A Serious Review of “The Train to Crystal City” by Jan Jarboe Russell

As someone who reads a lot of books, I’ve made it a habit to immerse myself in literature that challenges my perspectives and expands my understanding of history and human consciousness. I belong to several book clubs where we discuss everything from historical non-fiction to philosophical treatises on ways to think differently. Despite facing challenges with reading comprehension in the past, I’ve found that dedicating even just 10 minutes a day to reading is incredibly fulfilling. It means a lot to me, especially considering the other obstacles I navigate daily. This consistent practice has not only improved my comprehension over time but has also allowed me to build a vast collection of insights.

One of my favorite tools in this journey is a quote app where I save selected texts from the books I read. The app sends me a daily message with three random quotes, which I then use to create content around — whether it’s journaling, social media posts, or deeper reflections. Alongside these, I maintain hundreds of separate notes on topics like consciousness, alternative thinking paradigms, and historical injustices that prompt us to question societal norms. “The Train to Crystal City” fits perfectly into this ecosystem, offering poignant passages that I’ve already added to my app for future inspiration.

The book, a New York Times bestseller, delves into a lesser-known chapter of American history: the Crystal City internment camp in Texas during World War II. This facility was unique as America’s only family internment camp, established under FDR’s secret prisoner exchange program. Russell meticulously chronicles how thousands of Japanese, German, and Italian immigrants and their American-born families were uprooted from their lives and transported by train to this remote location. The camp served dual purposes: detaining those deemed potential threats and facilitating exchanges for American prisoners held abroad.

Russell’s narrative is grounded in extensive research, including interviews with survivors and declassified documents. She focuses on personal stories, such as those of young internees who grappled with identity and loyalty amid forced repatriation. For instance, many Japanese families from Latin America were essentially kidnapped and brought to the U.S. as bargaining chips. The German families’ experiences highlight the surreal pain of being traded like commodities, including U.S. citizens who found themselves deported to war-torn Europe. Russell doesn’t shy away from critiquing government policies, exposing the hypocrisy of a nation fighting for freedom while infringing on civil liberties at home.

What struck me most was how this history resonates with my notes on consciousness and thinking differently. The internees’ resilience in the face of dehumanization prompts reflections on collective trauma and the human capacity for empathy — or its absence. One quote I saved reads something like the internees’ quiet acts of defiance, which I’ve pondered in my daily messages: how do we maintain our inner freedom when external liberties are stripped away? This book has fueled several content pieces for me, linking historical events to modern discussions on identity and justice.

Overall, “The Train to Crystal City” is a compelling, eye-opening read that deserves attention for shedding light on forgotten injustices. It’s a testament to why I persist with my reading routine — each page, even in small doses, enriches my worldview and inspires creation. Highly recommended for anyone interested in WWII history or the shadows of American policy.

References

Butler, J. A. (n.d.). The Train to Crystal City: FDR’s Secret Prisoner Exchange Program and America’s Only Family Internment Camp During World War II [Review of the book The Train to Crystal City: FDR’s Secret Prisoner Exchange Program and America’s Only Family Internment Camp During World War II, by J. J. Russell]. Historical Novel Society. https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-train-to-crystal-city-fdrs-secret-prisoner-exchange-program-and-americas-only-family-internment-camp-during-world-war-ii/

Russell, J. J. (2015, January 19). Purgatory at home in wartime. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/books/the-train-to-crystal-city-by-jan-jarboe-russell.html

Russell, J. J. (2016). The train to Crystal City: FDR’s secret prisoner exchange program and America’s only family internment camp during World War II. Scribner.

Texas Observer. (n.d.). The Observer Review: The Train to Crystal City, by Jan Jarboe Russell. https://www.texasobserver.org/observer-review-train-crystal-city-jan-jarboe-russell/