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Welcome to Augustana, Class of 2024! This summer you will read the 2020 Augie Reads book, When the Emperor Was Divine, by Julie Otsuka. A short, 2-3 page essay about the book is due on the first day of your FYI 101 or FYH 101 class.
Although Otsuka's book is a work of fiction, it is based on real historical events: the incarceration of Japanese Americans by the United States government during World War II. If you are not familiar with this moment in U.S. history, please read some of the background information linked on this web page to help you understand the book and write about it thoughtfully in your essay.