When Can We Go Back to America? Voices of Japanese American Incarceration during WWII

English & Japanese YA Japanese Internment/Incarceration History Nonfiction Racism Oppression Personal Narrative Susan H. Kamei summary Meticulously researched and fastidiously detailed personal narration fill this historic book. Susan Kamei has done a marvelous job in describing the intricacies of the political events and racism that led to the incarceration of the Japanese American population following…

While I Was Away

English & Japanese MG & Up Asian-American Experience Japanese-American Own Voices Growing Up Family Language Learning SEL Waka T. Brown summary Waka is a Japanese-American sixth grader in rural Kansas in the 1980’s. At home, her family speaks Japanese almost exclusively, but Waka is behind in reading and writing in kanji. After a few incidents…

Five Things About Ava Andrews

Written By: Margaret Dilloway Cover Art by: Yaoyao Ma Van As For Ages: Middle Grade Language: English Topics Covered: Invisible Disabilities, Interracial Families, Anxiety, Growing Up, Acting, Improv, Friendship, Gentrification, Activism, Community Organizing, Japanese-American, Own Voices. Summary: Half-Japanese Ava Andrews has two invisible disabilities that complicate her life: a pacemaker from a genetic heart condition,…

They Called Us Enemy

Created by: George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, Harmony Becker For ages: YA-Middle and High School Language: English, some Japanese.  Topics Covered: Japanese Internment, Historical Figures, Historical Events, WWII, Growing Up, LGBTQ, Japanese-American Experience, Own Voices, Graphic Novel.  Summary: This is an incredible graphic novel, telling of historical events that are rarely taught in schools. Deciding to post it today,…

My First Book of Japanese Words

Written by: Michelle Haney Brown Illustrated by: Aya Padrón For ages: 4 years and up Language: English & Japanese Topics Covered: Bilingualism, Japanese Culture & Traditions, Literacy, Global Community. Summary: This alphabetical rhyming book provides multiple languages and a short poem on each page, and is jam packed with information about literacy, culture, and language!  The book explains how some letters…