A review by adrianna_isabel
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I feel like the author did such an amazing job with narrating from a child's perspective. It wasn't too innocent, but it was absolutely there. They think the way a child would (daydreaming about when their lives got back to normal etc.) Flashbacks were well formatted. Learning about experiences in the camps was informative and eye opening.

I loved the awareness raised around PTSD and the discrimination victims from the camps went through when returning home. I loved how the author described adjusting getting back home. And, the way the family's identities as Asians during a time of war felt so authentic. It was so sad, seeing them feel ashamed for their ethnicity. 

 I loved the ending. It was realistic, and it was ending that gave good closure to the reader but was not perfect, whatsoever. important spoiler >>
Spoilerwhen the father finally reunites with his children in the end, he's a completely different person (due to the ptsd). And the way the children reacted to it and described it felt so shockingly real.</spoiler

Very informative. It was an honor to read this book 
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