Once or Twice

This well researched historical novel begins in the state of Oregon on V-E Day (victory in Europe) 1945. There was tragedy immediately after that which produced the only civilian casualties that the mainland United States incurred in World War II. The seven victims were a young Sunday school teacher, who was pregnant, and five of her students. Over a twenty year period It follows a young Japanese-American, James Uschida and his evolving ties to that event. While telling the story of the Uschida family it examines issues including anti-Asian bias, the targeting of innocents during wartime, and collective vs individual guilt. Tens of thousands of American soldiers died in mid-twentieth century wars against Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The impact on those at home during these two turbulent decades deserves to be more fully explored, and this historical novel illustrates one forgotten example of a reason why.