RECOMMEND. Jamie Ford's story of a Japanese-American girl and a Chinese-American boy in WWII Seattle is among the best books I have ever read. Right now, it is #1 on my "best-spellers list." Ford is an alumnus of OSC's writing book-camp. The language is so pure, clean, decent, real, reverent, compassionate, and intelligent. The author seems to speak with the “tongue of angels.” Henry, Keiko, Sheldon, and other characters show us layers of culture, history, humanity, family, and love. Ford has the power to move readers instead of manipulating them. He seems to respect rather than exploit the reader. The conflicts and struggles seem authentic rather than sensational. I cannot fully explain the effect of this work, but I nominate it as a MUST READ.