Anyone who reads about Watkins' experiences understands how deeply they must have molded her values and changed her outlook on life. As both a refugee fleeing from Korea and as an indigent scraping by in Kyoto she was an outcast, yet she managed to hold her head high, finish her schooling, and become the successful and confident woman she is today. The hardships Watkins faced were likely more severe than any those of us will ever know, yet we all face hardship. The stories she tells gives us hope that with determination, we can survive the most difficult of times.

In My Brother, My Sister, and I, Watkins continues to relay her message from So Far from the Bamboo Grove: that love and kindness is important, that values are important, and that with strength and willpower, we can overcome adversity. In So Far from the Bamboo...