Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese American Family (Classics of Asian American Literature)

An excellent, heart touching personal account of the injustices and hardships Yoshiko Uchida and her family struggled to overcome after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Desert Exile carries the reader along with the Uchida family as they and thousands of Japanese Americans are removed from their homes and incarcerated in internment camps along the west coast. It's a piece of America's history that is relevant even today. An informative and eye opening read.

While everyone has heard of the Holocaust and of the horrors inflicted upon the Jewish peoples during World War II, fewer people seem aware of the shameful treatment of the Japanese and Japanese-Americans in the United States following Pearl Harbor. While the American 'internment camps' did not play the same role as the concentration camps of Germany, and while the Issei and Nisei were not exterminated en masse as the Jews were, the actions taken by the American government with regard to "enemy alien" Japanese was nonetheless deploreable, and should not be forgotten, lest such a thing happen again.Yoshiko Uchida had been living a fairly normal life with her Nisei sister and Issei family in Berkeley, California. Though she was aware of her Japanese heritage (sometimes moreso than others), Yoshiko never considered herself to be anything but an American. So when the American government tells her and her family that they have 10 days to report for relocation, Yoshiko suddenly finds her entire identity thrown into turmoil. If she isn't American, and she isn't Japanese, then who is she?Much of this story was familiar to me, because I have read The Invisible Thread, another book by Uchida covering the same topic, but written for children. In each book, she speaks with anger, with sadness, and with fondness. She speaks of the confusion felt by the Nisei at being treated as criminals - actually, with less rights than criminals - by their own country. She speaks of the horrific living conditions at Tanforan and Topaz. She speaks of the fortitude of the Issei and Nisei, who meet the challenges present to them with typical Japanese aplomb.There are any number of books out there by survivors of the Japanese internment during World War II. Uchida's is particularly well told, and should be read by anyone who think that "things like that couldn't happen in America." This is particularly pertinent now, when we seem to be in danger of following the same slippery slope.

I only have to dock because the book got bent in poor shipping conditions. The actual book in amazing, a great perspective of a horrible situation, very engaging and informative.

This book is well written and very descriptive. This book provides an excellent account of the Japanese exile and incarceration in concentration camps during World War ll. First hand perspective of the trials and extreme hardships placed on the Japanese people in America during World War ll.

A subject we don't see discussed much anymore. Well written without bitterness. It was amazing to see what this group of mistreated people could accomplish to improve a pathetic existence during their exile. Some of our welfare recipients should read it to see just what can be accomplished with determination and pride.

okay

I know I say this often but I think books about Japanese-Americans during WW11 should be required reading in our schools and for others too. We need to know what can happen, what did happen and never allow it to happen again. We need to recognize prejudice and never allow it to cloud our judgments. I feel, I, myself, have learned a lot. We can all learn.

Throughly enjoyed reading this novel even though the subject is very upsetting! I am so happy I ordered this book, I am lending it to my entire family as it explains a lot of how my parents and grandparents felt during this uncertain period of time.