The Two Terrors of Tulelake by WM Gunn on LSLL Book Campaign with Giveaway!
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I recently attended an event where George Takei spoke about his time in the Japanese internment camps during World War II. At 87, he was clear, candid, and expressed more than a little righteous indignation about the trauma his family endured.
It was his story that came to mind as I read The Two Terrors of Tulelake, a time-slip story about two boys whose lives intertwine across the decades to showcase the history of Tulelake.
The strength of the book lies in its plot—the history pulled me forward, chapter by chapter, as I’ve always been intrigued by the World War II era. Although it was jarring at times, it was fascinating to hop from character to character, hearing their thoughts and understanding their motivations. From the two boys, Bobby and Ichiro, to parents, teachers, camp military leaders, and even President Roosevelt, their interiority moved the story along.
As I read, I wondered if this was meant to be more of a chapter book for children, something educational that a teacher might keep in a classroom library. However, because of the violence depicted and some mature themes, I would be cautious about giving this to younger readers.
The characters were simple; the boy from 2017, a bully, felt like a caricature, as did his father, his victims, and the military personnel he interacted with at Tulelake. Bobby’s transformation at the end was inevitable, while his father’s seemed magical and improbable. The resolution of their story arc aligned with the author’s moral tale, which was admirable, if a bit didactic.
These issues were easy to overlook as I became caught up in discovering more about this dishonorable period of American history. While the descriptions of camp life were accurate, the riot depicted in the book’s pivotal scene was not. After some research, I found that there was a riot at Tulelake, but it occurred under different circumstances than those portrayed in the story. Perhaps that was part of the author’s intent: to inspire readers to delve deeper into the historical events. If so, mission accomplished.
Overall, I enjoyed journeying through The Two Terrors of Tulelake. I could feel the author’s passion for history and his desire to ensure that America never revisits this kind of atrocity.
If you enjoyed this book, you may also appreciate watching: Farewell to Manzanar, Go for Broke, Snow Falling on Cedars
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I also thought of Takei's talk (and his wonderful picture book about this time of his life) when I first saw Tulelake come out. Noted the cautionary note about the violence. Sounds like a read-along for adults and younger folks to experience the book together and have important discussions. Thanks for sharing.
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