Journey to Topaz is a bildungsroman, a coming-of-age story that explores the formative events of its protagonist’s life. According to the Densho organization, 36.5% of inmates in America’s Japanese concentration camps were under the age of 19, and 22.5% were younger than 14. This means that approximately 42,000 young men, women, and children had their early lives and education disrupted by the unconstitutional policy. These Nisei, or second-generation Japanese Americans (represented in the novel by Yuki, Emi, and Ken), were historically forced to come of age under extraordinarily harsh circumstances, and this experience drastically reshaped their outlook on themselves, their world, and their country.

Like all young people, Yuki and Ken attempt to claim some form of agency over their lives. This is a struggle for children and teenagers who are living under ordinary circumstances, but the issue is further complicated for Yuki and Ken when their country turns against them. When the orders for their incarceration finally come, Ken and Yuki clearly express how they feel about the situation:

“The papers say it’s for our own safety,” Mother explained, trying to find some logical reason for such an illogical act.

Ken shrugged. “I’d rather take a chance and have the choice of being free,” he said firmly.