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Los Angeles Review of Books
The Uneasy Afterlife of John Okada
by Christopher Lee, February 10, 2020

“By shying away from hagiography, editors Frank Abe, Greg Robinson, and Floyd Cheung convey the complexity of his life and career as well as the continuing relevance of his writings.”

Densho logoDensho Blog
A Fresh Look at an Old Classic
by Brian Niiya, Sept. 28, 2019

“John Okada is a well edited and worthwhile volume that Okada/No No Boy fans will greatly enjoy and that makes an important contribution to Asian American Studies and Japanese American historical studies.”

Choice Review logoChoice Reviews
reviewed by Yuan Shu, Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries
June 2019, Vol. 56, Issue 10, pp. 1243-1243

“In the afterword Abe reflects on the implication of Okada’s work for Muslim Americans caught in similar situations in the war on terror.”

Asian American Literary Review logoAsian American Literary Review
reviewed by John Streamas, Spring/Summer 2019 Vol. 10, Issue 1, pp. 183-186

“The story that most interests me is a short piece called “What Can I Do?” Floyd Cheung notes that it has elements of psychological realism and a noir style.”

North American Post logoNorth American Post
SANSEI JOURNAL: The Man Behind the First Japanese-American Novel
review by David Yamaguchi

 “The editors deserve high praise for sleuthing out John Okada’s personal story … The new John Okada biography will make a good addition to the libraries of all who seek to develop more than a cursory understanding of Seattle JA history. Like me, such readers will also find joy in being reminded that there really was a time when the Nisei were fresh-faced young kids, whose minds were filled with dreams.”

Discover NIkkei logoDiscover Nikkei
No-No Boy Author John Okada, Rediscovered
interview and review by Kimiko Medlock, January 21, 2019

“Overall, (it) reads less like an ode to one of Asian America’s great writers, and more like a deep sigh; the long-awaited culmination of decades of accumulated research and personal connection with Okada’s novel that could only be finished when the final puzzle pieces of additional works were found. It is a fascinating, heavily-detailed read.”

Rafu Shimpo
Insightful analysis of the ‘Great Japanese American Novel‘”

reviewed by Gerald Sato, January 15, 2019

“I envy those who may be inspired by Abe’s anthology to read Okada’s “No-No Boy” for the very first time.”

Columbia reviewColumbia Magazine
Rediscovering John Okada

reviewed by Steve Scher, Fall 2018

“Most welcome of all, the book presents Okada’s early writings, many in print for the first time. Okada’s voice is often funny and satirical. In an essay in the book, Floyd Cheung writes that the early pieces reveal Okada already considering ‘the absurdities of a world unhinged.’

International Examiner logoInternational Examiner
New book looks behind the surface of Seattle classic, No-No Boy

reviewed by Vince Schleitwiler, September 6, 2018

“Abe’s invaluable biographical essay also matches No-No Boy’s street-level geographical precision, mapping Okada’s Seattle childhood from the Yakima Hotel, run by his family, to Bailey Gatzert, the old Broadway High, and beyond.”

screencap of Foreword ReviewForeward Reviews
John Okada

reviewed by Jeff Fleischer, summer 2018

“The book begins with a detailed biography of the author by Frank Abe … This is a strong compilation, mixing Okada’s writing with copious analysis of it, and telling a story of his life that both echoes and informs his best-known work.”

cover of Nichi Bei TimesNichi Bei Weekly
Nikkei literary pioneer re-examined

reviewed by Naomi Hirahara, July 19, 2018

“It’s an extremely readable book, a must-have companion piece to Okada’s novel … Abe, who lives in Okada’s early stomping grounds of Seattle, wrote the precise, well-researched 100-page biography of the author.”

The history and literature of Japanese American resistance to wartime incarceration