Yoshiko, born on November 24, 1921, was the second daughter of Japanese immigrant parents Takashi and Iku. Literature & Fiction, Short Stories, Children’s Books Although the author tried to make this a semi light-hearted children’s book, I never saw it that way, and the pain and anguish she experienced still last through words and pages. It’s written in third person narrative primarily from Yuki’s point of view, although once it did switch over to Ken’s and Mr. The story seemed realistic and well crafted the family didn’t become wealthy right away, but learned to work with others to try to succeed after their experiences in the internment camp. The characters will be likable and the message is very profound.ĭon’t expect for the world to stay the same. I felt that she had little affect on the change in the grand scheme of things. Yuki was simply an observer in my opinion.

Oka and her brother, although I felt that her brother’s story was a little too fast for my liking. (Something interesting: Yuki means snow in Japanese.) The characters that do surround Yuki do go through some changes, in particular Mr. Journey Home is an extraordinary story of one’s family struggle to survive one of the most tragic episodes in US history. But in the end, it is their unyielding faith and courage that guide them home, reunited and hopeful. With nowhere to go, and no money to get there, the road to rebuilding their lives seems endless. They are free, but are left with nothing. Yuki and her Japanese-American family are forced from their home in California and imprisoned in a US concentration camp called Topaz.Īfter months of unbearable life in Topaz, Yuki and her family are finally released.

Type of book: 1940s, WWII, Internment camp, getting on with life, survivors, for young adults

Journey to topaz by yoshiko uchida