"A young woman secretly elopes with her Japanese American boyfriend the night before Pearl Harbor is bombed, forever changing two families torn between sides". This is the premise of the sweeping new novel Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by award winning local author Kristina McMorris.

Brief story description:
Los Angeles, 1941. In spite of her Julliard ambitions and family's wishes, violinist Maddie Kern secretly elopes with her Japanese American boyfriend—the night before Pearl Harbor is bombed. When her beloved Lane is interned at a relocation camp, she dares to remain at his side. Behind barbed wire, tension simmers and the line between patriot and traitor blurs. As Maddie strives for the hard-won acceptance of her new family, Lane risks everything to prove his allegiance to America, at tremendous cost. 

Kristina has an official book launch event at Clackamas Barnes & Noble on Friday (3/2) at 7pm

Kristina will participate in a panel discussion alongside a former internee and a Japanese American WWII vet who recently received the Congressional Gold Medal

The event kicks off a 5-day book fair raising funds for The Portland Int'l School and the Oregon Nikkei Endowment; also, a cultural festival at the store on Saturday (3/3)