We Are Not Free

Starred review from July 6, 2020
Spanning three years, from March 1942 to March 1945, Chee’s accomplished novel about America’s treatment of Japanese Americans is told by 14 Nisei teenagers who have grown up together in San Francisco’s Japantown. The book traces their varied trajectories, beginning with their initial deportation to a nearby incarceration camp, then a second move to the more developed compound of Topaz City, Utah, where prisoners are forced to pledge loyalty to the U.S. or to Japan through a questionnaire, and “No-Nos”—those who refuse U.S. allegiance and military service—are deported to yet another camp. Inspired by Chee’s family history, the book powerfully depicts, as an author’s note states, “a mere fraction of what this generation went through.” Varying between first-, second-, and third-person narration; letters and verse; and even one chapter told by “all of us,” each interconnected story has a distinct voice (a provided “Character Registry” is useful for keeping track of the many characters and relationships). The individual tales are well crafted and emotionally compelling, and they resolve into an elegant arc. Ambitious in scope and complexity, this is an essential contribution to the understanding of the wide-ranging experiences impacting people of Japanese ancestry in the U.S. during WWII. Ages 12–up. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Agency.

An outstanding cast of narrators captures the experiences of 14 Japanese-American teenagers when they and their families are uprooted and forced to live in incarceration camps from 1942-45. Each chapter follows a different character's story, with the narrator's voice closely mirroring the character's distinct and vibrant personality. Listeners feel their initial shock, their anger at living in dirty horse stalls and cold barracks, their joy at close friendships, and their rage and despair as they are forced apart. The interconnected stories highlight individual experiences as they follow an overarching timeline. Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa gives a standout performance as Twitchy, whose liveliness and joyful personality are eventually challenged by horrifying experiences fighting for the U.S. overseas. This work is timely and powerful, especially on audio. E.E.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine