House of the Red Fish

August 1, 2006
Gr 6-9 -This sequel to "Under the Blood-Red Sun" (Delacorte, 1994) continues the story of Tomi Nakaji, a Japanese American living on the island of Oahu. It -s 1943 and Tomi, now 13, is forced into the role of the man of the house. His father has been arrested and imprisoned; his grandfather has also been taken away. All people of Japanese descent are suspect in the virulent racism of the times. Vigilantes stalk the streets, enforcing a curfew. Tomi decides to keep hope and faith alive that his father will return by raising Papa -s fishing boat, the "Taiyo Maru", a sampan that was sunk by the army. His former friend, Keet Wilson, has become his nemesis, bullying, stealing from, and terrorizing Tomi. Other haoles, or white people, however, become allies in his ultimately successful struggle to raise the boat and look toward a better future. The nearly impossible task is accomplished largely through Tomi -s determination and perseverance and his ingenious approaches to the problem. Salisbury paints the tropical setting with vivid details. He writes with balance of the ways in which war touches people, creating characters with fully realized motivations. It is not necessary to have read the first book, as the author seamlessly brings his audience up to date. Give this to readers who enjoyed Rodman Philbrick -s "The Young Man and the Sea" (Scholastic, 2004), another story with an ocean setting and a fiercely determined boy -s coming of age." -Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME "

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.