This Light Between Us is a story about two pen pals—Japanese-American Alex Maki and Charlie Levy, a girl who lives in France and is Jewish. They started writing to each other in 1935 about their lives. On December 7th, 1941, Alex Maki’s life changed as Japan attacked Hawaii, and now all Japanese people on Bainbridge Island are seen as an enemy. Soon after, there were rules placed on the Japanese, like no traveling more than 5 miles from home. Later on, Alex’s dad is taken by FBI agents, and after that, all the Japanese are evacuated to a camp where conditions are horrible. In the camp, Alex and Charlie continue writing letters to each other, but when Alex stops writing back, he tries to find out why. After a revolt against their treatment, leading to many being shot, Alex starts seeing hallucinations of Charlie. He goes to a barrack with a free press and gets a newspaper talking about the invasions of France and rumors of roundups. He learns about the 442nd Combat Team, a unit composed of only Japanese Americans. After a speech is given, Alex is told that his father will be released from prison if he enlists. He thinks about it, but his brother tells him not to enlist after what the country has done to them—he tells him that they are lying. However, Alex thinks about how this could be a way to have his father back and maybe even find Charlie. After an argument with his brother and more information about the treatment of Jews, he enlists. In boot camp, he makes friends and joins in the missions, saving a Lost Battalion where they fight bravely, taking heavy losses but succeeding. In France, where the war is now almost over, he is looking for Charlie, but will he find her before he has to return home?

This book is good fiction but with some real events from World War II, like the 442nd Regiment and the pen-pal scenario is based on Anne Frank’s having an American pen pal. In my opinion, it has a bittersweet ending.

Review by: Sebastian V.

Sebastian is a teen volunteer at Sylmar Branch Library. He is an 11th grader at John F. Kennedy High School.

—Dana Eklund, Sylmar Branch Library