet hard hitting novel dealing with xenophobia and how it is experienced by those it is directed at simply because of how they look. Indeed, this novel resonates even today.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was bought for my personal library
evamadera1's review
5.0
A review from my old blog...
I learned something about World War II history that I didn't know before by reading this book. I am ashamed of this part of my history as an American.
This book is narrated by Eddy Okubo who lies about his age to enter the US Army before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After America declares war on Japan Okubo and his fellow Japanese American soldiers encounter various trials including being sent to Cat Island off of the Mississippi coast to serve as the bait in an ill-fated attempt to train dogs to seek out Japanese.
I had no idea that this part of history existed. As a student of history I of course know about the internment camps and various other types of prejudice executed against the Japanese Americans during that time but this felt like an all-time low to me. Just like Eddy and his fellow soldiers I couldn't believe it when their superior officer revealed what their duty was.
Even though the subject could have been extremely tense, sad and tragic Salisbury through Eddy infuses a sense of humor and lightness needed to keep the book from becoming a drudgery.
I absolutely loved this book!
I learned something about World War II history that I didn't know before by reading this book. I am ashamed of this part of my history as an American.
This book is narrated by Eddy Okubo who lies about his age to enter the US Army before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After America declares war on Japan Okubo and his fellow Japanese American soldiers encounter various trials including being sent to Cat Island off of the Mississippi coast to serve as the bait in an ill-fated attempt to train dogs to seek out Japanese.
I had no idea that this part of history existed. As a student of history I of course know about the internment camps and various other types of prejudice executed against the Japanese Americans during that time but this felt like an all-time low to me. Just like Eddy and his fellow soldiers I couldn't believe it when their superior officer revealed what their duty was.
Even though the subject could have been extremely tense, sad and tragic Salisbury through Eddy infuses a sense of humor and lightness needed to keep the book from becoming a drudgery.
I absolutely loved this book!
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