They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

Co-written by Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott, illustrated by Harmony Becker

This graphic novel chronicles Takei's experience as a child being taken to an Internment Camp in WW2. Takei's family originally lived in the Losa Angeles area, so his family was initially taken to the staging area at a race track. Here, families were given one horse stall to occupy, usually without four solid walls and with dirt floors. After the camps were completed, Takei's family was moved first to Rohwer, a camp in Arkansas, then relocated to Camp Tule Lake in Northern California. In every place, the Japanese-American families proved their resilience as they tried to make the best of what was happening to them. Many more difficult Executive Orders were passed, like the one calling for Japanese Americans to disavow any loyalties to the Japanese Emperor, along with Executive Orders asking for interred Japanese Americans to serve in the US Military. This entire story is told from the perspective of an adult George giving a lecture in a packed hall.

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This book has only been out for a week and it has taken the world by storm. Highly reviewed from several professional magazines, so I won't gush too much, but this is such a powerful story and so necessary. I know publication dates are decided well in advance, but this book hit the shelves just as America was talking about our border camps being another incarnation of the Japanese internment camps. PERFECT TIMING! This book is essential for library shelves. It's also a great idea to find someone at your school willing to teach it. Any class that touches Japanese Internment or WW2 could use this as supplemental literature.

Sara's Rating: 9/10
​Suitability level: Grades 7-12

Publisher: Top Shelf
Publication Date: 
ISBN: (Paperback)

Tags: Rating: 9/10, Suitability: Middle School, Suitability: High school, Graphic Nonfiction. Memoir, History ​