The Legend Of Fire Horse Woman

"Drawing on her firsthand experiences in a Japanese internment camp during World War II, Houston (author of the memoir "Farewell to Manzanar") again explores a shameful episode of American history in this heartfelt debut novel."--"Publishers Weekly."

In Hiroshima, Japan, 1902, a woman born under the portentous Fire Horse Sign is married by proxy into the wealthy Matsubara family and sent to join her new husband in a new world--America. In California, 1942, this same woman--facing the sunset of her life rather than the dawn--is sent to a Japanese internment camp with her daughter and granddaughter. This is her story. From one beginning to another... In Japan, no Fire Horse Woman could ever dream of marrying. It was a tragic sign, a ruinous birthdate that occurred once every sixty years. Though always beautiful, Fire Horse Women were destined to remain untamed by men--and were to be avoided as wives at all cost. An orphan as well, Sayo had two strikes against her. But her loving mentor kept her secrets--and made a match for her with the second son of a wealthy family. A son who was staking his own claim in America. Though beset by doubts and unforeseen circumstances, tragedy and pain, in this new land Sayo learns to harness the power of the Fire Horse--and survive all the obstacles that life sets in her path.