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66 pages 2 hours read

We Are Not Free

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2020

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Book Brief

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Traci Chee

We Are Not Free

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2020
Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

U.S. Internment Camps • 1940s

Publication Year

2020

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

Lexile Level

860L

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Super Short Summary

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee follows a group of Japanese American teenagers in San Francisco after Pearl Harbor, as their community is forced into internment camps under discriminatory laws. They endure hardships, including poor living conditions and mandatory loyalty questionnaires, while some enlist in the army to prove their loyalty. The story captures their resilience and the emotional toll of these experiences. The novel contains references to racial slurs and violence.

Emotional

Unnerving

Melancholic

Inspirational

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.5

11,819 ratings

86%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee has garnered acclaim for its rich narrative and vivid characters, capturing the Japanese American internment experience with emotional depth. Positive feedback highlights Chee's compelling storytelling and nuanced perspectives. Some critiques mention the large number of voices can be disorienting. Overall, it's a powerful, poignant read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read We Are Not Free?

Readers who enjoy poignant, multi-perspective historical fiction like Salt to the Sea or The Book Thief will be captivated by Traci Chee's We Are Not Free. This novel appeals to those interested in World War II narratives and explores themes of identity, resilience, and the Japanese American internment.

4.5

11,819 ratings

86%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

U.S. Internment Camps • 1940s

Publication Year

2020

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

Lexile Level

860L

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