This novel, dealing with the conflicts and predjudices encountered by a Japanese American family during WWII, is an excellent novel to use with middle school students post 9-11. My students were able to look at the lives of the characters and make perdictions and assessments of how Americans of Arabic decent might be treated as a result of the color of their skin and suspiscions of many around them. A great book to read in a time of great prejudice and hostiliy.

Sue is a typical American high school senior who suddenly becomes atypical in December 1941, upon the bombing of Pearl Harbor. When your family name is Ohara, the government doesn't care if you are U.S.-born and a child of American citizens. Sue and her family are interned in a prison camp along with thousands of other Japanese-Americans accused of being spies for Japan. How Sue and her family deal with being Americans in an American that doesn't trust them is handled sensitively, and gives an interesting view of a little-discussed (and shameful) era of our history. A Newbery Honor book.

I had looked for over forty-five years for this book and the chance to read it again. It fired my love for reading as no other book had and inspired me to become a teacher which I was for twenty-five years and to write which I have always enjoyed. I found the 1931 edition on the internet and will cherish it forever. Not only is it a good mystery, but it's also a terrific lesson in tolerance for others. It teaches the withholding of judgement until all the facts are in. I have not seen the 1968 edition but imagine it to deal more sensitively with "politically correct" issues.