Between December 1941 and September 1945, Rita la Fontaine was a teenage prisoner of war in the Dutch East Indies (now known as Indonesia). Disguised is a memoir of her days. What makes this unusual is that her family made the life changing decision for her to disguise herself as a boy in order to protect her from the incoming Japanese troops. It was clear in the memoir, that Rita did not fully understand what this was a protection from as she was a sheltered and privileged Dutch-Indonesian 12 year old. She did not know of the atrocities the Japanese army was known for throughout their empire. As she changed her clothes and cut her hair and was given basic rules for a young boy she became "Rick" and her memories tell of a young boy who, due to a talent for language, was able to live out WWII.

What hit me as I was reading, was that this was definitely written through the eyes of a young person thrown into difficult circumstances. I personally do not believe that this youngster was given the full authority that was described, but I do believe she was involved in all the situations at the side of leadership due to her uncanny ability to learn languages. Already fluent in Dutch (her first language) and Indonesian (the language of the serving class), at the beginning of the war she quickly picked up rudimentary Japanese and was awarded a job as a clerk for the first prison camp she and her family were to live. At that time, although life was very difficult for the prisoners, she took Japanese language courses to improve her situation - mostly for more food and comfort goods which were rewards for learning the language and customs of her captors.

For nearly 3 years and 3 different prison camps, Rick worked as a clerk and interpreter for the Japanese. She must have been a charming, charismatic youngster, as she was able to keep herself in good positions and therefore help her family who were confined to the prisons where she often stayed on the commanders compound with better food and sanitation. I think that due to her situation, she was able to bond with her captors and speaks of them in positive and caring terms. Definitely a protection mechanism which cannot be faulted!

Toward the end of the war, prison situations became horrific and this is where Rick had to spend much of her time actually in the prison and this is were the horrors of what the prisoners went through are described more fully than before. You see the snapshots of memories - the skin and bone/scarecrow description of the people. The lack of sanitation, medical care, food supply, etc.

I do recommend this for anyone who has any interest in Pacific part of WWII, Especially if you don't know much, this would be a good introduction as in the Pacific, life was brutal for everyone under the thumb of the Japanese. ( )

This was a fascinating memoir about a part of WW2 that I'd never even HEARD about. To live from the ages of 12-15 disguised as a boy, working with your captors, being entrusted to the things she was privy too, & to still try to provide for her family, that took amazing dedication. I was impressed! *
This was a fascinating memoir about a part of WW2 that I'd never even HEARD about. To live from the ages of 12-15 disguised as a boy, working with your captors, being entrusted to the things she was privy too, & to still try to provide for her family, that took amazing dedication. I was impressed! ( )
vote | flagLisa.Johnson.James | Apr 10, 2014 |
This book is about how the japanese invaded her home. It's an autobiography of the 3 years of her life. Her parents disguise her as a man. Talks about what it was like to be a boy.
vote | flagDF1A_TravishaR | Sep 3, 2009 |
The memoir of a Dutch-Indonesian girl during the Japanese invasion of her home. Her family decides that 14 year old Rita would be safer as a boy, so, for four years, Rita becomes Rick and rises to the top wherever she is planted. ( )
vote | flagdbanna | Sep 9, 2008 |
Grade Levels: 6-9 Category: Realistic Fiction

Read Alouds: pp. 19-31 (disguise as boy); 71-83 (rat soup); 131-136 (job); 197-212 (camp interpreter); 289-301 (new camp); 346-359 (end of war)

Summary: When the Japanese invade Sumatra in 1942, twelve year old Rita is forced to change her identity to Rick, so that she will not be abused by the Japanese soldiers. For the next three years, she lives and works prison camps. As, “Rick” she learns Japanese and becomes invaluable to her captors as their clerk and interpreter. She is also an important voice and representative of her people during their ordeal.

Themes: This memoir, despite its depressing subject matter, is full of hope and optimism. Rita (aka Rick) is put in situation after situation and emerges stronger each time. She earns the respect of the Japanese and uses her influence to help her family and the camp. Throughout the story, she constantly questions her luck and good fortune, while we as readers question how she could feel so grateful given her circumstances.
We also see that the Japanese as human. At the end when the commandant is ordered to destroy the camp and everyone in it, he can not because he cares for his prisoners. Rita was in a unique position (as interpreter) to see both sides of the story.

Discussion Questions:
Why do you feel that they had separate camps for the men and the women? Why do you suppose Rick (Rita) was allowed to stay with the women even though by the end of the war “he” is technically a young man?
There a few instances in the book where Rick reveals “his” true identity. When does “he” do this? Why does “he” do it? Does it help “him” in the long run?
Do you think that Rita sugar coated her story in this memoir? Why or why not?

Reader Response: I liked the fact that this YA selection was nonfiction being a memoir. I really enjoy historical pieces and this was no exception (though I believe that life in the prison camp was probably far worse than is depicted in Rita’s story). The book reads almost like an adventure story where we wonder what Rita/Rick will get to do next. I admire Rita’s determination to stay positive and do anything she can to help her family. I was also surprised at how she grew to respect those Japanese who were in charge of the camp. I was even more surprised at how she was respected by those in charge of the camp. She was given tasks that most grown men would not be able to do in an efficient organized manner. I have to wonder how her story would be different if she had not donned the disguise of a boy.

This was a fascinating memoir about a part of WW2 that I'd never even HEARD about. To live from the ages of 12-15 disguised as a boy, working with your captors, being entrusted to the things she was privy too, & to still try to provide for her family, that took amazing dedication. I was impressed! ( )

This book is about how the japanese invaded her home. It's an autobiography of the 3 years of her life. Her parents disguise her as a man. Talks about what it was like to be a boy.

The memoir of a Dutch-Indonesian girl during the Japanese invasion of her home. Her family decides that 14 year old Rita would be safer as a boy, so, for four years, Rita becomes Rick and rises to the top wherever she is planted. ( )