In a Flash

By Donna Jo Napoli

Two sisters navigate survival in WWII Japan, facing internment and danger.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 174 ratings

400 pages· 83,158 words· Est. 11.5 hour read

$16.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In 1943 Japan, sisters Simona and Carolina, separated from their father, must survive as enemy aliens. With only their courage and wits, they embark on a perilous journey, hoping to find allies in a hostile world. Can they find safety in a land where helping them is treasonous? Their story unfolds with tension and resilience, offering a unique perspective on World War II.

From the publisher

A riveting and dramatic story of two devoted sisters, Italian citizens, who must survive in WWII Japan. In 1940, when Simona is eight and her sister, Carolina, is five, their father becomes the cook to the Italian ambassador to Japan, and the family leaves Italy for Tokyo. The girls learn perfect Japanese, make friends, and begin to love life in their new home. But soon Japan is engaged in a world war. In 1943, when all Italians in Japan are confined to internment camps as enemy aliens, Papà and the girls are forced to part, and Simona and Carolina embark on a dramatic journey. Anyone who aids them could be arrested for treason. All the sisters have is each other: their wits, courage, and resilience, and the hope that they will find people who see them not as the enemy, but simply as children trying to survive. In this gripping, deeply moving story, Donna Jo Napoli gives readers an unforgettable and authentic new perspective on World War II.

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