This Time Will Be Different

Like most teenagers, CJ doesn't know what her goals or ambitions are. The most at home she's ever felt is in the family flower shop where she works with her aunt. When she's using her flower magic to create bouquets, boutonnieres, lockets, and charms she feels like she's spreading a little bit of happiness. When her mother announces that she's planning on selling the shop to the "enemy," the McAllisters, she feels as if the only thing she's ever cared about is going out the window. The McAllisters bought the business from her family for pennies on the dollar when the government forced Japanese Americans to go to internment camps during WWII. It took decades before the Katsuyamas were able to buy it back.... for MUCH more than the McAllisters had bought it for. CJ vows to help save the shop along with her friends, but that too proves to be challenging. Her best friend is falling for a horrible hypocritical lesbian, her co-worker Owen may be forming a crush on her, and her classmates don't all understand why the McAllisters are the "bad guys." CJ has to find out what she truly cares for and fight for it. A good young adult book that covers a lot of hot topics.

The Great Passage

Miura, Shion. The Great Passage. 6 CDs. unabridged. Brilliance Audio. 2017. ISBN 9781536631852. $14.99.

"A dictionary is a ship that crosses the sea of words." In this charming Japanese translation (translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter), an unforgettable cast of characters; eat, breathe, and live words. Their pursuit of the perfect dictionary, The Great Passage, is a long arduous journey but no one seems to mind. While working together they discover, love, friendship, passion, and a sense of purpose. Over the years their passion for lexicography never dims, if anything it only grows stronger as they share their passion with new recruits and employees in the dictionary editorial department. Narrator, Brian Nishi does a wonderful job bringing authenticity and feeling to the forefront, never stumbling over Japanese phrasing and words. His warmth greatly adds to the feeling and charm of the story. A quick, intriguing, and unique story certain to attract readers. Perfect for fans of "A Man Called Ove," literary translations, and heartwarming tales. - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN

Unbroken

Holy crap batman, this was one hell of a biography! Seriously, so good. This is hands down the best biography of a WWII soldier I have ever read. This heartbreaking and powerful odyssey will have turning pages faster than a torpedo. I dare you not to be completely hooked after page one!

This biography of Louis Zamperini is almost unbelievable. How a man could survive against such odds is astounding. Zamperini, a star athlete and Olympic runner, was flying in a B-24 when it crashed in the ocean and and killed all but three men. They starved, fried and languished in two lifeboats for a month and a half (a record at that time) eventually losing one man and finally getting rescued... by the Japanese. They thought starving on the sea was bad, but they soon learned that what the Japanese soldiers had in store for them was much worse. For years they suffered in horrific POW camps; getting beaten, degraded, starved, and killed. Louis and the surviving pilot were both declared dead by the US government after being missing for thirteen months. Their story of survival against such odds is truly inspiring.

I learned soo much about aircraft, the Pacific theater, the Japanese, POW camps, the US Air Force, and the end of the war through this biography. It was truly a fantastic read. It didn't even read like non-fiction; it was fluid and soo fantastic that I had to keep reminding myself that this all really happened.

An excellent read, recommended for everyone!

Also, Louis is still alive and well in his 90s.How amazing. I can't wait to see the movie version written by the Cohen brothers and directed by Angelina Jolie.

Sakura

Harlan Hague brings his beautiful, faulted characters to life in a story of love lost and redemption. West coast professor, David, lives a quiet, yet exciting, life with his wife and they spend their spare time traveling and working in their gorgeous style English garden. Their idyllic life is about to be shattered however; the new student assistant assigned to David turns out to be his son from a lover in a land and time far away.

Kenji traveled from Japan to meet the father he never knew. When David is presented with this truth he must face the past, the past he thought he ran away from. Anni, the woman he loved had done him wrong (or so he thought) so he left Japan, but never forgot her. When Anni comes to town to visit her son, their romance is rekindled and David must sort out his feelings for the two women he loves; his wife and his Japanese lover.

A short, yet endearing read full of unforgettable characters. Good for romance and contemporary fiction lovers.

I received this book for free in return for my honest, unbiased opinions.