Elizabeth George's Reviews > Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II

I loved this book. I've read all of the author's books and, for me, this one stands with The Boys in the Boat. It's compellingly written and it tells a story that desperately needs to be told. So often in the US, unpleasant facts and horrifying facts are swept under the carpet in an effort to portray the country as "The Greatest Country in the World." This book does not do that. The author draws back the curtain on what happened to Japanese immigrants and native Japanese-Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor. At the same time, he gives a detailed account of one battalion--the 442, all of which comprised young Japanese-American men serving under white officers--and their journey to become one of the most decorated battalions in history. As before, the author highlights specific individuals and their families, making the story a gripping account of what these people suffered in order to prove they were loyal Americans. It's just excellent, and I couldn't recommend it more highly.