Looking Like the Enemy

My Story of Imprisonment in Japanese American Internment Camps

By: Mary Matsuda Gruenewald

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

The author at 16 years old was evacuated with her family to an internment camp for Japanese Americans, along with 110,000 other people of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast. She faced an indefinite sentence behind barbed wire in crowded, primitive camps. She struggled for survival and dignity, and endured psychological scarring that has lasted a lifetime.

This memoir is told from the heart and mind of a woman now nearly eighty years old who experienced the challenges and wounds of her internment at a crucial point in her development as a young adult. She brings passion and spirit to her story. Like The Diary of Anne Frank, this memoir superbly captures the emotional and psychological essence of what it was like to grow up in the midst of this profound dislocation and injustice in the US. Few other books on this subject come close to the emotional power and moral significance of this memoir.

In the end, the listener is buoyed by what Mary learns from her experiences and what she is able to do with her life. In 2005 she becomes one more Nissei who breaks her silence.

©2005 Mary Matsuda Gruenewald (P)2022 Tantor

Excellent book

The narrator did an excellent job with an extremely well written book. It was a sad time in our history and must never be repeated. In modern times it is difficult to understand why our government couldn’t differentiate between the loyal Japanese-Americans and the enemy. However, it was a different time without the technology to do what we can do now. However, common sense should have played a part. I suspect it was panic and knee jerk reactions instead. The Japanese government did the unimaginable by surprise, so the U.S. thought it better make sure it didn’t surprise us again. Sadly, it was at the expense of loyal, hardworking people. People will learn a lot from reading this book and maybe someday humans will learn to get along with each other without resorting to war. I’m sure it won’t be in my lifetime from the looks of things.

Well if you ever needed a cry

The book begins with Gruenewald's childhood on Vashon Island, Washington, where she lived with her parents and two younger sisters. She describes a happy and carefree childhood, until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. In the aftermath of the attack, a wave of anti-Japanese sentiment swept across the United States, and Gruenewald's family was forced to leave their home and move to an internment camp.

The book chronicles Gruenewald's experiences in the camp, which she describes as a place of fear, uncertainty, and deprivation. She writes about the crowded barracks, the poor food, the lack of privacy, and the constant fear of being sent to a prison camp in Japan. She also writes about the racism and discrimination that she and her family faced from the outside world.

Despite the hardships, Gruenewald and her family found ways to survive and even thrive in the camp. She writes about the importance of community, the power of hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Looking Like the Enemy is a moving and important book that tells a story that needs to be heard. It is a reminder of the dangers of prejudice and discrimination, and the importance of standing up for what is right.

The book is written in a clear and engaging style, and Gruenewald's voice is both honest and compassionate. She does not shy away from the difficult details of her experience, but she also writes with humor and insight.

Looking Like the Enemy is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the history of Japanese American internment in the United States. It is also a powerful reminder of the importance of fighting for justice and equality.

In addition to its historical significance, Looking Like the Enemy is also a valuable contribution to the literature of trauma. Gruenewald's writing is unflinching in its depiction of the emotional and psychological toll of internment, but it is also ultimately hopeful. She writes about the importance of healing and forgiveness, and she offers a message of resilience and hope for future generations.

Looking Like the Enemy is a powerful and important book that deserves to be read by as many people as possible. It is a reminder of the dangers of prejudice and discrimination, and the importance of standing up for what is right. It is also a story of hope and resilience that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Great writing. The story is interesting.

Great writing. The story about this Japanese American family is sad. we should not forget this part of history.