Farewell to Manzanar
Farewell to Manzanar is a memoir written by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston in 1973. The book recounts the experiences of a Japanese-American family who were forcibly relocated from their home in California during World War II and sent to an internment camp at Manzanar, located near Lone Pine, California. Through vivid descriptions of her childhood memories, Jeanne tells the story of life inside the camp with humor and emotion as she struggles to make sense of what has happened while trying to maintain hope for a better future outside its walls.
The novel is often studied in literature classes because it serves as an important reminder about the consequences of prejudice and racism throughout history. It also explores themes such as identity formation, resilience in difficult times, loss of innocence due to war trauma, and injustice experienced by minority groups living under oppressive regimes or policies set forth by governments without regard for human rights violations they can cause—topics that are still relevant today around the world. Additionally, readers gain insight into how individuals may cope with feelings related to displacement through Jean’s journey from victimhood toward strength and self-discovery; ultimately finding solace within her own culture rather than succumbing completely to Western ideals imposed upon her during this tumultuous period in American history.