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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Elise Sontag is a typical Iowa fourteen-year-old in 1943--aware of the war but distanced from its reach. Then her father, a legal U.S. resident for nearly two decades, is suddenly arrested on suspicion of being a Nazi sympathizer. The family is sent to an internment camp in Texas, where, behind the armed guards and barbed wire, Elise feels stripped of everything beloved and familiar, including her own identity.
The only thing that makes the camp bearable is meeting fellow internee Mariko Inoue, a Japanese-American teen from Los Angeles, whose friendship empowers Elise to believe the life she knew before the war will again be hers. Together in the desert wilderness, Elise and Mariko hold tight the dream of being young American women with a future beyond the fences.
Review:
There's an old saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." This quote, written over one hundred years ago, is attributed to philosopher George Santayana. When I read the gripping historical novel, The Last Year of the War, by Susan Meissner, I couldn't help but think how timely her story was.
Written from the viewpoint of a fourteen-year old girl forced to live in an internment camp, this book brings to light the mistreatment of some German-Americans during WWII. With strong historical details, and heartbreaking characters, this novel seized my attention, and did not let go. I only wish the book was a little longer.
What I Liked:
Settings:
The settings of the internment camp, Germany in the midst of WWII, and post-war California are full of details that put me in the character's shoes. The author does an excellent job of using all the senses (sounds, taste, smell, touch) that bring a moment to life. You can tell that she did extensive research on each setting.
Characters:
Elise:I loved the journey that Elise takes throughout this book. Starting as a teen where she has no control, we see her evolve to a point where she gets to decide for herself what will make her happy. I liked that she realized that she was relying on others to rescue her, and determined that she could rescue herself.
Elise's Parents:
I liked that both of Elise's parents, Otto and Freda were fully formed characters. When they were repatriated back to Germany, Otto and Freda were mortified for their children and racked with guilt. Yet Otto looked forward to returning to his birthplace.
Female Friendship:
I loved the bonds that formed between Elise and Mariko, her fellow American-born internee. These are two girls who saw each other as just American teenagers, not German or Japanese. They shared dreams about the future, and helped each other when their families went through tensions.
Relevance to Current Events:
While I don't want to get too political in a book review, I couldn't help but draw parallels between what happened in the book and what is happening to some immigrant families in the United States today. I was appalled that Elise, an American citizen who doesn't speak German, could be forced to leave the U.S. Similar situations are occurring right now.
Message:
The message of the book, that everyone is trying to find where "home" is, resonates with me. Some people, like Elise's father, identify with a specific physical location, such as his childhood vision of Germany. Other people are more connected to specific people. Elise feels she could call anywhere home if Mariko were there. Perhaps it is the struggle of youth to figure that out for oneself?
What I Was Mixed About:
We never do find out the true reasons why a certain character wants to marry Elise. I wish the author would have been more clear about this person's motivations, as they really affected Elise's self-confidence (please excuse my own vagueness, as I don't want to put spoilers in this review). I also wanted to have more Mariko in the book. She had an equally compelling story that I think should have been explored more. I do understand though. Elise, and what happens to her, is the main focus of the book.
Trigger Warning for Sexual Violence
Rating:
Release Date: March 19th, 2019
Author: Susan Meissner
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Page Length: 400 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-book
Recommendation: A timely reminder of the mistreatment of immigrants during WWII. Strong historical details and characters would make this an excellent choice for a book club.
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