Frank Abe

This powerful graphic novel sheds light on a dark chapter in American history - the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. Importantly, the focus of this graphic novel is on the resistance of Japanese Americans, exploring the experiences of three individuals - Jim Akutsu, Hiroshi Kashiwagi, and Mitsuye Endo - who defied the unjust internment of Japanese Americans in rather different ways. As a graphic novel, the text uses a blend of art in two distinct styles and storytelling to provide readers a clear and accurate view of wartime era America, and provides portrayals of these Japanese American heroes as courageous and resilient in their fight for justice. The storytelling is straightforward and honest, and keeps the reader engaged all the way through the text.… (mehr)

A stirring history of the interment of Japanese Americans during World War II that draws attention to the resistance movements in the camps. Many prisoners engaged in civil disobedience and protests against their unconstitutional mistreatment, and some were even radicalized toward becoming the enemies they were labeled to be by a distrusting and disloyal government. Others cooperated with the government to an uncomfortable degree. Many were just trying to keep their head down until they could get on the other side of these unthinkable circumstances.

I was particularly impressed with the quiet courage of Mitsuye Endo, whose court case led to the Supreme Court finally putting an end to this black mark on American history.

I could quibble about the art and the writing, but in the end I just found myself swept up by the events and the individuals involved. This is a terrific companion to George Takei's They Called Us Enemy.… (mehr)