42 pages • 1 hour read
Jeanne Wakatsuki HoustonFarewell to Manzanar: A True Story of Japanese American Experience During and After the World War II Internment
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1973A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston narrates her experience as a young girl in a Japanese American concentration camp during WWII, describing her family's upheaval from Long Beach to the Manzanar camp, her father's arrest and changed behavior, camp life challenges, family disintegration, and eventual return to Southern California, where Jeanne grapples with identity and acceptance. This book discusses the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during WWII, alcohol addiction, domestic abuse, and racism/xenophobia.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston receives praise for its poignant and compelling recount of Japanese-American internment during WWII. Critics commend its emotional depth and historical significance, though some note a slow narrative pace and occasional disjointedness. Overall, it's valued for illuminating a crucial part of American history.
Who Should Read Farewell to Manzanar?
A reader who appreciates historical memoirs and introspective narratives will enjoy Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's Farewell to Manzanar. Fans of The Diary of Anne Frank or Night by Elie Wiesel, which illuminate personal experiences in the face of adversity, will find this poignant account of Japanese American internment compelling and enlightening.
RecommendedReading Age
12-18yearsLexile Level
1040L