This was a powerful read that will have you stepping back in time alongside Daniel as he tries to uncover the secrets his father has been keeping. Both Daniel and his dad felt like real people, grappling with their own inner demons and trying to make their way through life. I like that the dad wasn't put on a pedestal, and has a realistic view of his own actions during the war. This was an emotional roller coaster from start to finish, with various obstacles and truths popping up the further you get into the story. A captivating read that spans generations. ( )

This is an incredibly intense and emotionally charged story. It hooked me from the first page. Daniel is a skilled cardiac surgeon, and well respected in his field. His personal life is a not as clean cut as in the operating room. Daniel’s relationship with his father has been strained for decades. As we get to know his father, we learn of Ray’s experience in WWII with the 442nd battalion. The battalion was made up of Japanese American soldiers and is one of the most highly decorated battalions in military history. Ray won’t speak of his time with the 442nd, but Daniel finds out he received an award for bravery. And the story rolls out from there. It is an emotional rollercoaster, full of deception, bravery, love, duty, honor and yes, repentance. The book kept me fully engaged with the characters and with the surprises around each corner. Highly recommended! ( )

Nicely written book about estranged Japanese American family. Daniel is a successful doctor. He does not often keep in touch with his family. Daniel thinks his father was too strict when he was growing up and they don't seem to agree on anything. Then something happens and Daniel finds out that his father kept secrets after he came back from France after WW2. The secrets are revealed in the book. I don't understand Ray's motivations for keeping secrets, but for him they were constant reminder of war and loss.
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team mentioned in this book is real and consisted of Asian American men who fought bravely in WW2 and received decorations for their service.
Thankyou LibraryThing and Tiny Fox Press LLC for a copy of this book. ( )

Nice and quick read about a part of WW2 history I did not know much about. The story flows nicely, except maybe at the end, where there are quite a few plot twists and coincidences, before the story is wrapped up. In the end, I'm happy to habe received a copy of the book through Early Reviewers. ( )

This book focuses on an American family and a strained relationship between a father and son. The father was a veteran of WWII and member of the 442nd, an army regiment of 2nd generation, Japanese-Americans. The story jumps back and forth from contemporary times to moment of the father’s time during WWII. While I enjoyed the content and story I found it somewhat lacking in the telling. The dialogue felt contrived and forced and filled with clichés. I found myself wanting more details related to the history of the 442nd, it felt as though the author was in a rush to get the story written without great concern for the aesthetic. Perhaps intentional, to make the story more relateable. Still, the story as a whole is interesting and there are poignant moments that I feel helped redeem the book, from its at times simplicity. It didn’t grab me until close to the end, but still worth the read for a look into an often neglected group in America’s history. ( )