<P> 2010 Asian / Pacific American Award for Literature 2010 Washington State Book Award Finalist 2009 Montana Book Award 2009 Borders Original Voices Selection 2009 Director's Mention, Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction 2009 One of BookBrowse's Top 3 Favorite Books </P> <P> The Kirkus Review hailed the novel as "A timely debut that not only reminds readers of a shameful episode in American history, but cautions us to examine the present and take heed we don't repeat those injustices ." Kevin Clouther of Booklist mentions that "Although Ford does not have anything especially novel to say about a familiar subject (the interplay between race and family), he writes earnestly and cares for his characters, who consistently defy stereotype ." </P> <P> The Seattle Times praised the book as "A wartime - era Chinese - Japanese variation on Romeo and Juliet...The period detail (is) so revealing and so well rendered...It's clear on every page how thoroughly Ford, who grew up here did his research ." </P>

Hotel in the corner of bitter and sweet summary