Meissner gently explores a little-known aspect of American internment camps: things are hot and unpleasant, but there is plenty of food and friendship among the German and Japanese prisoners. Despite the hardships she endures, Elise remains optimistic and open to love, which comes from an unexpected place after the war. A heartbreaking, thought-provoking work of historical women’s fiction.
The best part of this novel, other than the historical revelations, is the way Elise names her disease Agnes, 'after a girl at my junior high school in Davenport—Agnes Finster—who was forever taking things that didn’t belong to her' ... Those Agnes descriptions are a bright exception to an otherwise bland writing style. Still, author Susan Meissner, a former journalist and award-winning veteran novelist, knows how to spin an engrossing plot peopled by complex human beings ... And beyond its literary strengths and flaws, The Last Year of the War is timely and important today, when thousands of would-be immigrants from Latin America are cruelly being held in detention centers or deported solely because of their nationality, just like the Sontag and Inoue families.
This novel provided an opportunity for me to learn about a new subject, and since I have read so many books set during WWII, I liked that some of it focused on the aftermath of war instead of only the war itself. However, the part that struck me the most in this heartwarming, coming-of-age story was the power of love in all its forms, the characters’ search for 'home' regardless of nationality, and the strength of a childhood friendship to help you through the difficult times.
... a quietly devastating story that shows how fear and hatred during World War II changed (and even ended) the lives of many innocent Americans. Although Mariko is a central character, Elise’s personal growth is what drives the story—she must learn how to take control of her life even as she’s at the mercy of a government that sees her family as enemies. Readers may wish they could see more of Mariko’s experiences and hardships, but Elise’s story is still compelling and important ... An emotional and informative look at a shameful chapter of U.S. history that’s often swept under the rug.
Vivid historical detail and elegant prose bolster this rewarding story of profound friendship, family, fear, and the pain that arose for American-born children of immigrant parents.
