Cross Current combines historical facts with real life experiences to weave a tale of friendship, war, and family. Set on the northern coast of California, Cross Current centers around two 14-year-old friends, Brick Burton, who is white, and Toby Yamoto, who is Japanese-American. Early in world War II, the Japanese Empire attempted to bring the conflict closer to America, through probing subs, floating explosives, and later, incendiary balloons, which created fear and suspicion.
Brick and Toby’s relationship has to weather storms of turmoil and discrimination towards the native Japanese living in the community. The two boys witness the demise of a romance between Toby’s sister, Rose, and their white neighbor, Mike Hamilton. When Mike joins the military, and asks Rose to marry him, they are condemned by the community, and their families are in an uproar.
Toby and Roses father, Shiro Yamoto, a successful rancher and prize-winning photographer, becomes a hate target, rumored as a possible spy. Rose breaks off her engagement to Mike and loses her job because of her race. Meanwhile, Bricks parents are on the verge of divorce and his family is beginning to dislike the Yamotos in reaction to the spreading racism. Armed, Mr. Yamoto ultimately resists interment to a relocation camp.
Cross Current highlights an important, relatively forgotten chapter of American history and gives the reader an accurate portrayal of friendship, biases, and racial strife in 1940s wartime.
