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Somewhere Among
A beautiful and haunting debut novel in verse about an American-Japanese girl struggling with the loneliness of being caught between two worlds when the tragedy of 9/11 strikes an ocean away.
Eleven-year-old Ema has always been of two worlds—her father’s Japanese heritage and her mother’s life in America. She’s spent summers in California for as long as she can remember, but this year she and her mother are staying with her grandparents in Japan as they await the arrival of Ema’s baby sibling. Her mother’s pregnancy has been tricky, putting everyone on edge, but Ema’s heart is singing—finally, there will be someone else who will understand what it’s like to belong and not belong at the same time.
But Ema’s good spirits are muffled by her grandmother who is cold, tightfisted, and quick to reprimand her for the slightest infraction. Then, when their stay is extended and Ema must go to a new school, her worries of not belonging grow. And when the tragedy of 9/11 strikes, Ema, her parents, and the world watch as the twin towers fall…
As Ema watches her mother grieve for her country across the ocean—threatening the safety of her pregnancy—and her beloved grandfather falls ill, she feels more helpless and hopeless than ever. And yet, surrounded by tragedy, Ema sees for the first time the tender side of her grandmother, and the reason for the penny-pinching and sternness make sense—her grandmother has been preparing so they could all survive the worst.
Dipping and soaring, Somewhere Among is the story of one girl’s search for identity, inner peace, and how she discovers that hope can indeed rise from the ashes of disaster.
Eleven-year-old Ema has always been of two worlds—her father’s Japanese heritage and her mother’s life in America. She’s spent summers in California for as long as she can remember, but this year she and her mother are staying with her grandparents in Japan as they await the arrival of Ema’s baby sibling. Her mother’s pregnancy has been tricky, putting everyone on edge, but Ema’s heart is singing—finally, there will be someone else who will understand what it’s like to belong and not belong at the same time.
But Ema’s good spirits are muffled by her grandmother who is cold, tightfisted, and quick to reprimand her for the slightest infraction. Then, when their stay is extended and Ema must go to a new school, her worries of not belonging grow. And when the tragedy of 9/11 strikes, Ema, her parents, and the world watch as the twin towers fall…
As Ema watches her mother grieve for her country across the ocean—threatening the safety of her pregnancy—and her beloved grandfather falls ill, she feels more helpless and hopeless than ever. And yet, surrounded by tragedy, Ema sees for the first time the tender side of her grandmother, and the reason for the penny-pinching and sternness make sense—her grandmother has been preparing so they could all survive the worst.
Dipping and soaring, Somewhere Among is the story of one girl’s search for identity, inner peace, and how she discovers that hope can indeed rise from the ashes of disaster.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
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726 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
August 10, 2017
I wish that the characters were better introduced in the beginning of the story, but it got better overtime. It was a sweet memoir and showed how different cultures celebrate and live during times of stress.
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May 14, 2016This book left me feeling blank. I thought I would connect to it because it takes place in 2001 Japan, before, during, and after 9/11, from the perspective of a Japanese-American girl. Since I lived in Japan from 1999-2000, the setting was familiar... and being in California during 9/11, I could relate to the surreal struggle of processing the events of 9/11 from a distance. But this book... it left me wondering: who is the audience? It covers a lot of current events that took place in 2001. Most kids have a hard time connecting to current events NOW-- what will these old news stories mean to them? I appreciated the realistic details about Japanese daily life in 2001, but a lot of it had no context for those unfamiliar with the culture. The main character, Ema, is an observer and hardly shows any personality- I had a hard time caring about her or understanding her concerns. I often find verse novels to be distancing, and this one is especially so. I feel badly; I wanted to like this so much more than I did!
November 15, 2021
*2.5
This book was good but not spectacular. The main character was really sweet but in the middle it got to be kind of boring but I love the message behind the story! ☮️
This book was good but not spectacular. The main character was really sweet but in the middle it got to be kind of boring but I love the message behind the story! ☮️
October 10, 2017
Ema is binational, bicultural, bilingual, and biracial. Some people consider her “half,” and others consider her “double.” Her American mother says she contains “multitudes,” but Ema sometimes feels alone living in Japan somewhere among multitudes of people. When fifth-grader Ema and her mother go to live with Ema’s very traditional Japanese grandparents during a difficult pregnancy, author Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu takes the reader through six months (June 21, 2001-January 2, 2002) of customs, rituals, and holidays, both Japanese and American. There are challenges, such a choosing a name for the new baby that brings good luck in Japan and that both sets of grandparents can pronounce. Ema celebrates American Independence Day and Japanese Sea Day, and she now views some days, such as August 15 Victory Over Japan Day from diverse perspectives. On September 11, 2001 she experiences both two typhoons in her town and the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in America on television. As the reader traverses the intricacies of two fusing two distinct cultures with Emi and her family, our knowledge of others is doubled.
October 25, 2016
Huh - this sounded so good, but I really had a hard time finishing it... Ema's dad is Japanese and her mom is American. They live most of the year in Japan but Ema goes to the States every summer to visit her grandparents. She straddles the line between her two cultures fairly well, but this year is especially difficult b/c her mom is pregnant, and having a very hard time. She isn't well enough to go to the U.S. so instead of leaving for a fun vacation, Ema and her mom are going to stay with her paternal grandparents. Mom is so sick that Ema is mostly on her own - and miserable. Dad comes to visit when he can, but it's a long trip so it Ema doesn't get to see him very much. Then September 11 happens, and Ema feels even further away from home. I found this novel in verse somewhat slow moving, although the portrayal of Japanese culture was interesting. Not sure how many kids will stick with it.
March 5, 2017
I don't often give one star reviews, so I felt I should justify this.
1) I didn't feel like the poems were really poems. Yes, there were line breaks, but it didn't add anything artistically to the writing. Just because one chooses to break off mid-sentence doesn't make it a poem. Some of the "poems" in here are what I try to teach my students not to do. Instead, be intentional in your syntax.
2) The connection to 9/11 seemed cheap and unnecessary. Just make it a book about a kid balancing between two cultures and trying to relate to family and peers. No need to reference a huge tragedy that doesn't seem to add any real meaning to the story at all.
1) I didn't feel like the poems were really poems. Yes, there were line breaks, but it didn't add anything artistically to the writing. Just because one chooses to break off mid-sentence doesn't make it a poem. Some of the "poems" in here are what I try to teach my students not to do. Instead, be intentional in your syntax.
2) The connection to 9/11 seemed cheap and unnecessary. Just make it a book about a kid balancing between two cultures and trying to relate to family and peers. No need to reference a huge tragedy that doesn't seem to add any real meaning to the story at all.
November 14, 2017
Somewhere Among is about an eleven year old Japanese-American named Ema, who finds herself between two cultures, worlds, languages, and families. Within this mix she finds herself alone. She lives with her Japanese grandparents in Tokyo because her mom is pregnant and on bed rest and her father is always away at work. Because her mother is on bed rest, her summer plans of going to California to visit her other grandparents have been changed. This means new school after the summer is over and new friends.
Ema struggles with identity because she feels split in two. Then feels like she must prove her knowledge and show that she is not missing anything. Meaning just because she is half of two different cultures doesn’t mean she is not whole. Ema is a relatable bi racial/cultural/national character. Growing up, I often found myself feeling split down the middle with two ethnicities or two sides instead of a blended and mixed me. It was easy for me to instantly be drawn to Ema. Ema also faces issues that any child may face, one example is bullying.
Looking over some of the other reviews, some thought that adding the event of 911 was not a good idea. They didn’t see how it related to the story or it wasn’t developed enough. I would disagree. First, this novel is inspired by the author’s life and some of these poems are snippets and memories from her own experience. Second, I think it weaved into the story well because is further shows Ema’s feelings of being split. Two countries who are now at peace with each other, but there was a time when they were at war. This is then further shown in the pieces when Ema talks about Hiroshima and Nagasaki and well as Pearl Harbor. Anniversaries that show how humanity can really hurt one another. Then September 11 happens and there is a new war and within the poems, you see how it affects the family.
I like that through this reading, you get to experience Japanese culture; however, I wish the author explained the terms a little better.
Because this novel is written in verse, I think it tones down the harshness of what this book could have been. Making it easier for a young child to read, understand and realte. This is not a lighthearted read, but it’s not a depressing read either.
All in all, I think this book is about being grounded. Finding the center in all that you are. It also shows the importance of family. There may be times when they drive you crazy and if you’re an eleven girl, they may suck the fun out of everything, but they have your back and are there to support and love you.
Ema struggles with identity because she feels split in two. Then feels like she must prove her knowledge and show that she is not missing anything. Meaning just because she is half of two different cultures doesn’t mean she is not whole. Ema is a relatable bi racial/cultural/national character. Growing up, I often found myself feeling split down the middle with two ethnicities or two sides instead of a blended and mixed me. It was easy for me to instantly be drawn to Ema. Ema also faces issues that any child may face, one example is bullying.
Looking over some of the other reviews, some thought that adding the event of 911 was not a good idea. They didn’t see how it related to the story or it wasn’t developed enough. I would disagree. First, this novel is inspired by the author’s life and some of these poems are snippets and memories from her own experience. Second, I think it weaved into the story well because is further shows Ema’s feelings of being split. Two countries who are now at peace with each other, but there was a time when they were at war. This is then further shown in the pieces when Ema talks about Hiroshima and Nagasaki and well as Pearl Harbor. Anniversaries that show how humanity can really hurt one another. Then September 11 happens and there is a new war and within the poems, you see how it affects the family.
I like that through this reading, you get to experience Japanese culture; however, I wish the author explained the terms a little better.
Because this novel is written in verse, I think it tones down the harshness of what this book could have been. Making it easier for a young child to read, understand and realte. This is not a lighthearted read, but it’s not a depressing read either.
All in all, I think this book is about being grounded. Finding the center in all that you are. It also shows the importance of family. There may be times when they drive you crazy and if you’re an eleven girl, they may suck the fun out of everything, but they have your back and are there to support and love you.
April 22, 2020
An interesting book written in poetry about a girl in Japan who has a Japanese father and an American mother and how that feels for her, how she feels inbetween things, how people at times treat her as if she is a foreigner when she has a lived all her life in Japan (at least I am guessing that given everything). Normally she goes to the US with her mom in the summer, but not this year. Throughout the book we see how the mom's pregnancy isn't always going well. Lots of sickness, lots of anxiety, lots of worrying. And it doesn't help that her father's parents probably mean well but especially Obaachan is just an old hag at times. Throughout the story I was more drawn towards Jiichan especially when he opened up to his granddaughter more.
We see how she experience the summer, her new school, new friends, and more. It was interesting to read.
In the meantime we see her start a new school, talk to her grandfathers, and there is one big event, 11/9 that happens while she is with her grandparents. We see how it affects everyone, especially mom.
The whole Masa thing? I don't really get why she needs to say sorry first, Masa has to say sorry first for all the crap he pulled. I get that he probably gets hit by his mom and that is part of why he acts this way, but that is no excuse for bullying. NEVER.
The ending was pretty OK, and I love the message about kindness and having peace in one's heart.
We see how she experience the summer, her new school, new friends, and more. It was interesting to read.
In the meantime we see her start a new school, talk to her grandfathers, and there is one big event, 11/9 that happens while she is with her grandparents. We see how it affects everyone, especially mom.
The whole Masa thing? I don't really get why she needs to say sorry first, Masa has to say sorry first for all the crap he pulled. I get that he probably gets hit by his mom and that is part of why he acts this way, but that is no excuse for bullying. NEVER.
The ending was pretty OK, and I love the message about kindness and having peace in one's heart.
February 15, 2017
"At home
with Mom and Papa
I am
between
two cultures
two languages
two time zones
everyday
Everywhere I go
here or there
I am different".
This beautifully written novel in verse tackles the many difficult issues; discrimination, isolation, loss, illness, melding two cultures, traditions, family relationships. Ema, an 11 year old Japanese girl (with an American mom), struggles to fit in when she moves in with her Japanese grandparents. Ema's journey of self discovery and the progression of her relationships with her family and peers are beautifully interwoven in this story about peace at home and abroad.
with Mom and Papa
I am
between
two cultures
two languages
two time zones
everyday
Everywhere I go
here or there
I am different".
This beautifully written novel in verse tackles the many difficult issues; discrimination, isolation, loss, illness, melding two cultures, traditions, family relationships. Ema, an 11 year old Japanese girl (with an American mom), struggles to fit in when she moves in with her Japanese grandparents. Ema's journey of self discovery and the progression of her relationships with her family and peers are beautifully interwoven in this story about peace at home and abroad.
May 25, 2022
I think that this book is one of the best books that I have ever read. It has a nice story about a little girl named Emma. She is split apart. She does not know what to do. I think that this author really expresses her feelings about this book. She is just great. Thank you for making this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2021
Sweet story. More of a 3.5.
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April 11, 2023It was awesome and I recommend it to others.
May 4, 2018
It’s rather odd to list a book that took place in 2001 as “historical fiction.” I almost included it in contemporary until I remembered it took place 17 years ago. (17 years: the same amount of time cicadas spend sleeping before they come out. Yes, cicadas play a part in the book.)
I particularly enjoyed the mix of cultures in the book. Though I am fully American, as a military brat, I have been raised among a mix of cultures, and nobody—except perhaps my own siblings—has shared the same mix cultures as I have. So it was easy for me to relate with Ema and the way she has to adapt to different ways of living and even different time zones.
My only issue with the book was that some of the writing seemed overly simplified. I get that poetry of this type may be dumbed down to be better understood, but children can handle more complex language. (There I go, asking for more details again.) Yet the inclusion of the occasional Japanese words certainly was interesting.
Even with the simple writing style, some of the concepts were intense, for adults and children alike. While Ema’s mom struggles with her pregnancy, her dad is almost always away on work, and then 9/11 hits in the States. I cried at that scene, though whether it was from the book or my own mourning, remembering that day, I cannot tell. The author certainly doesn’t water down difficult and tragic events just because it’s a book for middle grade audiences, yet the topics are handled with care and respect all the same.
In all, I gave Somewhere Among 4/5 stars for an excellent plot and character development yet simplistic writing style. I would recommend this to anybody interested in reading about other cultures and novels in verse.
I particularly enjoyed the mix of cultures in the book. Though I am fully American, as a military brat, I have been raised among a mix of cultures, and nobody—except perhaps my own siblings—has shared the same mix cultures as I have. So it was easy for me to relate with Ema and the way she has to adapt to different ways of living and even different time zones.
My only issue with the book was that some of the writing seemed overly simplified. I get that poetry of this type may be dumbed down to be better understood, but children can handle more complex language. (There I go, asking for more details again.) Yet the inclusion of the occasional Japanese words certainly was interesting.
“Then at sunset
I watch him
water them
with a tin cup
tied to the end of a bamboo pole,
dipping it
again and again and again
into a pail of water
thump thump
kotsun kotsun
tin against plastic
dribbling it
so the soil doesn’t wash away from the roots.”
Even with the simple writing style, some of the concepts were intense, for adults and children alike. While Ema’s mom struggles with her pregnancy, her dad is almost always away on work, and then 9/11 hits in the States. I cried at that scene, though whether it was from the book or my own mourning, remembering that day, I cannot tell. The author certainly doesn’t water down difficult and tragic events just because it’s a book for middle grade audiences, yet the topics are handled with care and respect all the same.
In all, I gave Somewhere Among 4/5 stars for an excellent plot and character development yet simplistic writing style. I would recommend this to anybody interested in reading about other cultures and novels in verse.
September 15, 2019
American mother/ Japanese father
girl and mom live with Japanese grandparents for six months while mom has difficult pregnancy
dad must commute when able
grandmother is overbearing
SLOOOOOW moving story
historical fiction from a new perspective
slow
appropriate for middle school but will lose some readers due to lack of action, slooooow
Spoilers below:
Mom is going to have a baby 14
Mom and paternal grandpa complain about each other 20
Dad is Japanese and mom is American
Living with grandma and grandpa because mom is four months pregnant and too tired to take care of the kid. Really?
Morning sickness 23
Japanese naming 29
Other babies have almost come out but we’re lost. And this baby was almost lost too. 32
Dad is going back to stay in their original home because the commute was too far 34
I feel like the author is favoring America over Japan
Mom and paternal grandma don’t see Eye to Eye
A friends visit mom and grandma discourages future visitors 63
Wants own bedroom
Grandpa can’t smoke anymore because it bothers mom when she is pregnant 98
This book is boring
Atomic bomb of Nagasaki 140
First day of school and earthquake drill 172
Stranger danger and students are encouraged to get siren alarms for safety 176
Student at school hits her with a broom and causes a bruise. Apologies are expected at home. Teacher comes later that night and she apologizes. Grandma unhappy because the boys mom should have apologized. Teachers says that is not an option 189 student at school hits her with a broom and causes a bruise. Apologies are expected at home. Teacher comes later that night and she apologizes. Grandma unhappy because the boys mom should have apologized. Teacher says that is not an option 189
Boy rooms her homework in front of the teacher and the teacher does nothing 192
September 11, 2001 happened page 211
Mom is very upset about September 11 and obsessed with it
First time girl has been to a church
Grandma is angry and mom is sad 237
Girl has not been going to school since September 11
Poison on a stamp? In America? Not very clear 251
girl and mom live with Japanese grandparents for six months while mom has difficult pregnancy
dad must commute when able
grandmother is overbearing
SLOOOOOW moving story
historical fiction from a new perspective
slow
appropriate for middle school but will lose some readers due to lack of action, slooooow
Spoilers below:
Mom is going to have a baby 14
Mom and paternal grandpa complain about each other 20
Dad is Japanese and mom is American
Living with grandma and grandpa because mom is four months pregnant and too tired to take care of the kid. Really?
Morning sickness 23
Japanese naming 29
Other babies have almost come out but we’re lost. And this baby was almost lost too. 32
Dad is going back to stay in their original home because the commute was too far 34
I feel like the author is favoring America over Japan
Mom and paternal grandma don’t see Eye to Eye
A friends visit mom and grandma discourages future visitors 63
Wants own bedroom
Grandpa can’t smoke anymore because it bothers mom when she is pregnant 98
This book is boring
Atomic bomb of Nagasaki 140
First day of school and earthquake drill 172
Stranger danger and students are encouraged to get siren alarms for safety 176
Student at school hits her with a broom and causes a bruise. Apologies are expected at home. Teacher comes later that night and she apologizes. Grandma unhappy because the boys mom should have apologized. Teachers says that is not an option 189 student at school hits her with a broom and causes a bruise. Apologies are expected at home. Teacher comes later that night and she apologizes. Grandma unhappy because the boys mom should have apologized. Teacher says that is not an option 189
Boy rooms her homework in front of the teacher and the teacher does nothing 192
September 11, 2001 happened page 211
Mom is very upset about September 11 and obsessed with it
First time girl has been to a church
Grandma is angry and mom is sad 237
Girl has not been going to school since September 11
Poison on a stamp? In America? Not very clear 251
May 20, 2019
I disliked Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu because it talks a lot about the culture and it talks about different events that have happened in the past. In the book Somewhere Among, Ema’s life is divided into two countries, two languages, two time zones, and multiple emotions. She is worried about moving in with her grandparents, Jiichan and Obaachan. Ema has to find, somewhere inside her, that one thing that can never be stopped. Hope. Ema has to live between America and living in Western Tokyo. She learns how life is different in Western Tokyo than in America. She starts a new school and she doesn’t like it.
Ema gets furious at Obaachan because she is really controlling and bossy. Obaachan says “Late” to everyone and that is because she wants everyone to be on time for stuff and she doesn’t want them to be late. Ema has been rude to Obaachan as well by using the inside broom to sweep outside. Obaachan makes everything a tedious job or she haves everyone has a very full day of chores and is very strict about her rules around the house. Like, wearing the right slippers in the right room, using the correct broom for sweeping whether it’s inside or outside, making sure to not have any holes in your socks, and lastly making sure that you are never late to anything whether it’s work or school.
I personally didn’t like the book that much because I didn’t like how in one chapter it would be one holiday and then in the next chapter it would be another holiday. It also talked a lot about history and me don’t personally like history. The book was also a verse story/book and I figured out while reading it that I don’t like verse stories/books. The book has a lot of cliffhangers in it if you have to stop at a certain spot and I just don’t like it when books leave you on cliffhangers. I would recommend this book if you like books with cliffhangers or if you like to learn about history from Japan/Tokyo’s point of view.
Ema gets furious at Obaachan because she is really controlling and bossy. Obaachan says “Late” to everyone and that is because she wants everyone to be on time for stuff and she doesn’t want them to be late. Ema has been rude to Obaachan as well by using the inside broom to sweep outside. Obaachan makes everything a tedious job or she haves everyone has a very full day of chores and is very strict about her rules around the house. Like, wearing the right slippers in the right room, using the correct broom for sweeping whether it’s inside or outside, making sure to not have any holes in your socks, and lastly making sure that you are never late to anything whether it’s work or school.
I personally didn’t like the book that much because I didn’t like how in one chapter it would be one holiday and then in the next chapter it would be another holiday. It also talked a lot about history and me don’t personally like history. The book was also a verse story/book and I figured out while reading it that I don’t like verse stories/books. The book has a lot of cliffhangers in it if you have to stop at a certain spot and I just don’t like it when books leave you on cliffhangers. I would recommend this book if you like books with cliffhangers or if you like to learn about history from Japan/Tokyo’s point of view.
May 21, 2020
There were so many great themes in this book, but I often found myself re-reading to make sure I understood what was happening. Not a huge deal for me, but I wonder how this would play out with my reluctant readers, whom I often suggest read novels-in-verse.
Ema's mom is having a baby, so she and her mother move in with Ema's father's parents on the opposite side of Tokyo. There were a few questions I have, and looked back through the pages to see if I could find the answers: Ema and her parents lived in a one bedroom apartment by the beach, but where? Her papa worked 2 hours away from his parent's house, but what did he do where he wasn't able to get much time off of work? (Maybe if readers know the answers, they will comment?)
Ema's grandfather is kind, but her grandmother is brusk and lacking in warm-fuzzies. Many changes are happening in Ema's life - all at the same time.
There are some aspects of the book I loved and find them worth reading this story. Ema's mom is from America and her dad is Japanese. Ema is bilingual and definitely is aware of her "half/half" culture. Because I remember 9/11 so vividly, it was eye opening for me to read what was happening on the other side of the Pacific while my every thought was on America. I learned a lot about Japanese culture and appreciated the attention to traditions and superstitions.
I recommend for grades 5 and up. I think a youthful eye won't mind the things that bothered me and may even find more to relate to than I did.
Ema's mom is having a baby, so she and her mother move in with Ema's father's parents on the opposite side of Tokyo. There were a few questions I have, and looked back through the pages to see if I could find the answers: Ema and her parents lived in a one bedroom apartment by the beach, but where? Her papa worked 2 hours away from his parent's house, but what did he do where he wasn't able to get much time off of work? (Maybe if readers know the answers, they will comment?)
Ema's grandfather is kind, but her grandmother is brusk and lacking in warm-fuzzies. Many changes are happening in Ema's life - all at the same time.
There are some aspects of the book I loved and find them worth reading this story. Ema's mom is from America and her dad is Japanese. Ema is bilingual and definitely is aware of her "half/half" culture. Because I remember 9/11 so vividly, it was eye opening for me to read what was happening on the other side of the Pacific while my every thought was on America. I learned a lot about Japanese culture and appreciated the attention to traditions and superstitions.
I recommend for grades 5 and up. I think a youthful eye won't mind the things that bothered me and may even find more to relate to than I did.
January 27, 2019
Normally I don't really enjoy thinking about or commemorating 9/11, and I think it's because I was just too young to really understand it, and then grew up in a community who had a strange fascination to such a horrific attack. So when I picked up this book, I was a little hesitant, but I found it beautiful and poignant, especially as Ema must deal with the 9/11 attack in a different country that was bombed by the United States 60 some years earlier.
Ema's the only one in her class to stay at home after the attack, yet long distance lines are completely full of callers, hardly anybody is able to get into direct contact with their loved ones back in the United States, and Japan's politicians offer their support during such a trying time despite being a neutral country. Ema must deal with the two parts of herself--the Japanese part and the American one--and it makes things difficult at times, especially as the months drag on.
This story is told in verse, with onomatopoeic sounds in both English and Japanese, incredible descriptions, and cultural references. So, as someone who works for a Japanese coffee company, this was an incredibly fun and educational tale. Overall, this is a meaningful and impactful story that will certainly grab onto and hold onto readers' minds and hearts.
Review cross-listed here!
Ema's the only one in her class to stay at home after the attack, yet long distance lines are completely full of callers, hardly anybody is able to get into direct contact with their loved ones back in the United States, and Japan's politicians offer their support during such a trying time despite being a neutral country. Ema must deal with the two parts of herself--the Japanese part and the American one--and it makes things difficult at times, especially as the months drag on.
This story is told in verse, with onomatopoeic sounds in both English and Japanese, incredible descriptions, and cultural references. So, as someone who works for a Japanese coffee company, this was an incredibly fun and educational tale. Overall, this is a meaningful and impactful story that will certainly grab onto and hold onto readers' minds and hearts.
Review cross-listed here!
July 12, 2018
This is a story about a Japanese-American girl who feels torn between two cultures. She's forced to spend her summer in Japan when she's usually in America with her grandparents. Her mother is with her, pregnant, and both are separated from the country where they feel the most comfortable (America). There's a bully story line, an absent Japanese father (works all the time 4 hours away), and an overbearing, bossy Japanese MIL/grandma. Then 9-11 happens. Both mother and daughter feel helpless in their situations but make the best of it. Really...that's all this book is about. lol I found it to be a plodding story, even with the ease of reading it in free verse. There were many Japanese words scattered throughout and not enough context clues to help a middle schooler understand what they meant. (My opinion). For my school library—and the demographic I serve—I feel my students would not connect with this book at all. I can appreciate what the author was attempting, but I struggled to stay interested and had to push myself through to the end. It's very rare that I come across a book like that.
December 25, 2017
Wonderful!
This book was written verse. In collections of poem-like recounts and vignette style description. Each section had a hidden meaning of its own that could be taken to remember.
The book was about a girl named Ema (not Emma, mind you that refers to the goddess of hell in Japanese), who is straddled between the worlds of her life in Japan and her life in the United States, as she finds herself Somewhere Among where the worlds collide and cultures clash. Ema stays with her pregnant mother putting up with the scoldings and strict regulations of her Obachaan (her Japanese Grandmother). Her Mom is going through a lot of pain as everyone works to adjust towards the needs of the coming baby. Ema loves to spend time with her Jiichan, however (grandfather) who takes her around the town and shows Ema the true love in his heart. Amidst the troubles that may arise, Ema finds that the events of the past do not shape the future as our futures can be painted with hope.
Great, heartfelt book for ages 10-14!
This book was written verse. In collections of poem-like recounts and vignette style description. Each section had a hidden meaning of its own that could be taken to remember.
The book was about a girl named Ema (not Emma, mind you that refers to the goddess of hell in Japanese), who is straddled between the worlds of her life in Japan and her life in the United States, as she finds herself Somewhere Among where the worlds collide and cultures clash. Ema stays with her pregnant mother putting up with the scoldings and strict regulations of her Obachaan (her Japanese Grandmother). Her Mom is going through a lot of pain as everyone works to adjust towards the needs of the coming baby. Ema loves to spend time with her Jiichan, however (grandfather) who takes her around the town and shows Ema the true love in his heart. Amidst the troubles that may arise, Ema finds that the events of the past do not shape the future as our futures can be painted with hope.
Great, heartfelt book for ages 10-14!
September 27, 2020
Wonderful book for middle grade to younger YA readers exploring the efforts of a young girl to embrace and learn from her two heritages: American and Japanese. The publisher summary, however, makes it seem like the effects of the horrific terrorist bombings on Sept. 11, 2001 would be a prominent aspect of Ema's journey so I was puzzled when the disaster does not appear in the book until more than halfway in. Those bombings do play a pivotal role in her family's understanding of each other and the hope that exists in every situation, but my library patrons who find this book after searching the online catalog with key phrases to yield books about the 9/11 attack will likely be disappointed. Those looking for realistic fiction focusing on blending families and cultures will appreciate all of Ema's struggles and may learn a little something about ways to find the good in everyone and in every life scenario. #ownvoices title for grades 5 and up.
March 9, 2024
Ema is American-Japanese, living near Tokyo, when she and her mom have to move in with her paternal grandparents a couple of hours away due to her mother's fragile pregnancy. Ema's father will have to continue working in Tokyo, and therefore will hardly get to see them. Money is tight, and Ema has to change schools midyear, and she has to carry the worry about her mom and the baby without making any waves. The TV news is always on, and the year rushes by with tragedy after tragedy unfolding and causing extra stress and anxiety. The book begins in June 2001 and ends in January 2002. A lot happens in the world in those 6 months. Too much, actually, to feel like there was enough of a balance with Ema's personal events. There isn't enough of an emotional focus in the book, because Ema sounds like an observer in her own life, letting the reader know all about the cultural norms in her home and the details about school without doing much reacting.
May 16, 2017
I was so excited to start this book, but was disappointed. As someone who lived through 9-11 in NYC, I didn't really understand Ema's connection to the events.
A novel-in-verse narrated by Ema, a young American girl who must move to Japan to live with her mom and her father's parents while she is pregnant and on bed rest. Ema feels lost in her new world - not quite belonging, alienated by her cold grandmother, and confused about how to help her mother.
Could be a beautiful story in itself, but adding in the time element of pre-during-and post 9-11 seemed disconnected. The modern day setting of Japan seemed out-dated, and the poorly explained absence of Ema's father took away from the story.
Beautifully told, but left me wanting more. It is a rare ocassion when I don't want to read at night and when I don't look forward to my book. A bit of a disappointment.
A novel-in-verse narrated by Ema, a young American girl who must move to Japan to live with her mom and her father's parents while she is pregnant and on bed rest. Ema feels lost in her new world - not quite belonging, alienated by her cold grandmother, and confused about how to help her mother.
Could be a beautiful story in itself, but adding in the time element of pre-during-and post 9-11 seemed disconnected. The modern day setting of Japan seemed out-dated, and the poorly explained absence of Ema's father took away from the story.
Beautifully told, but left me wanting more. It is a rare ocassion when I don't want to read at night and when I don't look forward to my book. A bit of a disappointment.
October 9, 2019
Reading 2019
Book 108: Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu
Another book in verse. A sweet story about a girl who feels she is between two worlds. Her mom is white from the United States, and her dad is Japanese. Ema and her family live in Japan, and spends some of her summers in the US with her maternal grandparents. This year though her mom is pregnant and they move in with Ema's paternal grandparents in hopes of keeping her mom calm. Mom has lost a couple of pregnancies. Ema struggles to fit in in her new school, not only as the new kid, but as a multiracial child.
This is a sweet story, and I enjoyed it. The book is reviewed for grades 4-7. I would have this book on my classroom shelves.
Book 108: Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu
Another book in verse. A sweet story about a girl who feels she is between two worlds. Her mom is white from the United States, and her dad is Japanese. Ema and her family live in Japan, and spends some of her summers in the US with her maternal grandparents. This year though her mom is pregnant and they move in with Ema's paternal grandparents in hopes of keeping her mom calm. Mom has lost a couple of pregnancies. Ema struggles to fit in in her new school, not only as the new kid, but as a multiracial child.
This is a sweet story, and I enjoyed it. The book is reviewed for grades 4-7. I would have this book on my classroom shelves.
June 9, 2021
This is a perfect TCK (Third Culture Kid) book. What a beautiful way to show a blend of cultures and family in the Japanese-American girl Ema and her struggles to understand her grandmother, grieve with her American mother during September 11, and deal with bullies at school. I love the descriptions, the insight into Japanese culture, and the restlessness in Ema's heart as she tries to find her place as a child simultaneously belonging to and alienated from both of her parents' countries. For anyone who has grown up in a country that is not their passport country, has interracial parents, or just wants to better understand what it means to grow up biracial/binational, this is a fantastic read. It's a fantastic read, period.
January 5, 2023
- Enjoyed the poetry style of how the book was written…it pairs nicely with Japanese words, especially words used to describe sound. Reminds me that haikus were always my favorite poems to write when I was little
- I liked how 5th grader Ema was already grappling with/trying to understand her dual identity of being American and Japanese. The otherness felt. Hafu. In/out of both. Never completely feeling whole. How each set of grandparents were showing her different values/approaches to life
- Super interesting to read from the perspective of 9/11 in Japan and how the world was reacting there
- Related to the weight that young Ema felt as her mother, sister, and Jiichan became sick and how her, Papa, and Obaachan had to persevere; ganbatte
- I liked how 5th grader Ema was already grappling with/trying to understand her dual identity of being American and Japanese. The otherness felt. Hafu. In/out of both. Never completely feeling whole. How each set of grandparents were showing her different values/approaches to life
- Super interesting to read from the perspective of 9/11 in Japan and how the world was reacting there
- Related to the weight that young Ema felt as her mother, sister, and Jiichan became sick and how her, Papa, and Obaachan had to persevere; ganbatte
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2023
Somewhere Among is a story written in verse about a young Japanese-American girl living with her grandparents in Japan for the summer due to her mother's pregnancy. The story centers around coming to terms with growing up as a bicultural child and getting used to unfamiliar customs, however it also contains a theme of remaining hopeful even when weathering a storm.
This book was used as a book option for a 7th grade historical fiction unit as it takes place in 2001 and features the 9/11 attacks on the US - but I would not recommend this book for such a unit as the attacks of 9/11 take a backseat to the other prevalent issues explored. The book is a quick read but it can feel a bit slow to younger and middle-grade readers as there is not a lot of "action" happening.
This book was used as a book option for a 7th grade historical fiction unit as it takes place in 2001 and features the 9/11 attacks on the US - but I would not recommend this book for such a unit as the attacks of 9/11 take a backseat to the other prevalent issues explored. The book is a quick read but it can feel a bit slow to younger and middle-grade readers as there is not a lot of "action" happening.
November 24, 2017
I didn't expect to read it in one sitting (2 hours) and I didn't expect it to make me cry in the middle of Barnes & Noble, but sometimes a book defies expectations. Beautiful and tender and sad and hopeful. Wonderfully written. Strong, generous characterization. A love letter to Japan. A love letter to a generation of mixed-ethnicity families. Even a love letter to the Obaachan that Ema doesn't understand, and the Ema that Obaachan doesn't understand, and to their gradual, painful, incomplete turning towards one another. Wished for another 100 pages, but glad the author knew exactly when to stop, leaving me wanting more. 5/5
October 31, 2018
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Somewhere-Amon...
Genre: poetry/historical fiction
Culture: Japanese
Grade Level: 6th
Appropriateness: references to 9-11 and international conflicts
Instruction: not recommended for instruction
Other: I had a hard time with this book. I appreciated that it was written in verse, because middle grade lit needs more of that. What I didn't appreciate was that the plot line didn't move. I was left at the end still wondering what the point of the text was. It read more like a series of dates and events rather than a well-developed story. I don't think it would hold the attention of our middle school readers.
Genre: poetry/historical fiction
Culture: Japanese
Grade Level: 6th
Appropriateness: references to 9-11 and international conflicts
Instruction: not recommended for instruction
Other: I had a hard time with this book. I appreciated that it was written in verse, because middle grade lit needs more of that. What I didn't appreciate was that the plot line didn't move. I was left at the end still wondering what the point of the text was. It read more like a series of dates and events rather than a well-developed story. I don't think it would hold the attention of our middle school readers.
July 24, 2020
Very effective use of poetry to tell the story. That mood and pacing suit the plot and setting wonderfully. Multigenerational, mixed culture family learning to understand and appreciate each other through some rough times. Main character is easy to relate to as she struggles with the stresses in her family and the tragedies happening in the world. The author takes the time to show how other character’s deal with the stresses and reflect on events as well. Lovely look at some traditional Japanese values and aspects of home life.
September 15, 2021
While reading this novel, I really felt as if I were living in Japan. I often researched the Japanese foods and other terms sprinkled throughout and enjoyed learning more about this culture. This novel gave me a new perspective of the tragedy of 9/11/01 and also the bombings of WWII on Japanese soil. I enjoyed Ema's character arc as she struggled moving into her grandparents' home and being separated from her parents and friends. Ultimately she learns everyone struggles with their own issues and problems and finds hope despite all the changes in her world.
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