This Time Will Be Different

Misa Sugiura's ancestors include a poet, a priestess, a samurai, and a stowaway. She grew up in Northfield, Illinois, (which is less rural than it sounds) and went to college on the East Coast. She lived in Japan for three years before moving to Silicon Valley and becoming a high school English teacher. During her years in the classroom, she met the many wonderful Asian, Latinx, and LGBTQ students who inspired her to write It's Not Like It's a Secret. Misa lives under a giant oak tree with her husband, two sons, two cats, and a gray-banded king snake.

"Insightful. Intricate. Honest...Richly drawn characters that feel utterly real."

"Sugiura's sophomore novel deftly questions accountability for past injustices...Sugiura tackles an abundance of topics with finesse, including social and economic injustice, allyship, and feminism, simultaneously breaking down the Asian-American immigration narrative and the myth of the model minority...Essential."

"Sugiura's deep dive into mother-daughter relationships, the fragility of self-worth, and the gathering of courage resonates deeply."

"Sugiura deftly weaves historical fact into this coming-of-age narrative...An entertaining and informative backdrop that allows CJ to explore her own sense of identity while giving readers a front seat to her process."

"A gripping, emotionally charged story that presents an interesting window into a uniquely Japanese American experience that deserves attention"