Unpacking the wordy subtitle, the diplomacy is only mildly intriguing ... It is the individual stories of the civilians being moved—many unwillingly—that make this a tale worth telling.
Iritani stitches together a moving and important story that has been nearly lost to history ... Remarkable ... Reads at times like a spy novel against a backdrop of wartime horror and uncertainty. In the best tradition of literary nonfiction, Iritani dives deep into the characters’ backgrounds describing in satisfying detail their upbringing, education, family relationships, and personality quirks ... Her words and this book, an important addition to the canon of Japanese American history, could not have been more timely.
Readers interested in the lives of individuals buffeted by the winds of war will find much to hold their interest. Iritani tells their stories with a wealth of personal details ... Worth reading. Iritani writes in an approachable manner for a broad audience on an episode of the Second World War that has been relatively little known.
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