I read the book "Farewell to Manzanar", by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. This book is about the Japanese internment camps that were set up in America during World War II, and how it affected this particular family. It tells the story of the separation of the family members, hardships, and hatred that they had to live with during this time period. It also helps to open our eyes to the mistakes, and how our government can question itself over some of the issues we were fighting for. .
The book tells the story from Jeanne Wakatsuki, the main character, and how she and her family struggled to make it through this time period in American history. The book is told from Jeanne's own experiences in her own town, and how her peers at school treated her. Also what it was like being taken from her home and being put into the Japanese internment camp of Manzanar. It begins with her father being taken away for supposedly supplying oil to Japanese submarines on the coast while he was fishing. It also goes into some detail on how their neighbors, and people throughout their town treated them after the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It helps to show how she is confused on why people are being so mean to her and her family. .
The book also describes what it felt like to be split up from her father, and how they felt like prisoners in a country they called home. It also gives great detail of life in these camps. The details on their cramped living situations, and how uncomfortable it was in the beginning were very well explained. It describes that women used to put boxes over their heads in the restroom, so they didn't have to look at anyone. It talks about the games, activities, and chores that the children would play to pass the time also. It also described the mess hall, and the meals that they had to eat over and over. Another thing that really was amazing to me, is that the government tried to tell them that these camps were for their own protection, yet they were surrounded by barbed wire, and guard towers.
