This book introduces the harrowing history of 'comfort women' during WWII, exploring how countless girls and women were robbed of their agency and futures by brutal wartime injustices.
A parent might reach for this book when their mature teen is ready to understand the deep, often hidden, human cost of war beyond battles and dates. This book is a difficult but necessary historical account of the 'comfort women', girls and women forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It unflinchingly explores themes of systemic violence, injustice, trauma, and the incredible resilience of survivors fighting for recognition. Intended for older teens (14+), this book is a powerful tool for discussing the realities of war, gendered violence, and the importance of historical memory.
Focuses on the racial and nationalistic underpinnings of wartime atrocities.
Character DeathIntense
Describes the deaths of many victims due to abuse, suicide, and harsh conditions.
Moral AmbiguityModerate
Explores government denial, insincere apologies, and historical revisionism.
Sensitive Topics
The book's approach to its subject matter, systemic sexual slavery, is direct, historical, and deeply disturbing. It is a secular account based on victim testimonies and historical records. It directly addresses sexual violence, physical abuse, trauma, and death. The resolution is realistic and ambiguous. While some official apologies have been offered, the book makes clear that the fight for full, sincere justice is ongoing, and many government officials continue to engage in historical denialism, meaning there is no neat or hopeful conclusion.
Ideal Reader
A mature high school student, aged 15-18, with a strong interest in history, human rights, or social justice. This reader is not looking for an easy read but is prepared to confront the darkest aspects of human history to gain a more complete understanding of the world. They are likely already engaged with topics like feminism and the long-term consequences of war.
Parent Prep
This book cannot be read cold. A parent must preview it and be prepared to have extremely difficult conversations about sexual violence, war crimes, trauma, racism, and historical gaslighting. The entire book is the sensitive content. It requires significant emotional preparation and contextual discussion with a trusted adult. A parent's teen is studying WWII and asks questions that show a gap in their curriculum, such as, "What happened to the women during the war? It feels like they are left out of the history books." It could also be a teen passionate about the #MeToo movement who is ready to understand the historical context of systemic, state-sanctioned sexual violence.
Age Experience
A younger teen (14-15) will likely be most struck by the visceral horror and deep sadness of the individual accounts of suffering. An older teen (16-18) will be better equipped to analyze the complex political and social dimensions: the decades of government denial, the nuances of international relations, the power of testimony as a political act, and the concept of intergenerational trauma.
What Makes It Special
The book's most powerful and unique feature is its devastatingly ironic title. By framing this history of brutalization with a phrase associated with childhood innocence and ambition, it immediately and powerfully communicates the core tragedy: the complete annihilation of the victims' potential, personhood, and futures. This narrative device elevates it beyond a standard historical text into a profound commentary on the human cost of war.
Read plot summary
This non-fiction book details the history of the ianfu, or 'comfort women', a system of forced sexual slavery orchestrated by the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces before and during World War II. The book documents how hundreds of thousands of girls and women, primarily from Korea but also from China, the Philippines, and other occupied territories, were coerced and brutalized. It covers the horrific conditions they endured, the post-war denial by the Japanese government, and the modern, ongoing fight by survivors and activists for a sincere apology and proper restitution. The ironic title, 'When I Grow Up, I Might Be...', serves as a constant, tragic reminder of the stolen futures of these victims.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The title of the book is 'When I Grow Up, I Might Be...'. How does this title contrast with the book's subject matter? What specific feelings or ideas do you think the author wanted to evoke by choosing it?
2
The book details how official apologies from the Japanese government have been criticized by survivors. In your opinion, what would constitute true and meaningful justice for these women? What does accountability look like decades after the fact?
3
Why is it so important for survivors and advocates to fight against the denial or minimization of what happened? What are the dangers of a country or society forgetting the most difficult parts of its history?
4
How do the stories of the 'comfort women' connect to modern movements like #MeToo and current conversations about sexual violence, power, and the importance of believing survivors' testimonies?
