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.

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.

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

Yoshiko Uchida

Middle grade

Novel

Fiction

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Journey to Topaz Background

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Chapters 1-5

Journey to Topaz Chapters 1-5 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 6-10

Journey to Topaz Chapters 6-10 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 11-14

Journey to Topaz Chapters 11-14 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 15-17

Journey to Topaz Chapters 15-17 Summary & Analysis

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Journey to Topaz Character Analysis

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Journey to Topaz Essay Topics

Journey to Topaz: A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation

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