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Caged Eagles
When Canada went to war with Japan following the bombing of Pearl Harbour, Canadians of Japanese descent were declared "Enemy Aliens." Without recourse of any kind, they were forced to leave their homes along with the British Columbia coast, their possessions were sold, and their rights as citizens denied. Caged Eagles follows fourteen-year-old Tadashi Fukushima and his family as they embark on a tortuous physical and emotional journey. Along with neighbours from their remote village on the northern BC coast, they travel by fishing boat to Vancouver, where they are placed in detention in Hastings Park, the Pacific National Exhibition ground, and forced to live in cattle stalls. For Tadashi detention becomes both an adventure and a dilemma as he struggles to understand the undercurrents of racism and injustice that have overtaken his life and those of his community.
260 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
2 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
156 books908 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 28, 2025
Another great historical Candian peice of fiction. Written in truth.
Eric Walters describes Japanes Candians perfectly and their struggles in the internment camps. We are told the story through Tadashi of how Candians soldiers and RCMP had to enforce the law but didnt love it. We also see racism amongst Japanese and Canadians as well. We see the struggles they go tbrough but also how Japanese can almost always see the best in life.
Despite the cliffhanger ending. It ends the story well as they did still.struggle but at least had their family. We can only imagine the day Tadashi and his family got to spread his geandmothers ashes in sikima with jed, his mother, and his nannii by his side celebrating Tadashis return and his grandmothers life
Eric Walters describes Japanes Candians perfectly and their struggles in the internment camps. We are told the story through Tadashi of how Candians soldiers and RCMP had to enforce the law but didnt love it. We also see racism amongst Japanese and Canadians as well. We see the struggles they go tbrough but also how Japanese can almost always see the best in life.
Despite the cliffhanger ending. It ends the story well as they did still.struggle but at least had their family. We can only imagine the day Tadashi and his family got to spread his geandmothers ashes in sikima with jed, his mother, and his nannii by his side celebrating Tadashis return and his grandmothers life
July 31, 2021
The protagonist Tadashi is compellingly written, and Walters' emphasis on his role as eldest son and therefore co-protector with his father of their female family members highlights the difficult responsibilities Japanese Canadian teenagers had to take on during internment. It is patriarchal, but accurate to the time period and the culture. However, Walters takes a number of liberties with historical facts to create a narrative that fits his idea of an exciting plot (most of which are spoilers). It's a good novel, but not recommended as a tool for teaching the history of Japanese Canadian internment.
July 30, 2018
This book was a harsh reveal at life for Japanese canadians during world war II.
I must say that I was not always a fan of historical fiction as usually it feels old fashion. While this did have that feel as well it also gave a look at what life was like for these poor people.
Eric Walters writes with a passion that I dojt often see. Despite this being for young adult I think it's a very good piece about the human condition and just how bad of how good we are as humans.
Each of his books teach a valuable lesson and really can push what most people know about time periods.
I must say that I was not always a fan of historical fiction as usually it feels old fashion. While this did have that feel as well it also gave a look at what life was like for these poor people.
Eric Walters writes with a passion that I dojt often see. Despite this being for young adult I think it's a very good piece about the human condition and just how bad of how good we are as humans.
Each of his books teach a valuable lesson and really can push what most people know about time periods.
October 29, 2012
The story is told from the point of view of a fourteen-year-old boy of Japanese descent during the internment in the Second World War. His father is a fisherman, as are most of the men in his community in British Columbia, so they are interrogated as possible spies. The family is shipped off with hundreds of other families to a park. Sounds good, but in actual fact, they must sleep in a barn that reeks of cattle with dozens of other families. Father is kept in a separate building and grandmother is having difficulty eating the terrible food. Tadashi was born in Canada, speaks perfect English, and Japanese, but not so with all the interned people. He meets a boy who, although he is of pure Japanese descent, cannot speak a word of Japanese. The elders feels dishonored. No one understands why this is being done to them, where they are to go, and what is to happen to their things and homes. Heartbreaking story of one of Canada's most shameful historical events.
March 14, 2015
- historical fiction about a family from a small fishing village near Prince Rupert who are sent to Vancouver
- they have their fishing boat and all their possessions confiscated by the government
- about the internment of Japanese Canadians at Hastings Park during WWII
- interesting for me as a Japanese Canadian but may not be too interesting to children
- reading level: gr. 6
- interest level: gr. 5 - 9
- they have their fishing boat and all their possessions confiscated by the government
- about the internment of Japanese Canadians at Hastings Park during WWII
- interesting for me as a Japanese Canadian but may not be too interesting to children
- reading level: gr. 6
- interest level: gr. 5 - 9
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews