49 pages • 1 hour read
Journey to Topaz: A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation
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Book Brief
149
Novel • Fiction
San Francisco, California • 1940s
1971
Middle grade
10-14 years
Super Short Summary
In Journey to Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida, 11-year-old Yuki Sakane and her family are forcibly relocated from their home in Berkeley, California, to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah during World War II. The novel depicts how this experience of unjust imprisonment impacts their lives and sense of identity within the wider context of wartime prejudice and racism in America. The book includes descriptions of racism, incarceration, violent death, injustice, and violence toward a minoritized population.
Melancholic
Emotional
Contemplative
Mysterious
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
1,779 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Journey to Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida captures the harrowing experience of Japanese-Americans during WWII. Readers appreciate its heartfelt storytelling and historical insight, though some find the narrative pace slow at times. The book's poignant depiction of internment camps educates and moves, but may seem simplified for young readers. Overall, a compelling read.
Who Should Read Journey to Topaz?
A reader who enjoys Journey to Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida likely appreciates historical fiction centered on personal and societal struggles. Fans of Number the Stars by Lois Lowry or Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston will be drawn to Uchida's poignant portrayal of Japanese American internment during WWII.
1,779 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
149
Novel • Fiction
San Francisco, California • 1940s
1971
Middle grade
10-14 years
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