A Place to Belong
A Place to Belong
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2006
Book Brief
416
Novel • Fiction
Japan • 1940s
2006
Middle grade
10-14 years
690L
Super Short Summary
A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata is a 2019 historical children’s novel that follows Hanako, a young Japanese girl who, with her family, returns to Japan after World War II following four years in American internment camps. They aim to rebuild their lives in Japan, only to find it devastated by war, leading them to consider returning to America to secure a better future for Hanako and her brother, Akira. The book includes themes of war, displacement, and internment camps.
Emotional
Heartwarming
Hopeful
Bittersweet
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
1,629 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Cynthia Kadohata's A Place to Belong intricately explores themes of identity, displacement, and resilience through the eyes of a young Japanese-American girl post-WWII. Praise centers on emotional depth and historical sensitivity, though some critique its pace and complexity for younger readers. Overall, its profound narrative makes it a compelling read.
Who Should Read A Place to Belong?
A reader who would enjoy Cynthia Kadohata's A Place to Belong is likely a middle-grade or young adult reader interested in historical settings and family dynamics. Fans of Ann M. Martin's A Corner of the Universe and Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's The War That Saved My Life will appreciate the heartfelt exploration of identity and belonging.
1,629 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
416
Novel • Fiction
Japan • 1940s
2006
Middle grade
10-14 years
690L
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