Most literary critics label Hirahara a mystery writer and former journalist, but these descriptors fail to acknowledge her strengths as a social historian ... Characters are skillfully drawn, supported by vivid details of local businesses and social events ... While answers may come slowly, the revelations are wrapped up in a larger, and ultimately more satisfying, story of Japanese immigration.
Evocative and immersive ... Crown City is a measured coming-of-age novel in which a man ponders what must be preserved for the sake of one’s cultural identity.
