THE GODS WILL SING OUR SONG, by Autumn Krause, Delacorte Press, Sept.1, 2026, Hardcover, $20.99 (young adult)
Two teens try to protect their families inside a WWII Japanese internment camp in The Gods Will Sing Our Song, by Autumn Krause.
A divine favor can change everything.
1942. War rumbles across the world, gods stir in the wind, and two star-crossed souls are set on a path that will change them forever.
Seventeen-year-old Ren Hamada is defined by his troubled past, while Violet Aratani only worries about keeping her straight-A grades. They have little in common beyond the old magic that thrums in their family relics—until the US government forces them out of their homes simply because they’re Japanese American. In a barbed-wire world where everything seems upside down, the magnetic pull between them is the only thing that makes sense.
But there’s more than just desert dust swirling in the air. A god walks among them, his mortal form tethered to the camp, and only Violet and Ren can free him—an act that would earn them an immeasurable reward. Yet with tensions rising and their lives on the line, is even a divine favor enough to save them? —Synopsis provided by Delacorte Press
The Gods Will Sing Our Song is hands down one of the most compelling YA reads this year.
With elements of magical realism and Japanese mythology laced throughout, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is a historical romance that will appeal to teens and adults alike.
The story unfolds from the dual perspectives of Ren and Violet. The two are polar opposites but find each other inexplicably drawn together. Both hold their own throughout the narrative, and a strong group of supporting characters add interest and help move the story forward.
The Gods Will Sing Our Song was inspired by author Autumn Krause’s true family history of internment. Krause drops readers inside the camps from the crude construction to the lack of privacy to the barbed wire fences, highlighting one of the lowest points in American history.
Krause expertly weaves Japanese lore through her story in a way that feels completely plausible. And the god she brings to life marries perfectly within the setting, time period and personal and community angst.
The Gods Will Sing Our Song is a beautiful story of family and community. It’s a thoughtful read with a star-crossed romance that will keep you hooked.
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