Toshiko

by Michael Kluckner

In the Interior of BC, during World War II, Japanese-Canadians are exiled from their homes on the Coast.
Such is the fate of Toshiko and her cousin, who land on a farm near a small, hostile town. While in high school, Toshiko discovers that not all residents see them as the enemy. One farm boy in particular from her graduating class is curious about the plight of the Japanese-Canadians and a friendship develops that soon blossoms into a kind of Romeo-and-Juliet romance.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, School, Comics

132 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 2015

Reviews

[Marco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought it at a little comic stand in the middle of Robson square one day, I was very curious about the story. It turned out to be a great ready, not only a well made comic, but also a little book that will teach something important regarding a topic many might be ignoring or not knowing enough. My only complain would be that sometimes it feels too rushed, we don’t get to fully feel the emotions that the characters might have felt in the various important moments, sad or happy. Overall, well done!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai lu la version en français du roman graphique du britanno-colombien Michael Kluckner. J'avais beaucoup aimé ses livres d'illustrations de Vancouver, principalement des aquarelles. Le travail de recherche pour ce livre est solide, par surprenant puisque M. Kluckner est un expert du patrimoine architectural de Vancouver! Cette période sombre de notre histoire, l'internement des personnes d'origines japonaises durant la seconde guerre mondiale, est racontée au travers de deux jeunes adultes très différents. 'Cowboy', élevé sur une ferme à l'intérieur de la province, et Toshiko, une canadienne d'origine japonaise qui a grandi à Vancouver, sont attachants et crédibles. Une histoire d'amour se développe entre eux malgré les grandes différences de leurs origines, rurale/urbaine et blanc chrétien/japonaise bouddhiste. Ils doivent faire face à de nombreux obstacles, rejets de leurs familles, peur de la conscription, difficultés à trouver un emploi, racisme, et ils débrouillent tant bien que mal jusqu'à ce qu'un événement vient tout changer.

[Merlingeas-Meynard Fleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy yet we can feel that this is the result of research.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems historically accurate and if you didn’t know what happened to the Japanese population in the lower mainland of BC this gives one example of how that was.

[Sophie Brzozowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical graphic novel set just before, during, and after WWII in BC. We are shown what life was like in the farming community of Salmon Arm, of the cultural divide and racism shown towards the Japanese fleeing the coast. We are also shown life in Vancouver during the war - the industrial False Creek waterfront, streetscapes of Chinatown. Themes of first love, difference, aboriginal relations, estrangement, coming of age, poverty, racism, conscription, and education. Written by a historian who clearly states where the story strays from fact into fiction, this is an important work that would work well as an introduction for anyone learning about Japanese internment in BC.

[Ariel Caldwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story, interesting characters based on historical facts and others' lives. The art works for the story. However, I found the writing stilted. I suspect it will be difficult to interest youth in this book, although it references places they'll know (Britannia, Vancouver, DTES, Salmon Arm). I'm glad it's been written, though.