So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

I really enjoyed this story about World War II and the differences it has from how we (United States Citizens) view this war. Growing up and learning about the 1945 time period and what happened we never had a point of view like this. A point of view from an 11 year old girl who has lost her belongings, her family members, her whole life because of this war. We don’t see the part of this, the type that really matters. The part where families are being divided and what occurred to them during World War II.

The part I took from the book that made me realize how similar the citizens are of those who are going through difficult hardships like war. Love and family is an important factor for everyone. No matter what side of the tracks you are on, or who attacked who, all citizens still feel the love, sacrifice, loss, emotion to protect one another and their family. It’s also about moving on and surviving when there is hardship. These two girls lost their mother and they worked together and survived on their own. They didn’t have their father or brother in the first place, that also makes it difficult. But in the end they did it because they cared so much about one another and the love they had allowed them to survive.