Tomodachi: Yesterday's Enemy

by Zillah Williams, Melinda Martin, Jeff Gifford

Janice Lewis, seventeen, and beginning a university course in Sydney, finds a friend in Hisako, a Japanese fellow student. However, when Hisako meets Ben Lewis, Janice’s dad, old hatreds bubble to the surface. What is the secret Ben has carried since the end of the Second World War—a secret which has the potential to destroy more than one family relationship? Told against the historical background of the Cowra Breakout in 1944, Tomodachi is an exciting, fast-moving Australian historical novel for older teens.

126 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2016

Reviews

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite certain improbabilities in the plot this was an amazing book. Although fictional, it presented a thoughtful look at the relationship between the Japanese and Australian peoples, and how forgiveness, reconciliation and faith can mend the wounds from WWII. The book was set in the 1960s and I have to say we’ve come a long way since then. Many Australian towns and cities have sister cities in Japan. Japanese gardens honouring the link between our two countries are scattered across Australia, and student exchanges between our two countries are common. The Japanese language is also taught in many schools.
My father in law fought against the Japanese in WWII, but his granddaughter, my daughter, now lives and works there. I’d like to think that’s a result of the healing that’s taken place over the years.