Very often, YA novels about World War II feature European concentration camps and Jews in hiding. In John Hamamura's Color of the Sea, the experiences of Japanese-Americans following the bombing of Pearl Harbor receive some much-welcomed attention. Color of the Sea follows the life of Sam Hamada, a boy born in Japan but raised in Hawaii. Early on, Sam undertakes the training of a samurai at the behest of his father, ultimately learning a code of honor that forms the core of the man he grows to become. After high school, Sam moves to Lodi, California with hopes to attend college. In Lodi, he meets and falls in love with Keiko, a first-generation Japanese-American girl from a very traditional family. When World War II starts, obstacles arise--Sam joins the army, and Keiko's family is sent to live in an internment camp. From the plantations of Hilo to the ashes of Hiroshima, Color of the Sea is an in-depth look at both traditional Japanese values and the lives of Japanese-Americans during a time in history when the Japanese in America were seen as enemies.
One thing that I appreciated about Color of the Sea was the opportunity to take a closer look at a period of American history that is often marginalized or ignored. The internment of Japanese-Americans is something that many would rather just forget about, but this novel allows readers the chance to relate to the characters as people rather than caricatures meant to be representative of a racial group. If this book was used in a classroom, it would be a great opportunity to partner with a history teacher and explore what was happening in the United States while battles were being fought all over the rest of the world.
The one caveat I had with this book regarded its use of sexual language. Frankly, I felt Hamamura's use of sexual imagery was a bit over-the-top--and almost embarrassing to read. I imagine this sentiment would hold true for teenage readers, as well. Honestly, reading phrases like "Sam, hovering like a cloud, opens, lets every guarded part of himself fall...and [his] hard, lovely penis [penetrates] her" for a class assignment that would later involve discussion would probably be way too mortifying for the average 16-year-old, especially if a teacher's lesson plans called for the text to be read aloud in class (233).
While the sexual imagery in Color of the Sea makes me think that it's less likely to be used in a YAL classroom than other books might be, I think that its subject matter makes it a valuable resource to be used in class. I would recommend it for older high school readers, based upon the aforementioned sexual content and the novel's incorporation of semi-complex Japanese ideology.
4 comments:
I am not sure this book would fly in public education. It appears to be that the sexual content may be to explicit and may also be offending to those students who are raised in a household that conflicts with the ideas presented with in this book.The historical point of view is important to the context of the book. The images of the camps are needed to understand what the Japaneses experienced during WWII. However it may be a little to offensive.
Have you ever read Farewell to Manzanar? It's been a really long time since I have but that's what this book reminded me of since they both deal with the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. So if you are familiar with it, I was wondering how you would compare the two and which you think would be better to use in schools?
Again, another cross-curricular book!
Since there is the sexual imagery, maybe using excerpts (excerpts related to the camps and treatment, maybe?) would be best if this were to be used in a classroom.
That is a nice idea, Val, for dealing with the sexual language, which is actually limited to only a couple of scenes in what is a fairly long book.
This is another instance where it might be useful to mention that the book is an Alex Award winner--meaning, its audience is adults. But a lot of YA authors also go this route, of having sexually explicit language, which is often very purposeful and well-done, but unfortunately limits its reach and audience. But I could definitely see recommending it to older students (or selected students), just booktalking it or putting it on a list of potential outside reading, with the caveat about the language.
As you immerse yourself further in YA lit, this is always something to be aware of--even the Printz medal winner for this year, The White Darkness, has language that likely puts it outside of the realm of most classrooms. But as English teachers, you can always let kids know that other books are out there, and good to read, provided students and parents are comfortable with the sometimes more adult language and situations.
Best,
TP
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