Cheng’s Debut Novel: This riveting war novel of courage in the face of racism follows Daniel Tanaka, a Japanese American (Nisei) student at UC Berkeley whose life is upended by the attack on Pearl Harbor. After being sent to an incarceration camp with his family, Daniel enlists in the Army to demonstrate his loyalty and restore his family’s honor. Assigned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team—a segregated unit of Japanese American soldiers—Daniel and his peers overcome internal divisions and become one of the most decorated fighting units in U.S. history. His fierce experiences in combat—to kill or be killed, to watch friends die in pools of their own blood—including the rescue of the “Lost Battalion” and the liberation of Dachau, profoundly shape him. Returning home, Daniel and his family continue to face prejudice but work to rebuild their lives with resilience. Later, as a Medal of Honor recipient, Daniel shares his story with his grandson, reflecting on themes of war, identity, and forgiveness.