First of all, I'd like to thank Colored Pages Tours for the opportunity! You're doing an amazing work getting #OwnVoices ARCs in the hands of #OwnVoices reviewers and international readers <3
Second of all, I don't normally read historical fiction but I was really excited for We Are Not Free by Traci Chee as it is about a group of Japanese-American teens living in the US during World War II. I am sansei, which means I'm the granddaughter of Japanese immigrants, but I am not American (I mean, technically I am since I come from South America). Before reading this book, I did know enough about US history (and present) to make me aware of the country's cruelty against immigrants, but I have to admit I wasn't that familiar with the Segregation Camps. Anyway, I'd like to state beforehand that I will not be reviewing We Are Not Free based on its veracity, although the author was based on testimonials of her relatives. I simply lack the skills to judge the accuracy of the historical content.
Without further ado, let's review!
by Traci Chee
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genres: Historical YA Fiction
★★★★★Synopsis:All around me, my friends are talking, joking, laughing. Outside is the camp, the barbed wire, the guard towers, the city, the country that hates us.
We are not free.
But we are not alone.”
From New York Times best-selling and acclaimed author Traci Chee comes We Are Not Free, the collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II.
Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco.
Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted.
Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps. In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley for the blog tour. This does not affect my opinion.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster for me.
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee follows the lives of fourteen teens, children of Japanese Immigrants, who grew up in San Francisco, CA, and were forcedly removed from their homes and put in Segregation Camps by the US Government. The story starts a little after Pearl Harbor and ends in March of 1945 and within that time we get to know these characters who grew up together and now have to face this new and unfair reality.
“And I get it, finally. Gaman. The ability to hold your pain and bitterness inside you and not let them destroy you. To make something beautiful through your anger, or with your anger, and neither erase it nor let it define you. To suffer. And to rage. And to persevere." — Traci Chee, We Are Not Free
To be honest, I was nervous about reading a book with fourteen main characters. I mean, how can you even keep track, right? Well, apparently I am less dense than I thought because I was able to do it just fine. Because of the way it was written, the speech/thought patterns were distinguished enough that the chapters felt natural to me. Big props to the author, that must have been so hard to write!
Anyway, because the characters all had their unique voice (and backgrounds) I couldn't help to relate to some more than others but what surprised me the most was that I could understand everyone. Even when I couldn't agree with their actions, even when I thought they were being irrational, I got them and I cared for them. And that's the beauty of books right? One can empathize with fictional characters so much to the point of tears.
And, gods, there were tears. I'm usually not a big crier. I can probably count on one hand how many times I cried while watching or reading something, but We Are Not Free left me pouring my eyes out at two in the morning. That's how good the book is.
"See, we don’t got liberty, we don’t got property, but you better believe we’ve got the Great American Right to die for a country that doesn’t want us.” — Traci Chee, We Are Not Free
I part of why I felt so connected with the book is because I felt represented. I can't remember the last time I saw so many Japanese characters who had also another nationality and who were also conflicted with their ancestry. I can't remember the last time I read a book and felt so seen because, even though I am nowhere near the characters in time, I could relate to their feelings and their thoughts and actions.
Regarding the plot, the author managed to cover a bit over three years' worth of fourteen character's lives, which means a lot happens. And a lot, historically, is covered as well. That means that there's always conflict, there's some romance and some brilliant quotes. Basically, I couldn't keep myself from turning the pages and ended up reading it all in one sitting and finished at 2 am (crying, no less).
“I want to believe in right and wrong. Here is what’s right. Here is what isn’t. Here is the line. Here is the question: If I go to war for America, if I kill for America, if I support an America that doesn’t support me, am I supporting my oppressors?” — Traci Chee, We Are Not Free
I did not know anything about the author and therefore it was a great surprise to find out she's so good. She's done a great job researching and writing We Are Not Free. The book kept on edge all the time (and I'm guessing it was on purpose) and moved me deeply. I will always be grateful to Traci Chee.
Also, it was a nice surprise to find out one of the characters is not straight! That usually does not happen in historical fiction (at least, not in the very few books I read within the genre).
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee is an amazing historical fiction. I recommend it to anyone looking for a great read who leave you emotionally wrecked (in a good way, I promised).
"You’ve lost too much to give more of yourself away.” — Traci Chee, We Are Not Free
I read the book on a digital copy, but I think I want to get a physical one too because there's so much extra content (like drawings, letters, newspaper excerpts) in it! I'd love to see Minnow's drawing on paper.
Oh, and speaking of art. I did an illustration related to the book. The origami crane makes several appearances throughout the story and it's full of meaning, so I thought it'd be nice to draw my take on it.
Author Information
Traci Chee is the New York Times best-selling author of The Reader trilogy. She studied literature and creative writing at UC Santa Cruz and earned a master of arts degree from San Francisco State University. She is Japanese American and was inspired to write We Are Not Free by her family’s experience during World War II. Some of the events she includes in the book are loosely inspired by their stories. She loves books, poetry and paper crafts, as well as bonsai gardening and games. She lives in California.
Website: http://www.tracichee.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6567825.Traci_Chee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracicheeauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tracichee
Tumblr: https://tracichee.tumblr.com/
Author Information
Traci Chee is the New York Times best-selling author of The Reader trilogy. She studied literature and creative writing at UC Santa Cruz and earned a master of arts degree from San Francisco State University. She is Japanese American and was inspired to write We Are Not Free by her family’s experience during World War II. Some of the events she includes in the book are loosely inspired by their stories. She loves books, poetry and paper crafts, as well as bonsai gardening and games. She lives in California.
Website: http://www.tracichee.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6567825.Traci_Chee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracicheeauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tracichee
Tumblr: https://tracichee.tumblr.com/
Tour hosted by Colored Pages Tours
3 comentários
I can't express to you how much I love this post! Your review is amazing - the connection you have to this book is unmistakable! Thank you for reviewing this book so intimately. We all need to remember the events of history.
ReplyDeleteThis book means a lot to me and the fact that you loved my review is just mind blowing :D
DeleteThank you for making my day!
miya.
I recently bought a set of Suzuki spark plugs for my Swift, and the improvement in fuel efficiency and engine responsiveness was noticeable. It's essential to use the recommended Suzuki Spare Parts for optimal performance.
ReplyDelete