Joy Kogawa

Joy Kogawa is a Canadian poet and novelist of Japanese descent. She is best known for her semi-autobiographical novel 'Obasan,' which details the experiences of Japanese Canadians during World War II and the internment camps in Canada. Kogawa's work often explores themes of identity, racism, and the struggle for justice. She has been recognized for her contributions to literature and her activism on behalf of Japanese Canadians.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Obasan

    The book is a semi-autobiographical novel that tells the story of a Japanese-Canadian woman named Naomi, who reflects on her experiences during World War II. As a child, Naomi was forced into internment along with thousands of other Japanese-Canadians, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The narrative explores the themes of racism, identity, silence, and the power of memory, as Naomi grapples with the trauma of her past and the impact of her cultural heritage on her present life.