Rising Son

“Wow! An incredible, sweeping, epic tale of a Japanese family navigating the quickly changing world around World War II, Rising Son touches the heart and engages the mind. Robert Pace has infused his narrative with a richness and depth that place this ‘historical’ novel on the shelf next to the Great Jameses: Clavell and Michener. I am truly impressed—Rising Son is a terrific read!” — Garth Stein #1 New York Times best selling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain“Rising Son examines a whitewashed piece of American history with detail and rich characterizations reminiscent of a Michener saga. An intriguing historical reconstruction which I liked a great deal.” — Dave Boling Author of Guernica and The Lost History of StarsAfter centuries of self-imposed isolation, the Empire of Japan has re-emerged onto the world stage.From their poverty-stricken farm in a remote village, the Sakai family sends their eldest son to the New World to begin life in the cane fields of Hawaii. There he is forced to adapt to a new climate, culture, and searing racial intolerance. With his new “picture bride”, the young man must flee the grueling sugar plantations for California, where their immigrant dream continues to elude them. Finally arriving on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, they will try to raise a family in a new era of hope.Meanwhile, the son of a Japanese consular attaché, born and schooled in the USA, is whisked back to his homeland for military training in the tense months before the outbreak of WWII. His assignment to a clandestine spy operation targeting the western United States leaves him stranded with severe injuries. His recovery, his tenuous situation, and a newly kindled romance finds him questioning his true allegiance. Is Japan his homeland, or is it the US where his heart calls him?From the splendid palaces of tsars, emperors and sugar barons to the dirt floor hovels of society’s most desperate, many of the historical figures who shaped the modern world come to life. Experience through these characters how simple misunderstandings, poor statecraft, and devastating wars whipsaw the lives of those they rule, often with tragic consequences.Rising Son is an epic saga spanning a century in the lives of two families as their challenges, secrets, and desires intertwine. It is the story of simple people navigating a difficult world. A story of fear, of racial bigotry, of deception, honesty and love. Equal parts romantic adventure and cautionary tale. Read more