Naomi's Road - Softcover

Kogawa

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0773757694 ISBN 13: 9780773757691

Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited, 1995

Synopsis

Based on the award-winning novel Obasan, Naomi's Road describes an often-forgotten episode in Canadian history. It tells the story of Naomi Nakane -- a little girl with "black hair and lovely Japanese eyes and a face like a valentine" -- and her Japanese-Canadian family during the 1940s, when Canada was at war with Japan.
Naomi, her older brother Stephen, and their aunt are sent to an internment camp deep in the interior of British Columbia and then to a farm in Alberta. Through her eyes we see the effects of war as Naomi grows up in a world of hardship and prejudice. Yet throughout, she retains her essential hope and dignity.
"The book sings. It is a lyrical and intensely moving account." -- The Toronto Globe and Mail
"This is an important, painful story told with grace and sensitivity and lacking the easy sentimentality that would have dulled its polish. Great stuff." -- The Toronto Sun

About this title

Review

"The story of Naomi as told in these two books is a great way to introduce children to the history of Japanese Canadians. Both books are illustrated with delicately wrought images by Ruth Ohi. "Naomi's Tree", in particular, carries the motif of the cherry tree and blossoms throughout the story in a subtle but reinforcing manner. Both books symbolically contain images of the older Naomi encountering the cherry tree late in her life. Fraught and difficult as life was for Naomi, she is given great strength and courage in the gifts of love she receives from her family despite the absence of her mother. She learns to battle the inherent racism of the time with patience and understanding."
-- "PaperTigers.org"

"The story of Naomi as told in these two books is a great way to introduce children to the history of Japanese Canadians. Both books are illustrated with delicately wrought images by Ruth Ohi. "Naomi's Tree", in particular, carries the motif of the cherry tree and blossoms throughout the story in a subtle but reinforcing manner. Both books symbolically contain images of the older Naomi encountering the cherry tree late in her life. Fraught and difficult as life was for Naomi, she is given great strength and courage in the gifts of love she receives from her family despite the absence of her mother. She learns to battle the inherent racism of the time with patience and understanding."
-- "PaperTigers.org"
Review of "Naomi's Tree" and "Naomi's Road"
"The story of Naomi as told in these two books is a great way to introduce children to the history of Japanese Canadians. Both books are illustrated with delicately wrought images by Ruth Ohi. "Naomi's Tree," in particular, carries the motif of the cherry tree and blossoms throughout the story in a subtle but reinforcing manner. Both books symbolically contain images of the older Naomi encountering the cherry tree late in her life. Fraught and difficult as life was for Naomi, she is given great strength and courage in the gifts of love she receives from her family despite the absence of her mother. She learns to battle the inherent racism of the time with patience and understanding."
-- "PaperTigers.org"
Review of Naomi's Tree and Naomi's Road
"The story of Naomi as told in these two books is a great way to introduce children to the history of Japanese Canadians. Both books are illustrated with delicately wrought images by Ruth Ohi. Naomi's Tree, in particular, carries the motif of the cherry tree and blossoms throughout the story in a subtle but reinforcing manner. Both books symbolically contain images of the older Naomi encountering the cherry tree late in her life. Fraught and difficult as life was for Naomi, she is given great strength and courage in the gifts of love she receives from her family despite the absence of her mother. She learns to battle the inherent racism of the time with patience and understanding."
-- PaperTigers.org

About the Author

Joy Kogawa is the author of Obasan and four books of poems. Born in Vancouver, she now lives in Toronto. In Naomi's Road Joy Kogawa recalls the years of dislocation her own family suffered during the Second World War.
Matt Gould is an artist who lives on a horse farm in Alberta.

About this edition

• Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0773757694
• ISBN 13: 9780773757691
• Binding: Paperback