A Fence Away from Freedom

I happened to come across this book at the local library. As a Japanese-American whose grandparents and father had lived through the internment, I didn't hesitate to check it out even though it looked like a middle school required reading type of book (I am in my late twenties). This book is excellent! I would not use this text for a research paper; that being said, the author gives a very good history of the internment experience. She is not overly sentimental or overly factual. It made for a very interesting and easy read. What I loved most about this book is that the author took the time to interview people who lived through the internment. Throughout the book, you'll find their very moving experiences. Some are funny, but most are sad. Growing up, I never thought of the internment of Japanese-Americans as such a terrible thing. I've seen many pictures of happy children and teenagers with the camps as background. Or groups of older people making mochi. But this book really makes it plain the incredible injustice that was done to these people. It must've been terrible to have their rights stripped by the US government that was supposed to protect them (most of these people were US citizens!). And then to not have an opportunity to speak out, to appeal. And of course, the way the friends and neighbors of these citizens turned their backs when they saw an opportunity to profit. I read this book a while ago, but I felt compelled to finally review it last night. There is so much lack of cultural understanding and such a disregard for the teachings of history. I hope that others will read this book and understand how easy it would be for fear to push us down this road again. Diversity is such a wonderful thing and we should embrace it!