FACING THE MOUNTAIN

A TRUE STORY OF JAPANESE AMERICAN HEROES IN WORLD WAR II
by Daniel James Brown

In all honesty, I found aspects of Facing the Mountain interesting and I learned about an aspect of WWII of which I previously knew nothing. I had no idea that Japanese Americans were initially excluded from fighting, then allowed to enlist, then required to serve -- but always in separate units and often in the most dangerous locations. Brown also provides a fascinating glimpse into the Japanese code of honor in which parents forced to live in internment camps by their own country sent their sons off to fight in a war for that country enjoining them to bring honor on their families.

What I found challenging, and ultimately off-putting, about Facing The Mountain was the massive amount of detail Brown uses describing wartime strategies and battles. This is my personal preference, I realize. Historical books often become tedious to me if they bog down in too much detail. Had Brown focused more on the social and human aspects of the story, I would have enjoyed Facing The Mountain more. As it stands, I have to say it was not my cup of tea. (Liz)