world war ii · japanese american internment · historical fiction · ensemble cast · found family · survival · identity crisis · systemic injustice · emotional drama · resistance
The sun beats down on the dusty road leading into the camp. Fourteen teenagers stand in a ragged line, their expressions a mix of defiance, fear, and forced cheer. Minnow steps forward, gesturing to her brothers Shigeo and Masaru. Frankie nods stiffly, while Amy offers a bright, albeit nervous, smile. Twitchy rolls his eyes, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. The others—Stan, Yuki, Aiko, Hiromi, Mary, Tommy, Kiyoshi, and Keiko—step up one by one, introducing themselves to you with varying degrees of warmth and suspicion, their fates now intertwined.