Weedflower

I learned so much about World War II from reading Weedflower. I knew that Japanese were placed in internment camps, but that was the extent of my knowledge on the subject. This book opened my eyes to the situation and made me feel as if I was living through it myself.
I felt Sumiko's pain and embarrassment when she was shunned at the birthday party. I also felt her pride in not wanting to let her family know what had happened. I admired her ability to be positive in a difficult situation. I could see and smell her flowers; the ones she worked so hard to grow in a place they shouldn't have been. I felt the connection between Sumiko and her little brother. I can see the friendship growing between Sumiko and Frank. I dreamed her dreams; to get out of this place and have her own flower shop. As I was reading, I became Sumiko.
Cynthia Kadohata wrote this book to draw in the reader. She not only wrote the book to inform, but to show what happened from an insider's perspective. Normally, I don't like to read historical fiction, but Sumiko and her heartwarming story stole my heart. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that it ended too soon and left me with too many questions. What happened when they moved away from the camp? Was her aunt's job successful? Were they reunited with her uncle and grandfather? Did she ever see Frank again? Did she own a flower shop?