Home Again

Home Again is a non-fiction account documenting the experiences of Japanese Americans during and after their incarceration in U.S. internment camps during World War II. Weglyn examines the period from 1945-1955 when former internees attempted to rebuild their lives and communities. The book draws upon government records, personal letters, and first-hand testimonies to reconstruct the challenges faced by Japanese Americans upon their release from the camps. Weglyn tracks the struggles to reclaim property, find housing and employment, and cope with lingering discrimination in post-war America. Through case studies and demographic data, the text details the geographic dispersal of the Japanese American population and the transformation of ethnic enclaves in major cities. The narrative follows several families and individuals as they navigate the bureaucratic, legal, and social barriers to resettlement. This historical study exposes the long-term consequences of mass incarceration on a minority community and explores themes of resilience, identity, and the meaning of citizenship in times of national crisis.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Michi Weglyn's overall work: Readers consistently highlight "Years of Infamy" as a meticulous documentation of Japanese American internment. Many note the book's impact on their understanding of this historical period. What readers appreciate: - Extensive primary source documentation and government records - Personal perspective as a former internee combined with scholarly research - Clear presentation of complex historical events - Impact on redress movement and policy changes Common criticisms: - Dense writing style can be challenging to follow - Some readers found the detailed government documentation overwhelming - Limited personal narrative compared to other internment accounts Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (50+ reviews) One reader notes: "The thorough research and documentary evidence make this an invaluable historical record." Another comments: "Sometimes dry but necessary reading for understanding this dark chapter in American history."

Years of Infamy by Michi Weglyn Chronicles Japanese American internment through government documents and first-hand accounts.

Desert Exile by Yoshiko Uchida Presents a memoir of life in Topaz internment camp and the impact of Executive Order 9066 on Japanese American families.

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, James D. Houston Details the experiences of a Japanese American family before, during, and after their internment at Manzanar War Relocation Center.

Looking Like the Enemy by Mary Matsuda Gruenewald Tells the story of a teenage girl's journey from her Washington state home to California's internment camps during World War II.

Only What We Could Carry by Lawson Fusao Inada Combines poems, photographs, letters, and oral histories to document Japanese American internment experiences.

🔖 Michi Weglyn wrote "Home Again" while battling terminal cancer, making it her final work before her death in 1999. 📚 Before becoming an author and activist, Weglyn worked as a costume designer for Perry Como's TV show and was the first Japanese American to work in mainstream television. 🏰 The book serves as a sequel to her groundbreaking 1976 work "Years of Infamy: The Untold Story of America's Concentration Camps," which was the first comprehensive account of Japanese internment written by a former internee. ⚖️ Weglyn's research and writings were instrumental in the successful fight for redress and reparations for Japanese Americans interned during WWII, leading to the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. 🌟 Despite facing poverty and illness while writing "Home Again," Weglyn refused to accept payment for her speaking engagements about Japanese American internment, viewing it as her duty to educate others about this dark chapter in American history.