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Silent Honor
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Silent Honor
Author: Danielle Steel

Book Information
Publisher: Dell
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9780440224051 - ISBN-10: 0440224055
Publication Date: 9/3/1997
Pages: 416


Other Versions of this Book: Hardcover, Hardcover, Audio CD, Audio Cassette, Audio CD (Abridged)

Book Description:
In her 38th bestselling novel, Danielle Steel creates a powerful, moving portrayal of families divided, lives shattered and a nation torn apart by prejudice during a shameful episode in recent American history.

A man ahead of his time, Japanese college professor Masao Takashimaya of Kyoto had a passion for modern ideas that was as strong as his wife's belief in ancient traditions. It was the early 1920s and Masao had dreams for the future--and a fascination with the politics and opportunities of a world that was changing every day. Twenty years later, his eighteen-year-old daughter Hiroko, torn between her mother's traditions and her father's wishes, boarded the SS Nagoya Maru to come to California for an education and to make her father proud. It was August 1941.

From the ship, she went directly to the Palo Alto home of her uncle, Takeo, and his family. To Hiroko, California was a different world--a world of barbeques, station wagons and college. Her cousins in California had become more American than Japanese. And much to Hiroko's surprise, Peter Jenkins, her uncle's assistant at Stanford, became an unexpected link between her old world and her new. But in spite of him, and all her promises to her father, Hiroko longs to go home. At college in Berkeley, her world is rapidly and unexpectedly filled with prejudice and fear.

On December 7, Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese. Within hours, war is declared and suddenly Hiroko has become an enemy in a foreign land. Terrified, begging to go home, she is nonetheless ordered by her father to stay. He is positive she will be safer in California than at home, and for a brief time she is--until her entire world caves in.

On February 19, Executive Order 9066 is signed by President Roosevelt, giving the military the power to remove the Japanese from their communities at will. Takeo and his family are given ten days to sell their home, give up their jobs, and report to a relocation center, along with thousands of other Japanese and Japanese Americans, to face their destinies there. Families are divided, people are forced to abandon their homes, their businesses, their freedom, and their lives. Hiroko and her uncle's family go first to Tanforan, and from there to the detention center at Tule Lake. This extraordinary novel tells what happened to them there, creating a portrait of human tragedy and strength, divided loyalties and love. It tells of Americans who were treated as foreigners in their own land. And it tells Hiroko's story, and that of her American family, as they fight to stay alive amid the drama of life and death in the camp at Tule Lake.

With clear, powerful prose, Danielle Steel portrays not only the human cost of that terrible time in history, but also the remarkable courage of a people whose honor and dignity transcended the chaos that surrounded them. Set against a vivid backdrop of war and change, her thirty-eighth bestselling novel is both living history and outstanding fiction, revealing the stark truth about the betrayal of Americans by their own government...and the triumph of a woman caught between cultures and determined to survive.

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Top Member Book Reviews

Bonny G. (bonnyg) reviewed 10/13/2008...
+ read 20 more book reviews by this member

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

If you enjoy Danielle Steel books here is another one to enjoy. She wrote this book with the same kind of way of tugging at your heartstrings she always does. Its about how the Japanese Americans were treated here at home during WWII. Highly recommend.

Becky Z. (beckbeck) reviewed 3/25/2007...
+ read 9 more book reviews by this member

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

In her 38th bestselling novel, Danielle Steel creates a powerful, moving portrayal of families divided, lives shattered and a nation torn apart by prejudice during a shameful episode in recent American history.

A man ahead of his time, Japanese college professor Masao Takashimaya of Kyoto had a passion for modern ideas that was as strong as his wife's belief in ancient traditions. It was the early 1920s and Masao had dreams for the future—and a fascination with the politics and opportunities of a world that was changing every day. Twenty years later, his eighteen-year-old daughter Hiroko, torn between her mother's traditions and her father's wishes, boarded the SS Nagoya Maru to come to California for an education and to make her father proud. It was August 1941.

From the ship, she went directly to the Palo Alto home of her uncle, Takeo, and his family. To Hiroko, California was a different world—a world of barbeques, station wagons and college. Her cousins in California had become more American than Japanese. And much to Hiroko's surprise, Peter Jenkins, her uncle's assistant at Stanford, became an unexpected link between her old world and her new. But in spite of him, and all her promises to her father, Hiroko longs to go home. At college in Berkeley, her world is rapidly and unexpectedly filled with prejudice and fear.

On December 7, Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese. Within hours, war is declared and suddenly Hiroko has become an enemy in a foreign land. Terrified, begging to go home, she is nonetheless ordered by her father to stay. He is positive she will be safer in California than at home, and for a brief time she is—until her entire world caves in.

On February 19, Executive Order 9066 is signed by President Roosevelt, giving the military the power to remove the Japanese from their communities at will. Takeo and his family are given ten days to sell their home, give up their jobs, and report to a relocation center, along with thousands of other Japanese and Japanese Americans, to face their destinies there. Families are divided, people are forced to abandon their homes, their businesses, their freedom, and their lives. Hiroko and her uncle's family go first to Tanforan, and from there to the detention center at Tule Lake. This extraordinary novel tells what happened to them there, creating a portrait of human tragedy and strength, divided loyalties and love. It tells of Americans who were treated as foreigners in their own land. And it tells Hiroko's story, and that of her American family, as they fight to stay alive amid the drama of life and death in the camp at Tule Lake.

With clear, powerful prose, Danielle Steel portrays not only the human cost of that terrible time in history, but also the remarkable courage of a people whose honor and dignity transcended the chaos that surrounded them. Set against a vivid backdrop of war and change, her thirty-eighth bestselling novel is both living history and outstanding fiction, revealing the stark truth about the betrayal of Americans by their own government...and the triumph of a woman caught between cultures and determined to survive.

Kimberlee P. (KimsClub) reviewed 3/18/2007...
+ read 53 more book reviews by this member

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A reminder of a shameful episode in American history that should not be forgotten. An extremely moving book - a realistic portrayal of the Japanese Americans at this period in our turbulent history.

Anny P. (wolfnme) reviewed 7/17/2006...
+ read 3397 more book reviews by this member

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A man ahead of his time. Japanese college professor, Masao Takashimaya of Kyoto had a passion for modern ideas that was as strong as his wife's belief in ancient traditions. His eighteen-year-old daughter Horoko, torn between her mother's traditions and her father's wishes, boarded the SS Nagoya Matu to come to Califofrnia for an education and to make her father proud. It was August 1941.
From the ship she went to the Palo Alto home of her uncle and his family. California was a different world. Her cousins had become more American than Japnese. And much to her surprise, Peter Jenkins, her uncle's assistant at Stanford became an unexpected link between her old world and her new.
On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese. Within hours war is declared and sudenly Hiroko has become an enemy in a foreign land.
Steel portrays not only the human cost of the terrible time in history, but also the remarkable courage of a people whose honor and dignity transcended the chaos that surrounded them. Silent Honor reveals the stark truth about the betrayal of Americans by their own government...and the triumph of a woman caught between cultures and determined to survive.

Courtney H. (kourtnie17) reviewed 1/18/2006...
+ read 157 more book reviews by this member

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

(from the back)
A man ahead of his time, Japanese college professor Masao Takashimaya of Kyoto had a passion for modern ideas that was as strong as his wife's belief in acient traditions. His eighteen-year-old daughter Hiroko, torn between her mother's traditions and her father's wishes, boarded the SS Nagoya Maru to come to California for an education and to make her father proud. It was August 1941.
From the ship, she went to the Palo Alto home of her uncle, Takeo, and his family. To Hiroko, California was a different world. Her cousins had become more American the Japanese. And much to Hiroko's surprise, Peter Jenkins, her uncle's assistant at Stanford became an unexpected link between her old world and her new.
On December 7, Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese.
Within hours, war is declared and suddenly Hiroko has become an enemy in a foreign land.

On February 19, Executive Order 9066 is signed by President Roosevelt, giving the military the power to remove the Japanese from their communities at will. Takeo and his family are given ten days to sell their home, give up their jobs, and report to a relocation center, along with thousands of other Japanese and Japanese Americans, to face their destinies there. Families are divided, people are forced to abandon their homes, their buisnesses, their freedom, and their lives.

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Was so suprised by the things that happeded to the Japanese who were actually born in america and the ones who were here at the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, this was actually my second time to read this book and I had the same feelings each time.


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Terri R. (coolys-gal) reviewed 8/27/2005...
+ read 39 more book reviews by this member


Hiroko, born in Japan, living in California with her uncle meets Peter Sanford. Pearl Harbor is bombed. President Roosevelt signs Executive Order 9066 allowing the military to remove Japanese families from their communities at will.

Cynthia M. (frenchie1960) reviewed 8/28/2008...
+ read 23 more book reviews by this member


This is one of my favorite Danielle Steel books,I have learn so much of American History from her books.And the way Asia Americans were treaded after Pearl Harbor,it was nothing short of what happened in the consentration camps. I am Native American and I know what it's like to be differt in America, I wish everyone could read this book!


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