I like that this story shows both how emotionally hard it was to have your life taken from you, and how powerful creative outlets and friendship can be in moving forward.

A beautiful story based on the author's experience in a Japanese Internment camp when she was young. A young girl finds hope through an art class offered in the camp. I loved that the story was written in Japanese and English. ( )

Goodreads Review:
Under the harsh summer sun, Mari's art class has begun. But it's hard to think of anything to draw in a place where nothing beautiful grows—especially a place like Topaz, the internment camp where Mari's family and thousands of other Japanese Americans have been sent to live during World War II. Somehow, glimmers of hope begin to surface—in the eyes of a kindly art teacher, in the tender words of Mari's parents, and in the smile of a new friend. Amy Lee-Tai's sensitive prose and Felicia Hoshino's stunning mixed-media images show that hope can survive even the harshest injustice.

A Place Where Sunflowers Grow is a great book for students to read from the perspective of another student. The story describes the harsh realities of the Japanese Internment Camps and the struggles families underwent during their time there. The story also allows the reader to relate to the main character, Mari, who finds a way to still find joy in these unfamiliar and unfair conditions. The themes of hope and perseverance are present throughout this story. ( )

I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. I thought that it was unique that this book included the story both in English and Japanese. Additionally, I enjoyed how the book includes and introduction from the author explaining what internment camps are and why the U.S. government was forcing Japanese-Americans to go to these camps during World War II. I thought this introduction was informative and helpful for the reader to gain knowledge and context on the story. The author also explained that this story is fictional, but she used her mother's experiences as a reference while writing this book. This made the book feel more realistic which also made me enjoy it even more. I also liked how the purpose of this book was to show readers a glimpse into the lives of Japanese-Americans during the time of these internment camps. I think this book did a good job of this while also keeping it in terms that younger readers can grasp. ( )