When the Emperor Was Divine

Julie Otsuka’s debut novel, When the Emperor Was Divine, offers a poignant exploration of the Japanese internment camps through the experiences of a single family. Narrated from five distinct perspectives—ranging from the mother facing eviction to the father's release after years in captivity—Otsuka's narrative captures the profound physical and emotional upheaval endured by Japanese Americans during wartime. With its spare and intimate prose, the novel serves as a haunting reminder of the past and a relevant lesson for contemporary readers.