Eyes of the Emperor

This gripping historical novel transports readers to Hawaii in 1941, where sixteen-year-old Eddy Okubo faces the complex challenges of being Japanese-American at the dawn of World War II. After falsifying his age to join the U.S. Army, Eddy's patriotic aspirations collide with the harsh realities of discrimination and suspicion that followed the attack on Pearl Harbor. The narrative unfolds through Eddy's experiences as he and his fellow Japanese-American soldiers are assigned to a secret and morally troubling mission on Cat Island, Mississippi, testing the limits of their loyalty and resilience. Graham Salisbury crafts a compelling exploration of identity, courage, and the human cost of wartime prejudice, based on actual historical events that were classified for many years after the war. Through careful attention to historical detail and nuanced character development, the novel illuminates a lesser-known chapter of World War II history while raising questions about patriotism and prejudice.

Readers appreciate how the book illuminates the discrimination faced by Japanese-American soldiers during WWII through personal, intimate storytelling. Many note the book teaches history in an accessible way for young readers while maintaining emotional depth. Readers highlight: - Historical accuracy and research - First-person perspective that creates empathy - Strong character development of protagonist Eddy - Balance between serious themes and lighter moments Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the ending abrupt - Military details occasionally overwhelming Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (48 ratings) "The personal nature of Eddy's story helped me understand this part of history better than any textbook," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Another noted: "Important story but the pacing dragged at times." The book appears frequently on school reading lists and won the ALA Best Books for Young Adults award.

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Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki A young Japanese-American boy finds strength through baseball while living in an internment camp during World War II.

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🔸 The Cat Island experiment was a real military operation where Japanese-American soldiers were used to train dogs to track and attack Japanese soldiers, based on the misguided belief that Japanese people had a distinct scent. 🔸 Author Graham Salisbury was born and raised in Hawaii and draws from his deep connection to the islands' history and culture to create authentic portrayals of Hawaiian life during WWII. 🔸 Over 1,500 Japanese-American teenagers, like protagonist Eddy Okubo, falsified their age to join the U.S. military before Pearl Harbor, demonstrating their patriotism despite facing discrimination. 🔸 The secret Cat Island mission remained classified until 1990, nearly 45 years after World War II ended, revealing a troubling chapter in American military history. 🔸 While thousands of Japanese-Americans were being sent to internment camps, approximately 33,000 Japanese-Americans served in the U.S. military during World War II, earning numerous commendations for their bravery and service.