Welcome to J-Sei’s Virtual Book Club
Our next book that we’ll be reading together is
CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara
ENGAGING IN BOOK CLUB
Join the Club, Buy the Book
JOIN BOOK CLUB – Join the J-Sei Virtual Book Club and connect with others as we delve into a different book each season. For those interested in participating, send inquiry here (please include “Book Club” in your email’s subject line).
BUY THE BOOK – We have arranged with Eastwind Books to handle book sales. Just order the book online at the discounted price of 10% off (type JSEI in the coupon field at cart checkout to get your 10% discount). You can elect to pick up at the store, arrange for shipping, or designate J-Sei for delivery/pick-up in your order (include this in the “Note to Seller” when you place your order).
READING – Read the book at your own pace. While you’re reading, you’ll be notified when a posting has been updated as a check-in and to solicit your feedback.
REFLECTING – As you’re reading, you can access the secure J-Sei Book Club webpage (password-protected) anytime. On this Members-only webpage you’re free to submit observations, opinions, and questions in the Comment area as it strikes you and share your impressions with fellow Book Club members. Check back regularly to read comments submitted by the moderator and by other Book Club members.
CHAT – For a real-time online chat with fellow Book Club members, connect to DISCORD. Instructions to connect to the J-Sei Discord server are provided on the Members-only webpage.
DISCUSS – After allowing time for members to finish reading the book, we will schedule a Zoom meeting to get together and hear everybody’s thoughts about the book. Other special events may occur; members will be notified in advance. Thank you for your interest in J-Sei Book Club. Happy reading!
— Kathy Hashimoto, moderator
Naomi Hirahara’s new mystery CLARK AND DIVISION brings to focus the struggles of one Japanese American family released from mass incarceration at Manzanar during WWII. Inspired by historical events, it tells the story of a young woman, Aki Ito, resettled in 1944 Chicago and searching for the truth about the death of her revered older sister, Rose. The book infuses a real crime fiction plot with rich period details and personal stories that author Hirahara has collected from 30 years of research and archival work in Japanese American history.
Only Naomi Hirahara can mix a portrayal of a people in transition that feels authentic down to the smallest detail with an engrossing mystery filled with unexpected twists… This is not to be missed!
— Brian Niiya, editor of the Densho Encyclopedia and Encyclopedia of Japanese American History
Naomi Hirahara is the Edgar Award–winning author of multiple fiction and nonfiction works. Her Mas Arai mystery series follows a Los Angeles gardener and Hiroshima survivor solving crimes. Her other mystery series feature a young mixed race bicycle cop, Ellie Rush, and a Filipina–Japanese American in Kauai, Leilani Santiago. Clark and Division is her first historical novel. A former editor of The Rafu Shimpo newspaper, she has co-written non-fiction books like Life after Manzanar and award-winning Terminal Island: Lost Communities of Los Angeles Harbor. The Stanford University alumna was born and raised in Altadena, CA; she now resides in the adjacent town of Pasadena, CA.
Previous Book Club books
