Kiyo's Story: A Japanese-American Family's Quest for the American Dream

I am grad that this book finally became available in Asia Pacific Kindle store. I happened to find out that last night at the cafe, I immediately downloaded and started reading. I am still in the middle of the story, but I already like the story very much. Personally, it is like reading Japanese immigrants' version of "Little House on the Prairie" with nine kids. A young couple from Japan with full of hopes and plans for their future in America build their life one step at a time, despite of all social and economic hardships. Especilly, I like to read how her family worked in the fields together including children's little hands, had their family time together after dark, like children's learning English but picking up their father's wrong accents. They are such a wonderful, closely knitted family. I wish I were raised in a family like hers. Her story gives me a lot of hopes, courage, and warmth.

A wonderful book! Both as a fascinating story on one level, and as a report of the lives of a real family on another, I was captivated right from the very beginning. She tells a story that we all should know. It's hard to imagine the difficult circumstances endured by the Sato family and the resourcefulness, courage, and continual loving concern for one another they continued to display throughout their internment on that hot desert. Kiyo Sato's writings bring her family story to life; I thank her for sharing.

I bought this book locally on May 30th, 2009; I finished it on June 2nd, 2009. I can only say I was moved to tears many times reading this book. The Sato family survived an American Holocaust that no family should've been subjected to; yet, thousands were. As a resident of Sacramento, my reading about the places of Kiyo's childhood that I was vaguely familiar with, brought them to life. Weaving her family's legacy with her father's Haiku was a delightful addition to the already moving story. Kiyo truly brought her parents back to life with this book. It is a wonderful tribute to the strength and spirit of a beautiful couple who put their trust in a God, even when other Christians were treating them abominably. Even after the war years, the family was treated badly. Reading about the unscrupulous actions of local business giants and their attempts to squeeze the Sato family off their land made me ill. I certainly lost respect for some of the County Board of Supervisors I have known through the years. Thank you, Kiyo, for opening your heart and soul and sharing the legacy of your family. As you indicated in closing, the Sato family is truly Americanized (in the best sense)--a wonderful diversity of cultures and ethnicities--all of whom can point to the fortitude of Shinji and Tomomi Sato, the strong roots of their glorious family tree.

This is a book that belongs in every library, especially school libraries. It is the story of a Japanese man who came to the United States as a 14 year old boy, returned to Japan to marry his bride,returned to the United States to raise a family of 9 high-achieving children on a farm in the Sacramento Valley of California. This poignant story is told by Kiyo Sato, the oldest of their children.It tells of how her family struggled to improve the land and make it productive.She tells of the internment without bitterness but with great sadness that her country could do this to her family. She tells of her parents' determina- tion that the children receive a good education and become good citizens. They became nurses, scientists, secretaries, nurses, engineers. Five sons served in the military A daughter served as a Captain in the Air Force Nurse Corp. She tells the story of her family and remarkable father simply and lovingly. It is what it is...the story of a family who overcame almost unsurmountable odds and never gave up on America.