This is a very touching love story about "star-crossed" sweethearts who meet in a time of war. Specifically, two sixth-graders form a bond over a love of jazz music as well as their "otherness". They are the only Asians in an all-white prep school. They are "scholarshipping" and must work in the cafeteria together. So what makes this an ill-fated love? Keiko is Japanese- American and Henry is Chinese-American. Henry is forbidden by his father to associate with his Japanese neighbors. In addition, this takes place during World War II, directly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Along with the beautiful love story, I enjoyed the influence of art and music in the story. The writing also evokes a strong sense of place- Seattle in the 1940s. I did find some of the events a little far-fetched, but I don't to include any spoilers in my review. 4 out of 5 stars. ( )

I’ve heard this book’s title over the years but never knew what it was about - I picked it up because as a, “Hmm, I’ve heard this one was good.” I’m so glad I did.

As a huge fan of all things WW2, I am always surprised when there is more out there to learn - the United States’ Japanese internment camps is one of those subjects for me. While I knew of them, I knew nothing about them.

Bitter and Sweet is not necessarily about the camps themselves, but how Keiko, an average 12-year old American born Japanese girl ended up in one, and how her best friend and school mate, an American born Chinese boy named Henry, would not let her go, until he did. But did he?

Beautifully written, the reader will not even realize the nuances of racism and hatred that runs deep and pervasive throughout the book as you feel the childhood crush turn to real love in its truest sense.

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, written many years ago, could not be more timely in today’s world, where so much is going on regarding culture, race, hatred. Read the book - fall in love with Keiko and Henry’s sweet pubescent journey as they navigate the differences in their cultures, their families, their race. I think you will remember this one for a very long time; I know I will. ( )

An interesting account of a first-generation Chinese-American boy living in Seattle at the time Japanese neighbors were being interred in camps during WWII. Strong intergenerational and cultural elements. ( )

Things I liked about this book:

It is really fun to read a good book that takes place in the city where you live. It makes everything seem more real and you can always make conversation about it when you pass by a place mentioned in the book. For example, I learned a lot about Seattle's jazz history reading this book and now when I go to the I.D. to do Karaoke I will pretend I am Ray Charles. Also fun: tragic love stories with redemptive endings. Indeed. Another thing I enjoy: well-researched historical fiction. And to top it all off, the author is a great storyteller. I think this is a book you can recommend to readers as young as 14 or 15, but at the same time will appeal to people who lived through WWII.

Things I did not like about this book:

I had some issues with the dialogue. Sometimes it sounded wrong or forced. And I wasn't bowled over by Ford's writing. He's a good writer, but not a superb one. Also, as Madeline said, I think I spotted a few anachronisms. For one, I found it hard to believe that in 1986 a person could be tracked down via computer and telephone in just a few hours, especially if that person had changed her name. Also, I think meddling with letters between star-crossed lovers is a really played out thing to put in a novel. I think we're all overly familiar with that particular injustice thanks to [a:Nicholas Sparks|2345|Nicholas Sparks|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1273850585p2/2345.jpg], right? Come to think of it, this must be on tvtropes.com... And it is!

Overall: Recommended for an airplane trip or a long weekend in a cabin. Set expectations to medium and enjoy.

( )

This fell a bit flat. It may not be fair because romance is one of my least liked genres. It was actually okay as far as the romance part went. The characters felt stagnant, the story felt like it was told by a tired narrator, there seemed a few too many inconsistencies, and the kids seemed a bit young for the bond depicted. The ending was a bit too "perfect", though that seems to be how romances generally go. I didn't totally hate the book, but it wasn't a favorite and I'd not recommend it. ( )