Obaasan's Boots

by Janis Bridger, Lara Jean Okihiro

Cousins Lou and Charlotte don’t know a lot about their grandmother’s life. When their Obaasan invites them to spend the day in her garden, she also invites them into their family’s secrets. Grandma shares her experience as a Japanese Canadian during WWII, revealing the painful story of Japanese internment. Her family was forced apart. Whole communities were uprooted, moved into camps, their belongings stolen. Lou and Charlotte struggle with the injustice, even as they marvel at their grandmother’s strength. They begin to understand how their identities have been shaped by racism, and that history is not only about the past.

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Canada, Family

160 pages, Paperback

Published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Kay S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm of two minds about this title - it's well written, a beautiful story, it tells a story that's glossed over in Canadian history, the characters are personable and relatable and their stories are touching. But it feels like nothing happens. I don't know if the kids are going to be interested in what the moves and camps mean or really understand.

It's a beautiful book and a beautiful story. I'm not sure if it's a story the kids are going to relate to.

[Carla (Carla's Book Bits) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true history of the authors' grandmother's life as a Japanese Canadian during WW2. Wow.

Not many people know that in WW2, due to anti-Asian sentiment, 22,000 Japanese Canadians were "interned." Even though many of them were legal Canadian citizens or even born in Canada, they were still uprooted and sent to live in camps, worked and lived in terrible conditions, were separated from family and friends, and had their homes and belongings taken and sold by the government without their consent.

It's so hard to live with this kind of history and have any trust for the government system again. But somehow their family's strength and hopeful spirit still shines bright despite everything. I learned so much about this time, too.

This book is a wonderful tribute to their grandmother and grandfather. Canadian history is full of stories like this, stories of decades of oppression and abuse of other races/cultures (I'm looking at Reconciliation), that the government's tried to quiet and even erase. Despite all that, I'm glad these stories can finally come out and be a healing journey for everyone involved.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was assigned to read this book for a course I’m taking in teachers college, and it was much better than I was initially expecting!

Obaasan’s Boots is a true story of a family’s experience as Japanese Canadians during World War II. It opened my eyes to the horrible treatment & internment this culture had to go through - being uprooted and moved into camps, forced apart, their belongings stolen, etc.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful intergenerational story. A story I wish I had access to as a ten year old. But I am grateful that Janis Bridger and Lara Jean Okihiro have written this story so that today's young and old alike can hold and learn about an important Canadian story. Thank you for sharing this story.

[Kristie L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with the authors at ALA LibLearnX. After attending their session regarding “Engaging Children Toward Ethical Citizenship Through Fiction”, I knew I needed to read this book! I devoured it this afternoon in a few hours. Readers will get to know the characters, based on the authors themselves, and learn about their obaasan both through the eyes of her granddaughters as well as through her recollections of the Japanese Canadian Internment in Canada. I appreciated how each chapter shared the alternating reflections of “Lou” and “Charlotte” interspersed with the grandmother’s stories of her girlhood, teenage years, motherhood, the internment itself, and the aftermath. The writing style will pull readers of all ages into the story as they learn about this dark period of history both in Canada and Japan. As an educator, I cannot wait to recommend this book to my library students to share with their young patrons!

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

 Based on the author's own family, two cousins spend the day with their grandmother. At first it is not as fun as it could be, but when  their grandmother starts telling them stories of the her life, and the years during World War II, they both start to realize how important it is to know them, to retell them and, like the plants of Obaasan's garden, they need to be careful with them.    This is a piece of Canadian (and American) history that we do not usually see and one that also shows a bit of the culture of the Japanese-Canadian people. Their hopes (hope if they "corporate" things will be okay; hope if they trust someone that trust is returned), and we see how a family came to be through the hardships they faced.  Though currently available, read via an online reader copy.

[Luciana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of a grandma (obaasan) who tells her life story to her grandchildren, a story of growing up in BC in a Japanese family. She shares the struggles of being Japanese (even though she was born in Canada) & how Canadians, during WW2, took away their homes & their belongings, moving them to internment camps.

Grandma tells the story of how she then moved from "Sea Island" to Toronto after being relocated, losing both their Japanese language & culture.

I was unaware of this happening in Canada & yet, in the author's note, the book is based on the life experiences of what the author's grandmother encountered.

A very powerful read!

[Cymiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

When two cousins get together with Obaasan they learn of her history getting caught up in WWII. An interesting story as I have never read about the Japanese Canadian experience, the same and yet different than what happened in the US. Great for deeper understanding and for learning a few Japanese words, too!

[Jen Nishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful book. As a half Japanese Canadian rooted in Vancouver, this one hit me hard. My family loved through the internment and worked at the canneries. It was like learning my own family’s story. Our relatives don’t like to talk about it but it is a story that must be shared. Needs to go into all libraries

[Mon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative about the internment of Japanese Canadians during WW2. Lets you know the sting and multigenerational impact of the mistreatment.

Intended for a 9-12 year old audience and spends a fair bit of time articulating a grandchild / grandparent relationship.

[Amanda Tolentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book all kids should have to read

[Suzanne Hartmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of historical information and detail for a YA story. A wonderful heartwarming tribute to family.

[Devon]

a really great story for learning more about the experience of japanese canadians during wwii. I’m excited to share with my students! so cool that it is about the authors’ family experiences.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grateful to Janis and Lara Jean for sharing this important story. The internment of Japanese Canadians is a history that should not be forgotten. I was never taught this history in school so I would recommend this reading for any school-age child.

I had the pleasure of meeting the real-life Mrs. Okihiro who had reached 100 years old at the time. My father brought me and my sister to meet her as we had heard the stories of friendship over the generations of her family and ours. She was lovely and I enjoyed her sense of humour. She showed us the centennial birthday certificates the Queen and Prime Minister of Canada had sent her.

The book brought her younger self to life and that was very heartwarming. Mr. Collins bringing the peaches unlocked a memory within me, I could taste those peaches and it made me emotional.

I will most likely read this a few times more!