The Cross on Castle Rock : A Childhood Memoir

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Anyone Interested in American History
Review: This fascinating first-hand account describes life as a young Japanese-American boy imprisoned during WWII in the American internment camps. This book covers Mr. Nakagawa's experiences of May 1942 through October 1945--from the first day of his relocation to the last day of his imprisonment at age thirteen. Mr. Nakagawa writes about each camp where he and his family were relocated: Pinedale, Tule Lake, and Heart Mountain. (The camp names alone are strangely surreal and somehow revealing of this sad era in American history.)

Yet while the period itself is a sad one, Mr. Nakagawa's story, as told through the eyes of his childhood self, remains uplifting. The writing is impeccably clear and non-filtered; unlike many memoirs that lose themselves in nonessential meanderings, The Cross on Castle Rock focuses on the matter at hand--how a child copes in dire straits. Mr. Nakagawa is too graceful to dwell on the darker matters, instead focusing on the daily routines of camp life. This is what makes the story so heart wrenching.

The detail used to describe games he and other children played in the camps is amazing. "The Ring Game" and "Poison" are two marble games explained so well one can't help but feel you're there watching the children play.

The Cross on Castle Rock, however, is not all child's play. Mr. Nakagawa touches on the difficulties of camp life--family separations, property loss, and conflicts within the Japanese American Citizen's League (JACL). Sufficient background on Pearl Harbor, Executive Order 9066, President Roosevelt, General DeWitt, No-No Boys, agricultural competition in California, and the general climate of that period are provided so that we have the historical perspective to understand the significance of young George's experiences.

In short, this book is highly recommended for those studying American history, Asian-American history, the internment camps of Japanese Americans, or autobiographies in general. Readers are guaranteed an enriching experience that, like I, will want to share with others.