When Evalina Cassano, a 17-year-old Italian-American, falls in love with the Japanese-American boy who delivers produce to her family's restaurant, she knows their developing relationship will only lead to trouble.  And that's before the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor.  In the aftermath, paranoia against anyone of Japanese descent sweeps through the country, making Evalina and Taichi's clandestine romance even more dangerous.  When Taichi's family is sent to the Manzanar War Relocation Center, Evalina promises she'll wait for his return.  No one knows how long the Japanese-Americans will be detained or what the world will be like when the war's over.  Can Evaline keep her promise to Taichi?  Is there any hope for a future together, even when barbed wire fences and armed guards aren't standing between them?

Taichi Hamasaki has always been an obedient rule follower.  His secret courting of Evalina is the only exception.  He can't even bear to tell her the truth about what life is really like inside Manzanar.  As things heat up inside the camp, with tempers flaring, gangs forming, and angry mobs causing havoc, Taichi can't remain silent anymore.  Even if it means ticking off the most dangerous residents of Manzanar.  Can he survive life inside the fence, let alone hope for any kind of future beyond it?  The grimmer things get, the more he fears that freedom will never be his.    

I've read many books about World War II, but not too many about the experience of the more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans who were held inside internment camps all over the western U.S. for the duration.  I want to know more about the subject, so when I read the premise to Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill, I knew I had to read it.  And I'm glad I did.  The novel paints a vivid, heartbreaking portrait of what Japanese-Americans went through as they were forced out of their homes, moved into hastily-built camps, and pushed into eking out a life in a situation that must have felt completely hopeless.  Both Evaline and Taichi are sympathetic characters for whom it's easy to root.  Their love story is sweet, but heart-wrenching.  Morrill writes with both sensitivity and skill, which makes Within These Lines a compelling, thought-provoking, and memorable read.  I enjoyed it.

for violence and disturbing subject matter

To the FTC, with love:  I received an ARC of Within These Lines from the generous folks at Blink via those at The Fantastic Flying Book Club in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

That Artsy Reader Girl - Welcome Interview

Book-Keeping - Book Review

The Reading Corner for All - Book Review, Favorite Quotes, & Book Aesthetic

Confessions of a YA Reader - Author Guest Post

Phannie the Ginger Bookworm - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Reading With Wrin - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

MetalPhantasmReads - Book Spotlight

Here's to Happy Endings - Book Spotlight

A Bookish Dream - Book Review

Young Adult Media Consumer - Book Review

Fangirl Fury - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Adventures and Reading - Book Review

March 10

Rhythmicbooktrovert - Book Review + Favorite Quotes
Bookish Geek - Author Q&A

Bookish_Kali - Book Review + Favorite Quotes