Reviewed by Lisa Gricius, Clerk & Substitute Librarian

This is a powerful little book. Similar to When the Emperor Was Divine, Julie Otsuka knows how to pack a punch into a short novel. Her lyrical prose and ability to captivate her readers in one sentence amazes me. The Buddha in the Attic tells the story of a group of young women brought over by boat from Japan to San Francisco under false pretenses. Their hopes for the "American Dream" are soon shattered and survival becomes their way of life--along with the "American Betrayal". This is an important reminder of how our country betrayed their own during a time of paranoia and fear. Hopefully, we can learn from past mistakes and Ms. Otsuka does an amazing job of reminding us!

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