When Mikan Road Was Ours: A Novel

by D.K. Furutani

Winner of Simon & Schuster’s Books Like Us contest, a gripping, sincere debut novel set across four generations of a Japanese American family living in California’s vibrant agricultural heartlands, exploring the sharp edges of inheritance and what it means to truly belong.

Amidst a sweltering Los Angeles heat wave, Murano, a reclusive high school English teacher, is muddling through life. Reeling from his father’s sudden death as well as his own recent cancer diagnosis, he passes time hazily grading papers and appeasing disgruntled parents while counting down each day until summer vacation.

The monotony breaks when he inherits his great-uncle Benjiro’s unpublished memoir. What Murano expects to be a grim reminder of his position as the half-white son of the family’s outcast instead whisks him away to 1930s California, to a time when the Murano family was inseparable, relishing life together on their bucolic farm. As the memoir introduces him to relatives he never knew existed and unearths hidden complexities of the past, Murano is pulled close to the Japanese identity he’s dismissed all of his life. Faced with the reality of his family’s dissolution, Murano becomes determined to understand its breaking point following their incarceration in American concentration camps during World War II, no matter what hidden truths he might uncover about his ancestors or himself.

Lovingly crafted with poignant and profound attention to historical detail, When Mikan Road Was Ours is a rich meditation on belonging that seamlessly blends the intricacies of heritage, the resilience of family bonds, and the struggle to reconcile a past filled with both heartache and hope.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, World War II, Family, War, Adult

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 28, 2026

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mix of 3.5 and 4 stars.
While the writing isn’t bad, the POVs all were one note, and it was hard for me to tell who was who.

[Aubrey M · Rating 4 out of 5]

​I feel incredibly fortunate to have read and reviewed this book. As the grandchild of a Nisei, my brother and I are Yonsei, although we were raised very similarly to the experience of a Sansei. Like many Japanese American families, we learned the majority of the details of our grandfather’s life and incarceration after his passing; I believe many of that generation 'folded up and tucked away' the stories of their incarceration. My own family farmed and operated a winery before being relocated to Heart Mountain.

​Furutani masterfully uses fiction to guide the reader through this vital piece of history. The characters are fascinating, and I found myself slowing down to research the historical context behind the plot. This is an exceptional work of historical fiction, and I highly recommend it as a necessary addition to the limited literature available on the Japanese American experience during WWII.

[Kristine]

Brand New Book by a New Author. Interested in Reading this. Japanese~White Identity and historical fiction back during WWII and how Japanese American Citizens were put in detainment centers in the US.

Covers several generations of family, which I generally like.

[Kelsey reviews•books]

The pacing was too slow for me, I DNF’d at 40%. My review reflects what I learned from the book, but please look at other reviews to determine if this is a good fit for you.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ (DNF)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
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🎯 My Thoughts:

From what I read, the dual timeline structure seemed to be one of the novel’s strongest elements, slowly uncovering both family history and Murano’s complicated relationship with his heritage.

But I’ll be honest, this was a difficult read for me pacing-wise. The writing itself is thoughtful and clearly intentional, but I struggled to fully connect with the story early on and ultimately decided not to finish it. That said, I could absolutely see this working for readers who gravitate toward slower, more reflective literary fiction, especially stories focused on cultural identity and inherited grief.

Even though this ultimately wasn’t the right fit for me, I still appreciated the themes the book was trying to explore and the care given to its historical and emotional subject matter. Best of luck to this author.

[Liana Gold]

General fiction/Historical fiction & multicultural interest


Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, D.K. Furutani for the early eARC!

Publication date: July 28, 2026

[gracie]

The publicity team for the book reached out to me about reading the arc of this and I liked the blurb so I accepted. will be getting to it sometime in the next couple weeks. Thank you Atria.

[Nancy Segura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt gentle and heavy at the same time, the kind of story that sneaks up on you emotionally. The writing is simple but meaningful, and the way Furutani explores family, identity, and the tug-of-war between past and present feels very real. I loved how grounded the characters were; nothing felt exaggerated, just honest, human choices shaped by history and hurt.

It’s a quiet book, but it leaves a strong aftertaste…. that bittersweet mix of nostalgia, loss, and the pieces of ourselves we carry forward whether we want to or not. I finished it feeling reflective, like I’d just walked through someone else’s memories and picked up a few truths for myself.

[Laurel]

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a 4.5 star read for me. I enjoyed the family aspect of this story and especially enjoyed the memoir within the story and how it helped the main character get to know a family he had not known up to this point. I learned a lot about Japanese internment and how it affected one family - even in future generations. This was beautifully written and made me want to connect with my own family to learn their truths before they pass away.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kati Berman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually I did not finish this book. One third in, I lost interest, especially in Ben’s journal. The topic interested me, but the writing was flat.

[Richard Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting novel about a man's discovery of his Japanese family history before, during and after WWII. Having previously known little of his family's history, including the period of their internment in camps during the war, he seeks to understand the intricacies of their relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

[Rem Tolentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Atria for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

When Mikan Road was Ours chronicles a journey of one man’s reconnection and rediscovery of his family’s roots spanning across four generations from the 1930’s to present day. DK Furutani’s debut novel is written beautifully with tenderness and sincerity in its prose and weaves through the bucolic but tragic lives of the Muranos, a Japanese-American family who’s pursuit of the American Dream is cut down by the unfair and bigoted policy of detaining Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II.

Family and the importance of the connections we make with our loved ones are central themes to this novel. Furutani masterfully unpacks and reveals the mystery as the novel progresses of what happened to the Murano men and why at the beginning of the novel - our protagonist (who’s first name is not revealed) has been separated from them. This page-turner kept me on the edge of my seat as a chance encounter with a long lost cousin reveals a memoir that uncovers the hidden memories and events of the lives of the Muranos.

When Mikan Road was Ours is an illustrative example of how immigrants can obtain the American Dream but shows how quickly those dreams can be dashed with oppressive policies rooted in racism and hate- turning a successful self-made man and his family from wealthy and respected land-owning farmers to outcasts overnight.

Although the tragedy of losing the life on the farm with its peaceful koi pond and expansive mandarin groves was a primary focus of the novel; the understated tragedy was the shattering of a once close-knit family, the loss of innocence in children, and the realization that even with many years settled in America, a person can still be considered a foreigner. As a second generation Asian American, my heart was torn and I teared up at how the family was split up and sent to different internment camps. Fururani brings nuance to the difficult decisions that were made by a character prioritizing well-being and career over family while showing how the rest of the family endured over the years as they rebuilt their lives, found love, and had children.

Furutani manages the epic scope of the story and its diverse cast of characters in his novel and each one feels distinct and believable. Our Murano protagonist experiencing his own genealogical revelation and his own modern day racial micro aggressions; the caring and energetic Kaiya - who acts as the glue between the old generation and the new; the academic and aloof engineer, Benjiro, the fun loving Kazuki; the poet Eiko (I love how Furutani gave her prose a distinct style and voice); and the elder brother Tomoya. In Tomoya, Furutani writes perhaps his most complex character, layered with a sense of morality and social justice juxtaposed with having endured some of the deepest and darkest tragedies of the family. Reading about his life stirred up my emotions, and his story was both inspiring and lamentable. His strength was his ability to show great care and compassion but at the same time giving so much to others that he ended up not having anything left emotionally to give to his son Lonnie. Through his eyes and his son’s Lonnie’s we see the erosion of the American dream and the impact of an America that harshly treated and alienated its own citizens. It was a masterful stroke of genius tying this disillusionment to the American dream with the protagonist’s lectures as an English teacher on two books of this archetype - Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Although thoroughly researched this novel doesn’t read like a history book; and the characters are earnest and heartfelt. Through the author’s transformational ability to tell a family story wearing his emotions on his sleeve (one that you may hear at your own dinner table), I felt a connection to these characters as if I was a member of their family.

When Mikan Road Was Ours emphatically advocates for fully embracing your heritage and identity and I wholeheartedly agree - a stellar debut novel by DK Furutani that made me curious of my own family history and racial identity.

[Kayla Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me chills in a wow kind of way. But a heads up—this is a heavy read.

It follows a man who is broken and grieving. An unnamed member of the Murano family—a "blank canvas" Murano—is spiraling in the aftermath of his own earth-shattering cancer diagnosis while mourning the death of his father. He drinks, he struggles, and he feels increasingly hopeless. Death seems to loom in every corner of his life.

I found the author’s decision not to name the protagonist—referring to him only as “a Murano”—telling. There is a shared thread running through generations of the Murano family, one rooted in the trauma of being sent to Japanese internment camps and having their property seized in the wake of Pearl Harbor. He is, in a way, "every" Murano, even three generations later. It seems every Murano has carried the weight of that history, often manifesting in chronic, terminal illness.

The protagonist, being half white, also feels symbolic, reinforcing the novel’s exploration of a fractured American dream and the painful limits of assimilation. The narrative expands when the protagonist receives his uncle’s abandoned memoir, which becomes a launchpad for intergenerational storytelling. Through it, we learn more about his father, the family he became estranged from, and the history that unknowingly shaped them—particularly the loss of their once-thriving farm and their forced relocation to internment camps. It strongly reminded me of Farewell to Manzanar, I guess because that's my only other real knowledge of this pocket of history that is often swept under the rug.

I won’t lie, this book was deeply depressing. But the novel also shows that trauma isn’t the only thing passed down. There’s also the Murano's humor, love of baseball, and the complicated ways even well-meaning people can carry and transmit pain when their spirits are broken. That’s what makes it so profound. Understanding not just our own past, but the past of those who came before us, gives us context, the experiences of the people who shape our experiences, and that we can only carry so much before it starts to spill over.

It made me wonder whether the novel is, in part, exploring the idea that a sense of wholeness might lie closer to the family’s origins—or whether the “dream” has, in some way, shifted back to Japan. The farm, once lost in America when it was seized from the family, seems almost to reappear in their ancestral homeland, a symbol of prosperity, possibility, and what was lost.

Coupled with his reconnection with Kaiya after nearly two decades, the descendants of siblings divided during Japanese internment, there’s a sense of something being pieced back together—family, history, identity—but in a form that can never be fully restored. Now, the Murano family legacy is one of depression and marked by recurring illness that the "every Murano" protagonist has, adding a layer of bittersweet finality to that feeling.

That contrast, and the "every Murano" protagonist's half-white identity, feels even more poignant. This mixed-race identity could be seen as a symbol of assimilation, a physical representation of the idea of the 'American melting pot"—but now, it almost reads as a continuation of the rupturing the Murano family experienced in the concentration camps, still present several generations later. It underscores the complexity of assimilation and inheritance. And it's hard not to consider the state of the "every Murano" character being deeply depressed generations later, which seems symbolic of the shattering of the American dream, and the jagged realities of American values.

The ending left me with a bittersweet feeling. Despite these small reconciliations—the land back in Japan, the reconnection of the descendants of the divided siblings—there’s a sense that it may already be too late. That some fractures, once made, can never be fully repaired, and every Murano's cancer diagnosis to me is, in a way, a sealing of that fate's finality.

It's been a while since I read something like this. This book sits at the crossroads of Farewell to Manzanar, Grapes of Wrath, and Beloved.

[Anandi Sarkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley*

The best way to describe When Mikan Road Was Ours is a question mark. It is the question mark that I think all children of Asian immigrants have due to the sparse documentation of our ancestors and the inability to know them. This novel follows an unnamed Murano throughout his journey after his great-uncle dies about the battle he has had with his cancer, his father, his fraught relationships with his family, and the tense underlying battle of identity that plagues everyone who tries to assimilate.

Murano himself is a question mark. As I mentioned before, he is never named in the story. We never really know anything about Murano himself, a choice I think the author made intentionally to allow us to project our own experiences on to him. Throughout the novel, we are given sparse details of him. He is an English teacher. He has no friends. He has a dog. He has cancer, and he lost his father. He is incredibly depressed, and he has a drinking problem. He's kind of passively suicidal as in he wouldn't mind if he got hit by a bus. Over the story, I loved how we got to see him happier more. I also appreciated Kaiya's relationship with him. It reminded me a little bit of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow where Sam kept on showing up for Sadie. She kept on trying. While the dialogue came out stilted slightly in modern-day scenes, especially the scenes with Judy, it's mostly a back and forth anthology of experience in the 30s and 40s, and the current tense.

Murano's relationship with his father was my favorite thing to watch. Inextricably linked to his grandfather, it's so distinctly painful. His description of his father's interactions with him, the heart disease that Lonnie unknowingly inherited from Tomoya, the conversation over the baseball jersey. Oh, I loved the conversation over the baseball jersey. How painful is that? Baseball is reoccurring theme throughout the book and to see that little tiny Lonnie hiding behind grown men in the street playing baseball and eventually being humiliated by his own father for playing it even later in life. When we read Ben's anthology, it hits even harder to know that it was Tom that brought Baseball to the Muranos. We know from the start that Lonnie has kind of failed at life. In the authors words, "he paid loans with loans". But now we know why. What crimes committed against him, what shame he lived with, what a distinct feeling of pity we have for him. It is even more curious that Murano, raised in the same way as Lonnie is with an almost single father, retreats into joking in the face of discomfort the way Lonnie did. I thought the most bittersweet moment we had was when we found out that Tomoya did this too.

Once and for all, it is most of a question mark because Murano never really get's his answers. What changed? What made the distant father Tomoya was to Lonnie from the empathetic boy who took a bullet for the workers of the farm at age 14? What happened? The interview, the one that Sophie taped over, would've answered all of that. But maybe the dead should keep some secrets. It's our job to move forward, to learn from them, and go past.

[Roslyn Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of When Mikan Road Was Ours by D. K. Furuta on NetGalley, and I was so happy to be granted it after reading the synopsis which sounded exactly like the kind of multigenerational, character-driven story I love (Panchinko). This was also my first read by this author, and I was really impressed by how heartfelt and immersive it turned out to be. At the center of the story is Murano, a reclusive high school English teacher who is already struggling with grief after his father’s death and his own recent cancer diagnosis. I really connected with how quiet and introspective his character is in that he feels stuck, going through the motions of daily life without much direction (how most of us are feeling now). That changes when he inherits his great-uncle Benjiro’s unpublished memoir, which becomes the emotional and narrative backbone of the book. The way the story shifts between Murano’s present and the past through the memoir was one of my favorite aspects. Through Benjiro’s writing, we’re introduced to earlier generations of the Murano family on their California farm, and these sections feel vibrant and alive in contrast to Murano’s more subdued present. The family dynamics in the past are especially well done in that you really get a sense of closeness, of shared identity and belonging, which makes the eventual unraveling of that unit all the more impactful. Murano’s relationship with his family, both past and present felt layered and complicated in a very real way. As someone who has always felt like an outsider due to being half-white, he’s kept a distance from his heritage, and watching him slowly reconnect with it was one of the most compelling emotional arcs in the book. His interactions with others aren’t flashy or dramatic, but they’re meaningful in quiet ways, especially as he begins to reconsider how he sees himself and where he comes from. Plot-wise, this is more of a slow build, focused on uncovering family history rather than big twists. The exploration of the family’s experience during World War II, particularly their incarceration in American concentration camps, adds a powerful historical layer. The way these past events ripple forward into Murano’s present life is handled thoughtfully as it really emphasizes how generational trauma and loss of identity can echo across time. The pacing of the book did feel a little uneven at times, especially in the middle, which is why this landed at 4 stars for me instead of 5. But the emotional core of the story kept me invested. The ending felt fitting for the kind of story this is being more reflective than dramatic. It doesn’t tie everything up perfectly in a bow like we always want it to, but it offers a sense of understanding and emotional resolution for Murano. There’s a quiet hopefulness there, a feeling that while the past can’t be changed, it can still be acknowledged and carry meaning moving forward. #netgalley #whenmikanroadwasours

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Murano, a high school English teacher, lives a quiet life with his loyal dog Sandy in South Pasadena, California. Despite the short distance between their homes, he and his relative Kaiya have not spoken in over fifteen years, their relationship marked by silence and separation. That changes abruptly when Mr. Murano receives an unexpected call from Kaiya about a family memorial service. During their conversation, Kaiya reveals she has belongings to pass on to him—and news of an unresolved matter in Ben Murano's will that will draw them together in ways neither could have anticipated.

The novel is thoughtfully presented in two distinct parts and features a variety of narrative devices. While I won't explain these elements explicitly to avoid spoilers, each device adds a unique layer of meaning to the narrative and deepens the story's emotional resonance. This thoughtful structure elevates the reading experience, making it both immersive and memorable.

Amid Mr. Murano's personal journey, the novel delivers a vital contribution by shining a light on a devastating chapter in American history. While following his story, readers are immersed in the experiences of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor—families who, like so many immigrants, arrived seeking opportunity and worked tirelessly to build better lives. Children looked ahead to college, parents strove for improved working conditions, and communities flourished—until it all came to an abrupt halt. Suddenly, these families were stripped of respect, forcibly uprooted from their homes and livelihoods, and incarcerated simply for their heritage—deemed the enemy by unsubstantiated fear and racism. The trauma of being imprisoned, the loss of property, jobs, health, and dignity, and the destruction of generational progress left wounds that endured long after their release. The novel powerfully illuminates the resilience and strength required to survive such injustice, and the generational impact of these heart-wrenching losses.

I appreciated the Author's Note, which offered insight into the inspiration behind the novel, as well as the inclusion of the Resources section.

I delayed writing this review, struggling to capture in words the profound impact this book had on me. Its resonance reached my core, leaving an indelible mark on my heart and memory. It is an extraordinary debut novel deserving of a reader's selection, and I hope that it receives award attention from multiple avenues. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for creating the Books Like Us First Novel Contest. Initiatives like this are vital for bringing diverse stories—such as D.K. Furutani's novel—into the spotlight. I found it meaningful to read the letter to readers in the front matter by Hannah Frankel, Assistant Editor at Atria Books. Thank you to D.K. Furutani, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

“When Mikan Road Was Ours” is the debut novel by Japanese-American author D.K. Furutani. “Mikan” tells the story of a young Japanese American high school English teacher who reconnects with estranged and unknown family members who give him a sense of belonging and understanding.

Murano is the protagonist who narrates portions of the story in the modern day, interspersed with portions of a story, written by Murano’s grandfather, Ben, that help Murano connect with his recently deceased father. It is a beautiful and poignant story of family, culture and the power of reconnection.

Murano’s grandfather, Ben, and his family, were sent to concentration camps for the Japanese during World War Two, which is not a topic often talked about in modern literature, where the focus tends to be on Jewish concentration camps like Auschwitz. Furutani shed light on this brutal piece of history through his well-researched and emotional plot and powerful and brave characters.

“Mikan” is character-driven as the plot focuses on Murano, who is struggling after the loss of his father and his own cancer diagnosis, as he processes the stories of his grandfather’s past that he reads in his grandfather’s words, through his journal. It is a heavy and emotional story but it is also informative and hopeful, which makes “Mikan Road” a standout.

I enjoyed the well-crafted story, the poetic, descriptive language and the remarkable characters that Furutani has created in “Mikan”. The resilience faced by the Japanese captives during World War Two should not be ignored, either, and I found this portion of the story was best told through Ben’s own words, as Furutani intended. Although the story-within-a-story component served its purpose, in combination with the plethora of new relatives Murano meets (cousins’, great-aunts and great-uncles, etc.), “Mikan” is a novel you’ll want to pay close attention to to ensure you don’t miss anything. But Furutani makes that a simple task, as he writes with ease and passion.

“Mikan” is a stellar debut that shines a light on an important, and often ignored, part of history. Mixed with romance, resilience, love and family, “When Mikan Road Was Ours” is an emotional must-read.

[♡︎.ᐟજ⁀➴ Erie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)

Thank you to Atria for the ARC!

When Mikan Road Was Ours is a beautiful, thoughtful debut that explores family, identity, loss, and the lasting impact of history across generations.

Murano is not in a great place when this story begins. He's grieving the loss of his father, facing his own cancer diagnosis, and simply trying to make it through each day. When he inherits his great-uncle Benjiro's unpublished memoir, he expects little more than another painful reminder of a family he has always felt disconnected from. Instead, he discovers a doorway into the past that changes everything he thought he knew about his family and himself.

What I loved most about this novel was the way it blended personal family history with the larger story of Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Through Benjiro's memoir and Murano's journey of discovery, the novel paints a vivid picture of life before, during, and after one of the darkest chapters in American history. The historical detail feels deeply researched without ever overwhelming the story.

The family dynamics were especially compelling. This is a book about belonging, about inherited wounds, and about the ways silence can echo through generations. As Murano uncovers long-buried truths, the story becomes as much about understanding the present as it is about uncovering the past.

The writing has a quiet, reflective quality that really worked for me. It isn't a fast-paced novel, but it never felt dull. Instead, it felt like slowly piecing together a family album, finding connections and stories that had been hidden for years.

📚 What I loved:
🍊 Multi-generational family saga
🍊 Rich historical detail
🍊 Japanese American history and identity
🍊 Thoughtful exploration of grief and belonging
🍊 Emotional without becoming overly sentimental

My only small criticism is that some of the perspectives occasionally blended together, making it harder to immediately distinguish certain voices. It never took me out of the story completely, but I did notice it at times.

Overall, When Mikan Road Was Ours is a moving and deeply human novel about family, heritage, and finding your place within a story that began long before you were born. It left me reflecting on the histories we inherit, the stories that go untold, and the importance of preserving them for future generations.

🍊 A poignant and memorable debut that historical fiction fans should absolutely add to their TBR.

[Kristi Antley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Mikan Road Was Ours is a LIVING HISTORY RECORD. Although the character details are fictitious, there is enough solid, factual evidence, historical accounts, and eye witness testimonies cited to bring the main lesson of prejudice to the reader's mind. I felt as if the author was speaking to me, and only me, straight from the pages. I was delighted the entire time that I read it, and honestly could not put it down, but I soon realized that I was referring back to earlier chapters to keep the present characters in the actual story separate from the past characters who were writing, or mentioned within correspondences and conversations within the book, a minor inconvenience that did not lessen my experience.

I could not contain my emotions as the plot constantly rolled, twisted, turned, and then, just when I was getting comfortable, it unexpectedly took a straight nosedive, but ended on a balanced note. It left me wanting more, which is what exceptional literature achieves! It is very rare that a work captures my attention as this one has.

Personally, I had no idea that interment camps existed in America during 1942-1945; this was basically due to unwarranted suspicion after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, enforced by President Hoover's Executive Order 9066. 120,000 Japanese Americans had established families, farms, businesses, and homes that they were forced to sell, lease, liquidate, or forfeit within a very short window of time, resulting in complete loss of assets, dignities, and rights. Some of the prisoners were even registered American Citizens and corporate members of very high stature in their respective communities on the West Coast during the 20th century.

Regardless of the reader's gender, race, age, geographical location, past experiences, financial or professional status, there is something here for everyone, especially historical fiction lovers. This material has not only partially filled in several gaps in my education, but it has opened multiple "rabbit holes" that I delight in exploring.

Here is a challenge: as you read the book, take time to research some of the highlighted events, immigration procedures, key people, American political movements, and documents mentioned by the main character; I promise that your mind will be BLOWN. I am grateful for access to this advance reader copy and have enjoyed providing a factual review; all opinions are my own, and I am eager to see what this author produces next!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advance Reader's Edition prior to the book's publication from a Goodreads giveway,

A heat wave in South Pasadena, and a high school English teacher. Murano, known by his last name, is living a reclusive life. He recently had surgery for cancer; he is the last male in his family to carry on the family name. His only solace is his newly adopted Sandy, a twelve-year-old bloodhound. He decided to have himself monitored for more cancer instead of chemo so that he could continue teaching. Not close to his mother, and he never felt comfortable with his dad. He felt like he was like his father but did not want to be. His dad would give him a short compliment when he accomplished something, but he never felt love or affection from him. His mother was white, and she left the marriage because of the same thing. He was very alone, with no one to talk to about the cancer or share anything. Growing up, he had very few memories of his relatives, and they kept apart.

Then he is contacted by a cousin. Kaiya. She meets with him and gives him an inheritance from his great uncle, his father's baseball mitt, and an unpublished memoir which discusses the family's history before, during, and after the Japanese internment camps during WWII. He learns so much that he never knew.

At the same time, he is having trouble with one of his students and his dad. The student, Brendan, is slacking off, on his cell phone, texting and playing games during class. Brendan's dad, a pushy man with a lot of political power, says that he is not pleased with Murano's teaching. Their conversations are very uncomfortable for Murano and the reader!

How will learning about his family history affect his solitary life, and how will he deal with the demanding parent?

A note to those with poor vision: The excerpts from the memoir and the letters in this book are written in a different font and in light ink than the rest of the text, so I had trouble reading them with my severe glaucoma. I would have enjoyed listening to the story in audiobook form.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

**This book changed me.**

As an AAPI reader who doesn't know much about my own family history, *When Mikan Road Was Ours* made me excited, curious, and, honestly, a bit of a history buff.

The novel follows a Japanese American teacher who is living with cancer. While grieving his father's death, attending doctor's appointments, and grading papers, he inherits his great-uncle's unpublished memoir. As he reads it, he begins to reflect more deeply on race, family, identity, and what it means to appreciate the people and history that came before us.

What surprised me most is that this isn't really a book about cancer or even grief. It's a story about how the lives of those who came before us can reshape our perspective, offering comfort, wisdom, and connection when we need it most.

I especially loved the imagery and symbolism surrounding Mikan Road. The author vividly captures both the war and post-war periods, making the historical details feel immersive without becoming overwhelming. I also thought the four-generational point of view was a creative and refreshing storytelling choice. Each perspective added another layer to the family's history, and I appreciated that the author gave each generation meaningful relationships and friendships that made the story feel lived-in.

I can understand why some readers might find the frequent time jumps, multiple narrators, and changing settings confusing. However, I felt the story was structured well enough that I was able to follow each generation and understand how their experiences connected across time.

Overall, *When Mikan Road Was Ours* is a thoughtful, beautifully written novel about family, legacy, and the stories that shape who we become. It left me wanting to learn more about my own family's history, and that's one of the greatest compliments I can give a book.

This version reads more like a polished review while preserving your personal perspective. If you're posting it on Goodreads, I can also make it a little more conversational and less formal.

Thank you for an Arc, Atria Books.

[Alesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this debut novel to be full of fascinating information about Japanese Americans living in the agricultural area that became part of the LA sprawl. It is a story very well told, feeling more like a memoir (which part of it purports to be). What emotional scars do generations carry after the WWII internment camps? And what emotional scars do people of any culture or race carry from parents who are themselves damaged by world events?

This is an important contribution to literature about immigrants of all kinds, especially Japanese ones, and how the personality traits and patterns (as well as the sins) of the fathers are visited upon the sons.

I take away half a star from my review because the book could have used some editing for brevity. I found myself skimming some of the rambling descriptions. Also, there were a lot of characters, all related to one another, and I got them confused. Some characters only enter the story at the very end, a rare literary occurrence. There's a family tree at the beginning of the book, but it was not legible on my Kindle. Too bad, because it would have helped me keep track of the people in the story.

Although this book is really a story of the tragedy and injustice of the US internment camps, it's also really a story of the damage war does to practically anybody it touches. Japanese Americans were treated horribly by their own government. So were all of the Japanese in Japan after the US bombing. But then, so were theChinese, Singaporeans, Malaysians, Indonesians (etc. etc. etc.) civilians by the Japanese in WWII. So are the Gazans right now, and the Ukrainians, and Sudanese. It makes me ponder the basic "humanity" of our species.

You could say that this book is also about the resilience of the human spirit, the importance of family, and how knowledge urges us toward forgiveness.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy of this book.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Mikan Road Was Ours by D.K. Furutani tells the story of a young Japanese American high school English teacher who reconnects with estranged family members, giving him a newfound sense of belonging and understanding. It’s a moving story about how the lives of those who came before us can reshape our perspective, offering comfort, wisdom, and connection when we need them most.

The novel follows a Japanese American teacher who is living with cancer. While grieving the loss of his father, attending doctor’s appointments, and grading papers, he inherits his great-uncle’s unpublished memoir. As he reads it, he begins to reflect more deeply on race, family, identity, and the importance of appreciating the people and history that came before us.

Told through alternating timelines, the novel sheds light on the cruelty and hardships endured by Japanese Americans during World War II. Like the best historical fiction, it brings an important chapter of history to life and reminds us why these stories must continue to be told. The Japanese Americans who built lives in the United States before the war made significant contributions to their communities, yet many were treated with heartbreaking injustice.

Furutani’s writing is straightforward yet impactful, capturing the complexity of this history through a variety of perspectives. I was hooked right from the beginning, though the pacing slowed part way into the book and remained that way for a while. Thankfully, it picked up again, and the final portion was especially compelling, ending on a powerful note.

I really enjoyed this novel. Not only was it an engaging read, but I also learned a great deal about a part of history that deserves to be remembered. Despite tackling heavy themes, it was a relatively quick read that leaves you with plenty to reflect on.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an advanced copy of this book.

[Ambika]

3.5
I had high hopes for When Mikan Road Was Ours, and while I was genuinely engaged at the beginning, the novel ultimately didn’t land for me as strongly as I’d hoped. The chapters structured as flashbacks frequently pulled me out of the narrative. Because the writing voice remained largely the same across timelines, the shifts lacked clear distinction for me. While I recognize how important and necessary this story is, I found myself struggling to stay fully engaged throughout.
I most enjoyed the sections focused on the protagonist’s present-day struggles, his experience as a teacher and his alienation from his family really resonated for me. However, I didn’t fully believe the emotional connection between him and his cousin, particularly her motivation for reaching out so persistently. That relationship felt underdeveloped, which made it harder to invest in the parallel narrative.

At times, the book felt as though it could be two separate works. And yet, I also believe that its ambition, to weave together intergenerational trauma, war memory, Otherness, and the often overlooked history of Japanese migration to the United States, is very powerful. I did feel traces of that depth, but I missed something that would have made this book into one of my all-time favorites.

I think much of that comes down to execution. The memoir-style chapters didn’t fully captivate me and there were moments where the sequencing felt unclear. It disrupted my reading, often sending me back to double-check if I missed anything. I also wished for more explicit analysis connecting everyday decisions to intergenerational trauma. Overall, despite my criticisms, this remains an intriguing and undeniably important read, one that tackles histories and truths that deserve far more attention.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Angela M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written multilayered debut novel about identity, family history, a man finding himself when he discovers his Japanese heritage . It reflects events in American history - the internment of Japanese Americans in camps, as well as providing some light on another facet of Japanese American history, immigrants ties to farming, to land ownership taken away by the California Alien Land Law , their relationship to farm workers’s unions, that I only learned as a result of reading this novel. It’s also a tribute to the author’s family’s “bravery and spirit” along with the 125,000 others rounded up and sent to internment camps .

A man referred to by his last name only, Murano is a lost soul , lonely, grieving, dealing with a health issue, drinking heavily and we know that he is mixed Japanese and white. He has no intimate knowledge of his ancestors . When he inherits his great uncle’s memoir he learns his great grandfather’s story . Chapters alternate between the present and the past in his uncle’s memoir. Then through letters that his grandmother had written discovers his father’s pain and shame from his time in the internment camp at Heart and Mountain. In learning about his family’s past, he discovers who his father was and he discovers who he is . While the author says this is a work of fiction, he personally inherited the memoirs of his own great uncle, making this so much more meaningful. Enticed from the beginning, I enjoyed the writing .

How much is even taught about these events? It’s been many, many years since my high school American history class and I have no memory of any mention of the internment camps or the history of Japanese immigrants and their relationship to the land . A reminder of the importance of remembering our history even when it’s shameful. A reminder that history cannot be rewritten as a matter of convenience as some try to do today .

ARC was provided by Atria via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Megh · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Mikan Road Was Ours is a story of Japanese American man in his 30s who is recently reconnecting with estranged family and trying to discover more about his roots. After meeting his cousin for the first time since they were kids, she gives him his late great uncles journal to help him learn about his family’s history.

So here’s the thing - this book frustrated me a little bit because I felt like there was so much more that could have been explored in terms of the history of the protagonists family. We really only got little glimpses through the journal chapters. So I guess in that sense I can relate to the main characters frustration with not getting all the answers about his family and last. However, as a reader I would’ve loved more exploration into the Murano family’s history. For instance, if it was written in alternating timelines the reader could have gotten more depth from the characters. And if the author wanted to keep the aspect of the main character being frustrated by limited access to his family history, the journal could have still been that device but instead there could be an interlude between present and past chapters that had an excerpt of the journal and then we got transported back to actually get the story from Eitos real time point of view instead of journal. I don’t just something that gave more of the past.

I guess I was expecting more of an actual historical fiction novel. This read to me like contemporary fiction with bits of history thrown in. So maybe that’s my fault for going in with the wrong idea? Overall, it wasn’t bad. I did enjoy the first part when we were getting the glimpses of the past. The second past slowed down a bit for me and I lost a little interest.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy of this book.

[From The Reader’s Nest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will always be glad that I read this book.

Very little is discussed and even less is taught in schools regarding the treatment of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor and its social, community and familial impacts, both immediately and generationally.

The storylines are exceptional, and bolstered by a true personal account by the author, and that passion, discovery, and emotional journey comes through so well.

The book was so easy to settle into and read, immediately liking the characters and the format of using the grandfather’s journal to go back in time and discover a history that’s always been withheld from the main character all of his life. The MC undergoes an unexpected journey of identity and who and what he thought his family was, after the passing of his grandfather.

A detailed journal brings to light the struggles of life, death, suffering, persecution, happy moments, perseverance, etc.

Slowly the MC understands who and why his father is how he is, and his grandfather, and great grandfather, and how it came to shape who he is today. It promotes healing, self love, forgiveness, reconciliation with family, empathy, and growth.

The writing is engaging, full of heart, and will be healing to anyone who has experienced generational traumas, has a messy family tree, has lost family connection, generational dysfunction, etc. It’s a story of learning yourself and how you became you because of all of those before you, and accepting them and yourself.

The persecution of Japanese Americans is and was horrific and from other AAPI books I’ve read, and historical podcasts, this book does justice to continuing to be informed, empathetic, and respectful of the lived experiences and governmental treatment of citizens.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murano is a Japanese-American who has no connection to his ancestry. His father did not keep contact with the rest of the family, and now he is dead, so when he is contacted about the death of his uncle, he is puzzled. Murano's cousin when his presence is requested at the funeral. This leads Murano to explore the history of his family including their time in the WWII internment camps.

This is a look at what family means -- at family secrets and lies and the actions and words that lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. The story alternates between present day and the WWII story as recorded in Uncle Benjiro's journals. The stories are touching and engrossing. In the second part of the book, the stories switch to alternating between letters from other members of the family and Murano's story in the present day. It's a story about someone looking for answers and family members who failed to share their life experiences with the next generation.

I loved the historical part of this story and how choices made in the past impact the present. Some readers will quibble with the writing style since this is not a chronological narrative, but in some ways the combination of straight narrative and journals and letters makes for a more personal look at the Murano family story. I learned a lot about the time period and Japanese-American culture. A great story.

A side note -- there's a sub-plot about Murano's conflict with one of his students and the student's parent that rings true to the present-day school experience. That small portion of the book lends to the personalization of the character and, for me (a retired teacher), added to my empathy for Murano.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Debut novel about "...four generations of a Japanese American family, exploring California’s vibrant agricultural heartlands, the sharp edges of inheritance and what it means to truly belong...Murano, a reclusive high school English teacher, is muddling through life. Reeling from his father’s death as well as his own recent cancer diagnosis, he spends his days grading papers and appeasing disgruntled parents...he inherits [is given to read?] his great-uncle Benjiro’s unpublished memoir. He expects the pages to be a grim reminder of his position as the half-white son of the black sheep of the family. Instead, as he reads, Murano is whisked away to 1930s California, to a time when the Murano family was inseparable, relishing life on their bucolic farmland. As Murano is introduced to family members he never knew existed and confronted with the hidden complexities of the past, he is pulled close to the Japanese identity he’s dismissed all of his life." And so it goes...

Grim, sad, and powerful What it means to grow up Nisei--complicted by being half white! Of reconnection with family--starting at a funeral. Farm life.

The awful circumstances of the internment camps the Japanese were sent to. because of WWII. A fractured, dysfunctional family--once full of hope but deterred by circumstances of birth and heritage. Alternates between past [recent and not so recent] and present.

No spoiler from me but when Murano stood his ground/changed his mind re his student [at the end], I inwardly cheered.

3.5, rounding up, but...

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shares an important piece of history about Japanese Americans and the WWII internment camps. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres because it gives a voice to people and stories that are often left out of history books. For me, a sign of great historical fiction is when I pause while reading to look up the events being mentioned. This book had me doing that more than once. It is clear the research was thorough, especially since the author used his great uncle’s memoir to build the story and to learn more about his own family’s immigration from Japan and their lived experiences.

I really enjoyed the multi generational perspective and the dual timeline between past and present. I also liked the different formats, including memoir, letters, and interviews, which helped keep me engaged. The past timeline reads like a memoir, and the present follows a teacher who we only know by his last name. I do wish the voices between the two timelines felt more distinct. The different fonts help, especially for ebook readers who can adjust the text size, but the narrative voices themselves sometimes blended together. The family tree was a helpful addition, and as the story unfolds, you really feel the emotional impact on the family and the generational trauma they carry.

Overall, this is a great book that brings attention to a part of history that is often forgotten or written out of textbooks. I just found myself wanting more from the present day storyline and the current generation.

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.