Clark and Division

by Naomi Hirahara

Hardcover, 2021

Call number

MYST HIR

Publication

Soho Crime (2021), 312 pages

Description

"Chicago, 1944: twenty-year-old Aki Ito and her parents have just been released from Manzanar, the California concentration camp where they have been "interned" by the US government since the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, together with thousands of other Japanese Americans. The life the Itos were forced to leave behind is gone; instead, they are being resettled in Chicago, where Aki's older sister, Rose, was sent months earlier as a forerunner of the new Japanese American neighborhood near Clark and Division streets. But on the eve of the Ito family's reunion, Rose is killed by a subway train. Aki, who worshipped her sister, is stunned. Officials are ruling Rose's death a suicide, in part because the coroner's examination revealed Rose had recently had an abortion. Aki cannot believe her perfect, polished, and optimistic sister would end her life-nor can she imagine Rose carelessly getting pregnant. Her instinct tells her there is much more to the story, and she knows she is the only person who could ever learn the truth. Based on a true crime that terrorized the resettled Japanese American community in Chicago, and inspired by historical events, Clark and Division infuses an atmospheric and heartbreakingly real crime fiction plot with rich period details and delicately wrought personal stories Naomi Hirahara has gleaned from thirty years of research and archival work in Japanese American history"--… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member DianaTixierHerald

Historical mysteries dealing with the Japanese-American experience are few and far between. This tale of familial love set during WWII portrays the lives of a Japanese-American family losing their way of life in California when they are displaced to a concentration camp, Aki's older sister, Rose,

is beautiful and charismatic and manages to leave the camp for Chicago. Months later she is able to send for her family but is killed the day before they arrive. Aki, who is eventually employed in a library searches for the why, how, and who was involved in her sister's death. Meanwhile, she finds romance. A worthwhile tale, especially now, when racial equity is in such turmoil. This is a great pick for readers who like a combination of historical fiction, mystery, and romance. Hirahara, an Edgar winner has written several mysteries as well as nonfiction history.

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LibraryThing member bfister

Clark and Division is a groundbreaking book for the author and a welcome addition to the mystery canon. It's the story of a family caught up in an infamous moment of American history, when Japanese-Americans were uprooted and sent to concentration camps, removing them from the west coast, from

their lives, and from their belongings and livelihoods. When one daughter is released from the camp and sent to Chicago to establish a new home for her parents and sister, she's eager to start over. But when the rest of the family arrives she has gone missing, and soon they learn she fell in front of an El train. Though the police rule it a suicide, her sister refuses to believe it and as she struggles to help her parents find new jobs and a home, she does what she can to find out what actually happened to her sister.

The mystery is a good one, but the book goes beyond the puzzle to take a wider look at the experience of internment and how Japanese-Americans were treated throughout the ordeal and during resettlement, viewed through the eyes of a young woman who idolizes her more sophisticated sister and struggles to keep her family together through tragedy and dislocation. It brings to life a historical moment and a community experience that every American should know more about - not just what happened, but what it was like, admirably made affectingly real through this novel.

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LibraryThing member cathyskye

If you've never read about the lives of Japanese Americans during World War II, you should read Naomi Hirahara's Clark and Division. Readers follow twenty-year-old Aki Ito and her family from their happy pre-Pearl Harbor lives in Los Angeles to their imprisonment in Manzanar in California's Owens

Valley to their resettlement in the Japanese American neighborhood of Clark and Division in Chicago.

Readers see everything through Aki's eyes. She worships her older sister, Rose, who is beautiful, intelligent, and accomplished-- everything that Aki wishes she was. In comparison, Aki feels like a slow, unattractive lump, and it's not until the Itos have been in Chicago for a while that it becomes clear that Aki has been selling herself short for most of her life.

Life in Chicago isn't easy. Even giving Rose a proper burial is difficult since cemeteries are not accepting Japanese interments, and Aki cannot believe how everyone seems comfortable with the verdict of suicide on Rose's death. As she juggles her job at the Newberry Library with dealing with her parents, she still finds time to search for answers because she thinks nothing of fighting for her sister even though she won't fight for herself.

Hirahara does an excellent job of weaving a real feeling of menace into the story, and the mystery is a satisfying one to try to solve. But more than a mystery, it's the story of the Japanese American experience during World War II that's the star of Clark and Division. Watching Aki navigate her way through governmental roadblocks, prejudice, lies, and fear to finally begin to get a real sense of herself and what she's capable of is the best part of this book, and the author's list of suggested reading at the end is invaluable.

Mystery, character study, history... Clark and Division is a story that you won't want to put down until you've read the very last page.

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)

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LibraryThing member khenkins

This story of a Japanese-American family during World War II is told by the younger daughter Aki Ito in a manner that is straight-forward and sometimes brisk. In this way, it reminded me a bit of Anne Frank’s diary. The fictional events, based on historical facts and full of period details like

types of clothes and food,, are disquieting and extremely upsetting to read about today.

But main character Aki and her family generally make the most of the little they have: first in Manzanar, then when they are relocated in Chicago. Aki’s older sister, who has gone before them, has found an apartment for the family and has a job. But the same day the family arrives, Rose is killed by a subway train. Aki knows Rose would not have committed suicide, but the White officials have no time for her reasoning.

As the mystery of Rose’s death continues and clues revealed, Clark and Division hits its high point and truest depiction, I believe. The Ito family IS resilient, but that trait does not overshadow the intertwined lives of several Japanese-Americans in Chicago who face segregation, bigotry, and violence. Aki persists in determining what really happened to Rose, and she does so while bringing great risk to herself. Her journey as a hero achieves a full circle in the neighborhood of the intersection of Clark and Division.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley. This is an honest review.

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LibraryThing member Hccpsk

Like many Japanese Americans during World War II, Aki Ito and her family find themselves removed from their home and placed in an internment camp in California. But they are lucky, and soon the oldest daughter, Rose, is sent to Chicago, with Aki and her parents soon to follow. But as soon as they

arrive, tragedy befalls Rose, and Aki spends the next few months tracking down the truth in Naomi Hirahara’s Clark and Division. Part mystery and part historical fiction, Clark and Division will appeal to a broad range of readers.

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LibraryThing member SJGirl

Part mystery, part coming of age story, wrapped in historical and cultural contexts and easily one of my favorite books of the year.

With plenty of suspects and heartbreaking twists and turns, the mystery of how and why Aki’s sister Rose died is a compelling page-turner and though Rose doesn’t

feature in many scenes, through Aki I felt like I got to know her and I craved justice almost as much as her sister did.

While I have some knowledge of Japanese internment camps through books, movies, etc., I haven’t seen or read much about the time period afterwards when these families were released so that’s another aspect of this book I very much appreciated, the insights into how their hardships were far from over and also the sense of community that they thankfully managed to maintain.

Aki is a fantastic heroine, I loved her strength and perseverance, the little bit of romance, the friendships formed and most especially seeing her growth from the girl whose sister spoke up for her at a birthday party to the one speaking up for her sister in the most harrowing of circumstances.

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LibraryThing member bookchickdi

Naomi Hirahara’s Clark and Division is set during WWII. Aki and Rose are two sisters, born in America to Japanese parents. They lived in a California community, and their father has a good job managing a food market.

They faced prejudice and racism at their mostly white school. When Aki was

invited to a white classmate’s birthday pool party, the other girls refused to swim in the pool with her, and the hostess was ashamed to ask her to come back and swim at another time. Rose earned the starring role in her high school’s stage production, but parents again complained, and she was bumped to a lesser role.

Then the attack on Pearl Harbor happened. The family was forced to leave their home and most of their belongings behind to move to an internment camp. The living conditions were appalling, and they lost all of the freedom they came to America to find.

Rose is sent to Detroit, and the rest of the family would follow in a few months after she was settled. When Aki and her parents arrive in Detroit, they discover that Rose was hit by a train and killed.

They were told that she committed suicide, but Aki does not believe it. In addition to trying to adjust to life in a new city, Aki makes it her mission to find out what happened to her sister.

Clark and Division blends historical fiction about the treatment that Japanese-Americans faced in America during WWII with the mystery of what led to Rose’s death. It’s an enlightening novel that immerses you in a time and place, as well as keeping you turning the pages to find out what happened to Rose.

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LibraryThing member ethel55

While I certainly knew about Japanese interment camps, set up mostly in the Western US during WWII, I wasn't familiar with some of the relocation programs that went on during the war, mostly to the Midwest, to fill job vacancies as the war continued to last. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, the

Ito family is forced to give up their produce business and are placed in the Manzanar internment camp. Little time is spent there, and time moves to 1944, when Rose, the eldest child and big sister of Aki, heads to Chicago to ready a place for the family. The Ito family soon follows, to a section of Chicago around Clark and Division and upon arrival, discover Rose died the previous day. Aki doesn't think for a minute that her sister killed herself and embarks upon learning all she can about Rose's months in Chicago and what may have happened. Interspersed are small romances, the racism within the community, the tough times for the Issei and Nissei to acclimate to their new life. I don't want to forget to mention the endpapers. I adore good ones and these illustrate the Clark and Division area beautifully.

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LibraryThing member bookappeal

Clark and Division in Chicago is where the Ito family is resettled in 1944 after being released from the internment camp where they lived for two years following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Aki, the younger daughter, has always lived in her sister's shadow but she's eager to see Rose who was

released earlier and has arranged a place for them to stay. Instead, the family is met by other Issei and Nisei (Japanese immigrants and their American-born children) who inform them that Rose is dead. Suicide by el train. Aki cannot believe Rose would kill herself and becomes determined to find out what happened while also trying to make a life for herself in new and foreign surroundings. Hirahara's story highlights a snippet of American history - the life of resettled Japanese Americans during WWII, particularly in Chicago. Aki is a sympathetic character and her amateur sleuthing stays mostly on the side of believability. The mystery elements are well-plotted and rich details convey a good sense of the atmosphere. But the author's narration lacks nuance. The reader is told how Aki feels more often than being made to feel her emotions as she makes friends, finds work, and bravely dedicates herself to solving the mystery of her sister's final months. Still, a serviceable mystery with an interesting backdrop.

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LibraryThing member Micareads

Aki Ito and her family are Japanese-Americans living in California when Pearl Harbor is attacked. Soon, the Japanese residents of her area, whether American citizens or not, are sent away to internment camps. After months of being in the camp, Aki's sister Rose is released and sent to Chicago.

Shortly after, the Ito family are to meet Rose in Chicago to start their new lives only to learn that she has died and her death was ruled a suicide. Aki discovers that her sister had secrets and she must find out what they were to help her understand why her sister died.

I had been looking forward to this book since I first saw it on the upcoming releases list on Goodreads. I have been looking for books surrounding the Japanese internment camps, as I was not taught about them in school. While this book does touch on the family's time in the internment camp not much information is given about their circumstances. That being said, I found the story very well done and definitely had me guessing as to how it would end. I would love to read more by Naomi Hirahara and I would love to see her do more historical fiction.

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LibraryThing member sleahey

During World War II, Aki's family was interred at Manzanar, but her sister Rose was allowed to relocate to Chicago. Finally Aki and her parents were allowed to move to Chicago as well, only to discover that Rose had died in an apparent suicide under suspicious circumstances. Aki determined to learn

what had really happened, at the same time trying to adjust to a new job, new friendships, and a blossoming romance. The plight of Japanese Americans in the 1940's was brought to life in this novel, and although it was slow-moving at times, the mystery of Rose's death kept me turning the pages.

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LibraryThing member ewyatt

Aki Ito and her family lose everything and are sent to Manzanar from their southern California home. Her older sister, Rose, takes advantage of a relocation program and moves to Chicago. The day before the rest of the family arrives, Rose is found dead after being hit by an El train. Aki Ito

believes her sister wouldn't commit suicide, so she starts investigating. It's a quest that puts her in harms way and ruffles a lot of feathers. This book explores this growing community of Americans of Japanese descent in Chicago. I learned a lot about Chicago history. Aki is a determined character, unafraid to buck what is expected of her by her family and culturally.

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LibraryThing member rmarcin

I have had this book on my TBR for a year, and finally picked it up! I really enjoyed the author's story of the Japanese Americans resettlement in the US during WWII. It shames me that our country treated fellow citizens in this way.
Aki Ito's older sister, Rose, has moved to Chicago ahead of their

family. As they set out to meet her, they are met with unwelcome news. Rose is dead, killed by a subway train. Aki is determined to find out the truth about her sister's death. During her investigation, she uncovers some ugly secrets.
This is a well written story which shows the dark side of prejudice and the consequences of not being able to speak up to protect ourselves.
Let's learn to do better. I plan to read more from this author!

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LibraryThing member Maydacat

The year is 1944. The place is Chicago. Aki Ito and her parents have been relocated from their home in California to Chicago, and so have thousands of other Japanese Americans. Rose, Aki’s sister, has gone on before them, and they are excited to be reunited with her. But on the eve of this

much-anticipated reunion, they are told that there has been an accident, and Rose is dead of a supposed suicide. Aki cannot believe that her sister, who loved life to the fullest and had plans and dreams, would kill herself. And so, Aki puts her own plan in motion: to find out exactly what her sister had been doing that led someone to murder her. This atmospheric mystery combines real history with fictional crimes, and the result is gripping and intriguing. The historic background is well-researched. The characters are well-defined and true to life. Aki is an amateur detective, and as such, she makes makes mistakes and puts herself, and her few friends, in danger. Some of what she does is a bit far-fetched, but it does add excitement and drama to the story, as does the locality of Chicago—a big city with all its inherent problems. It’s a heartbreaking story, but one that can be appreciated both on a historical level and as an entertaining mystery.

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LibraryThing member Michael_Lilly

The author attempts the difficult task of writing a mystery, exposing American racism in 1941, and depicting Japanese American society in 1941. It's a good book, but I have the feeling that it would have made a better book if she had taken on only of those two tasks instead of all three. That is

the reason I gave it three stars instead of four.

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