Historical Fiction: The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner

I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Susan Meissner at the 7th Annual San Antonio Book Festival; however, I was not able to actually make it to her panel on Texas during World War II. Even though I knew I would not be able attend the discussion, I went ahead and bought The Last Year of the War and waited in line for her to sign it. Sure, this meant I was signing myself up for yet another book about WWII, but this time I would be reading about the internment camp in Crystal City, Texas, so close to where I live now in San Antonio.

The Situation: Elise Sontag is a German-American teen living in Davenport, Iowa in early 1940s America. World War II continues to rage on in another continent, but for 13 year-old Elise, the fighting could not be further from her mind. Then her father is arrested for being a Nazi sympathizer, except he isn't one at all. At home, he is a calm, gentle, loving husband and father. To the U.S. government, he is an immigrant from Germany with family ties back home and a knowledge of dangerous chemicals. After her father's arrest, Elise, her mother, and her brother Max become social pariahs, and in a desperate attempt to be reunited with his family, Elise's father applies for all of them to be moved to a family internment camp all the way in Crystal City, Texas. Trading brisk Iowa winters for brutal Texas summers, Elise and her family will have to get used to life behind barbed-wire fences, in a place that is dominated by Japanese immigrants who have found themselves in the same situation. It is here in this new place she will have to call home that she meets the friend that will change her life.

The Problem: Life in an internment camp in south Texas is less than ideal, but at least Elise has found a true friend in Mariko. After Elise chooses the open seat next to Mariko on their first day of school in the camp, the two become fast friends, confusing those around them who mostly stick to their own ethnic groups when it comes to close relationships. With Mariko, Elise feels like she will be able to survive the rest of the war, but that is only until it is arranged for the Sontag's to be sent back to Germany in exchange for U.S. soldiers held as prisoners of war. Communication from Germany to Texas would of course be difficult, but not impossible. But it becomes clear that Mariko's family will similarly be moved to Japan, making the two girls' plans to stay in touch even more nebulous. As Elise navigates her new life in a country she does not know, attempting to learn a language she has never had to speak, with the war now in her front yard, she holds on to the brief but powerful friendship she and Mariko shared at the dusty internment camp in Crystal City.  

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel that is mostly set during the final year of WWII, and the few years immediately after. Each part of the book begins with a chapter that follows Elise in 2010, now much older and battling with the onset of Alzheimer's, as she attempts to find Mariko one last time. She then goes back to where she left off in her story, and continues to tell of how she went from being a somewhat naive teenager in Davenport, Iowa, to the woman she is now. War is incredibly messy, even in a country where the fighting is not actually happening. So when the Sontags are moved to the family internment camp is Crystal City, Texas - which was a real place that few know existed - their adventure is just beginning. From there they will be moved to Germany, and even have a hard time finding permanence in Elise's parent's country of birth. Once the war is over, the family must first deal with French occupancy, and then the American soldiers take over after that. Everyone has their own allegiances, beliefs, prejudices, attitudes, fears, and convictions, and they all come out when a war is on.     

My Verdict: It is laudable that Meissner was able to get so much into less than 400 pages. Conversely, it is also somewhat annoying that she fits so much into less than 400 pages. I liked the pacing, and there were few moments, if any, where the story dragged. But there are parts of the novel that would have benefited from more showing as opposed to telling, even if that would have made for a much longer book. For me, the friendship with Mariko is so brief, so quick, that I was not fully convinced of the impact it clearly had on Elise through the remainder of her life. The most engaging and interesting part of her story seemed to come near the end as she began her adult life, still apart from Mariko, and still attempting to decide how she would like to live. Also, Meissner does a great job of exploring a part of WWII that few know about, and that is the practice of sending German, Japanese, and some Italian immigrants and their families to live in the internment camp in Crystal City. Ultimately, many of these families were sent back to Germany, or Japan, or Italy in exchange for U.S. soldiers that were trapped abroad. With so many books published that focus on WWII, it is nice to find one that takes a slightly different approach. 

Favorite Moment: "Do you think you could find it in your heart to like me, Elise?" A question asked by Elise's dubious and incredibly tough mother-in-law.

Favorite Character: Elise's father is an unfortunate victim of war-time paranoia as he is arrested and then sent back to his home of Germany, despite not being a Nazi sympathizer and having lived peacefully in the U.S. for 20 years. Somehow, he is able to approach every situation, no matter how difficult, calmly and practically, while also doing the best for his family. 

Recommended Reading: For more information on the family internment camp in Crystal City, Texas, The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell is an excellent resource. For more fiction about WWII, I recommend Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly.