Review by TheFoxPajamas22 -- Wonks
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TheFoxPajamas22
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- Latest Review: Wonks by William Reese Hamilton
Review by TheFoxPajamas22 -- Wonks
[Following is a volunteer review of "Wonks" by William Reese Hamilton.]
Wonks, by William Reese Hamilton, tells the story of Johnny Oldfield and his mother, who are being held prisoner in an internment camp for Americans located in the Philippines under Japanese command during World War II. Johnny’s father managed to escape capture and is rumored to be a guerrilla fighter, but his absence is deeply felt under the strict rule and harsh conditions of camp life. Brought nearly to the point of starvation, Johnny’s makeshift family of a boxer and a traveler, a ragtag group of other children, and an old man fondly called “The Colonel” keep hope burning, along with the hope of liberation and the chance to see his father alive. What is “wonks,” you ask? It’s derivative of a Chinese word for packs of wild dogs that scavenge the most hidden corners of the world and it couldn’t be a more accurate description of how Johnny interprets his place in the world.
I passionately rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. William Reese Hamilton captures the experience of being a child imprisoned under violent, foreign military forces while a war rages on in the outside world. The only information that reaches internees is a mix of rumors, hearsay, and heavily filtered facts, adding to the tension. There is a desperate sense of survival, blended with an intense need for community and routine to gain some semblance of control among the hunger and chaos. Johnny is torn between his “Lost Boy” lifestyle and growing up faster than he can handle. He struggles with the fears and uncertainties that even the adults around him can barely cope with. Hamilton writes with the blunt simplicity of someone who dwells in the fragile space between childhood and adulthood, but also with the hindsight wisdom of someone with decades to ruminate over life’s fragility. Perhaps that’s because Wonks is semi-autobiographical, but never does it feel indulgent or preachy.
From page one, Hamilton dives right into the story and immediately grips the audience; instantly transporting them into Johnny’s world with excellent storytelling. There are many anecdotes within the story that are a descriptive and entertaining form of escapism, taking you away from the camp and into happier times, along with the prisoners. Every chapter has a deliberate, unique adventure that has deep meaning, even when it just seems to be an episode of childhood tomfoolery.
This story has pretty much everything I look for in a book, which makes it difficult to criticize. It has a decent amount of historical context, but it could definitely use more clarification, especially in the beginning. It took me awhile to put together the series of events that led to Johnny's imprisonment because I was unfamiliar with this part of history.
When I was reading, I had the exciting feeling that I discovered something special. This book could be hailed as a classic alongside the likes of A Prayer for Owen Meany and Of Mice and Men. If it didn’t use such profane terms, I could see Wonks being assigned in high school English classes due to its coming-of-age themes, character development, and unique historical perspective. That said, the best audience for this book would be mature teens and adults who are interested in an unfiltered, edgy glimpse into a little-known part of WWII history. This book is equal parts eye-opening and emotional, making you chuckle on one page, tear up on the next, and it lingers for days after it is finished.
******
Wonks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Wonks, by William Reese Hamilton, tells the story of Johnny Oldfield and his mother, who are being held prisoner in an internment camp for Americans located in the Philippines under Japanese command during World War II. Johnny’s father managed to escape capture and is rumored to be a guerrilla fighter, but his absence is deeply felt under the strict rule and harsh conditions of camp life. Brought nearly to the point of starvation, Johnny’s makeshift family of a boxer and a traveler, a ragtag group of other children, and an old man fondly called “The Colonel” keep hope burning, along with the hope of liberation and the chance to see his father alive. What is “wonks,” you ask? It’s derivative of a Chinese word for packs of wild dogs that scavenge the most hidden corners of the world and it couldn’t be a more accurate description of how Johnny interprets his place in the world.
I passionately rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. William Reese Hamilton captures the experience of being a child imprisoned under violent, foreign military forces while a war rages on in the outside world. The only information that reaches internees is a mix of rumors, hearsay, and heavily filtered facts, adding to the tension. There is a desperate sense of survival, blended with an intense need for community and routine to gain some semblance of control among the hunger and chaos. Johnny is torn between his “Lost Boy” lifestyle and growing up faster than he can handle. He struggles with the fears and uncertainties that even the adults around him can barely cope with. Hamilton writes with the blunt simplicity of someone who dwells in the fragile space between childhood and adulthood, but also with the hindsight wisdom of someone with decades to ruminate over life’s fragility. Perhaps that’s because Wonks is semi-autobiographical, but never does it feel indulgent or preachy.
From page one, Hamilton dives right into the story and immediately grips the audience; instantly transporting them into Johnny’s world with excellent storytelling. There are many anecdotes within the story that are a descriptive and entertaining form of escapism, taking you away from the camp and into happier times, along with the prisoners. Every chapter has a deliberate, unique adventure that has deep meaning, even when it just seems to be an episode of childhood tomfoolery.
This story has pretty much everything I look for in a book, which makes it difficult to criticize. It has a decent amount of historical context, but it could definitely use more clarification, especially in the beginning. It took me awhile to put together the series of events that led to Johnny's imprisonment because I was unfamiliar with this part of history.
When I was reading, I had the exciting feeling that I discovered something special. This book could be hailed as a classic alongside the likes of A Prayer for Owen Meany and Of Mice and Men. If it didn’t use such profane terms, I could see Wonks being assigned in high school English classes due to its coming-of-age themes, character development, and unique historical perspective. That said, the best audience for this book would be mature teens and adults who are interested in an unfiltered, edgy glimpse into a little-known part of WWII history. This book is equal parts eye-opening and emotional, making you chuckle on one page, tear up on the next, and it lingers for days after it is finished.
******
Wonks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Wonks by William Reese Hamilton
