Clark and Division

 

Author: Naimi Hirahara

Publisher : Soho Crime

Year: 2021

“𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐠𝐨, 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.”

Clark and Division is a slow burning story about a first generation Japanese American girl’s search for the truth about the death of her older sister. 

Aki and her family loose every thing when they are detained by the US government in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. Rose, Aki’s beautiful older sister is granted early release form Mananar detention camp is relocated to Chicago. Aki and her parents are set to join Rose a few months later. Rose is killed just before Aki and their parents arrive in Chicago. Authorities rule Rose’s death a suicide, but Aki refuses to accept that and starts digging for the truth. 

This is a character driven novel. Aki goes from being Rose’s shy and awkward kid sister to growing into a young woman who will not back down. I really liked Aki and watching her stand up for herself and for Rose. Author Naomi Hirahara does a fabulous job plunging the reader into the era and the details of what life was like for Japanese immigrants and first generation Japanese American citizens during that time period. 

Clark and Division ended up on just about every best of 2021 list including Crime Reads   Barnes and Noble, Amazon, the New York Times,  ABA Indie Next Pick, NY Public Library, and a bunch of other lists. This is a engrossing mix of historical fiction, mystery, and family drama. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The bulk of this book is set in Chicago, so the QOTD: have you ever lived or visited Chicago?

I’ve never been there, but I’d like to visit some time. I want to try that famous Chicago deep dish pizza and go to a Cubs game at Wrigley. 

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