Together in Manzanar fills a very specific niche, but a very valuable one. I have never before read about the non-Japanese family members who were imprisoned alongside their Japanese family during WWII. The Yonedas were a particularly interesting family to read about because of their extensive history of activism prior to the war. Tracy Slater did a great job weaving in their story with the social and historical context. She made the book both informative and readable. I also appreciate that she wrote about them without glorifying them or some of their decisions, some of which they too questioned later in life. The big elephant in the room with this book though, was the story of Joyce, the white daughter that Elaine left behind. There are plenty of hints that Joyce led a troubled life, but not much beyond that. I assume Slater was respecting the family's wishes in not delving into it further, but I was still left very curious!

This isn't the first book I've read on the incarceration of the Japanese in America, but it is certainly a very personal and unique one. As a Jewish woman myself with two half Japanese children, I realized that had I been living in California during that period of history, I would have been faced with the same choice that Elaine had to make. That's sobering right there.
This is the story of a couple that is deeply in love and deeply committed to the labor movement and the idea that one must work hard to improve the world. Was it to the detriment of their children? The reader will have doubts and concerns, but given the situation it would have been hard to do otherwise.
The description of early days at Manzanar are telling. The management of Manzanar, cover ups, racism, and illness all play a part here. The effect of the incarceration on her children cannot be understated. It's a story of choices where none of the choices are particularly good ones and outcomes are unknown.
What must be said is that if you are looking for a story with religious aspects or impact, this is not it. The Judaism in this story is all about prejudice and the belittling of the Jews. This was a time when assimilation was the name of the game for those who wanted to be "American." And finally, it is a cautionary tale lest we ever catch our government heading this way again.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I found it very interesting.