Today's read caught my attention due to the cover and the theme. I picked up a kidlit book about the Japanese camps years ago and found it very interesting...although that one was for middle graders (see the book and review HERE) It's not an easy topic, not only due to obvious issues, but I'm not sure that this one will work for the picture book audience. So, I'm curious to see what these pages hold.
UNBREAKABLE
A Japanese American Family in an American
Incarceration Camp
by Minoru Tonai &
Jolene Gutierrez
Illustrated by Chris Sasaki
Harry N. Abrams
Picture Book
48 pages
ages 4 to 8
A powerful, emotional, and ultimately uplifting picture book about the real-life experience of a Japanese American boy incarcerated with his family during World War II
Lying in bed at night, Min thinks about things he’s
his family’s home and business, Puppy, and most of all, Papa.
Min clutches his stone, hoping to see his father again.
Strength comes in the form of the small, smooth stone Min’s father gives him before being led away by FBI agents. In his absence, Min and his family do their best to keep their produce business afloat and earn enough support to get Min’s father released. But after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, they’re forced into an incarceration camp in Colorado.
Imprisoned on the dusty plains and facing both the pain of displacement and the injustice of being incarcerated by his own country, Min must learn to adapt and to find beauty—and strength—where most wouldn’t.
Cowritten by Jolene Gutiérrez, author of Too Much! and Mamiachi & Me, and Minoru (Min) Tonai, an advocate for Japanese American rights, Unbreakable is ultimately an uplifting picture book based on Tonai’s harrowing real-life experiences. Illustrated by acclaimed illustrator Chris Sasaki, this picture book includes extensive back matter such as information on the American incarceration camps and the campaign to release Tonai’s father, a timeline, a bibliography, author and illustrator notes, and questions for further discussion perfect for caregivers and educators to further engage young readers.
Lying in bed at night, Min thinks about things he’s
his family’s home and business, Puppy, and most of all, Papa.
Min clutches his stone, hoping to see his father again.
Strength comes in the form of the small, smooth stone Min’s father gives him before being led away by FBI agents. In his absence, Min and his family do their best to keep their produce business afloat and earn enough support to get Min’s father released. But after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, they’re forced into an incarceration camp in Colorado.
Imprisoned on the dusty plains and facing both the pain of displacement and the injustice of being incarcerated by his own country, Min must learn to adapt and to find beauty—and strength—where most wouldn’t.
Cowritten by Jolene Gutiérrez, author of Too Much! and Mamiachi & Me, and Minoru (Min) Tonai, an advocate for Japanese American rights, Unbreakable is ultimately an uplifting picture book based on Tonai’s harrowing real-life experiences. Illustrated by acclaimed illustrator Chris Sasaki, this picture book includes extensive back matter such as information on the American incarceration camps and the campaign to release Tonai’s father, a timeline, a bibliography, author and illustrator notes, and questions for further discussion perfect for caregivers and educators to further engage young readers.
MY TIDBITS
With potent, yet, gentle illustrations, these pages connect with the reader to bring the unfairness and difficult situation across clearly.
Min loves to collect stones and has found a very nice one on his way home from school, but when he sees an unknown car parked in front of his parents' house, he drops it and hurries to learn what is happening. His father is being accused of being a Japanese spy, and that on the morning after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Despite lack of evidence, his father is taken away by the police. Neighbors write letters to support the father, but nothing happens. Then, the entire family is told to pack up and move with authorities to a camp and leave everything behind.
First, I really enjoyed the artwork. Each page does a nice job at bringing each scene across in a sympathetic way, which keeps everything centered on Min and his family life as a child. The color hues stay in the browns to fit the atmosphere and give a historic feel the entire way through. The text flows with each scene, sometimes heavier than others, and keeps boredom away while bringing across everything in an understandable and sympathetic manner. At the end of the book, there are several paragraphs about the 'real' Min, changes made to his story, questions for discussion, and more information surrounding the camps and situation. All of this is thought for the adult reader to use in discussions or to share with the listeners.
This book is done with quite a bit of thought and takes great care in making sure the situation is clearly brought across while staying focused on Min and seeing everything through his eyes. It doesn't suddenly twist into 'adultness' but is written for children. And this deserves big kudos on the front. On the other side, I'm not sure it will connect correctly with the younger end of the age group. The situation, war, fears, time period, and so much more involved in this occurrence go beyond this age group, and while they will understand the unfair treatment, the depth behind it will be missing for most. The older end of the age group, who have heard of WWII and, maybe, Pearl Harbor, will be able to digest these pages, especially when combined with the history of that time. So, I would recommend this book more for elementary school readers (ages 6 - 9) and believe it does a great job at bringing the theme across for this age group.
And here they are...
Cowriter Jolene Gutiérrez is an award-winning teacher-librarian who has worked with neurodivergent learners since 1995. Her grandparents lived just down the road from Amache Incarceration Camp, and she first learned of it from her family, not in school. Gutiérrez now shares the history of Amache with her students, and it was her honor to partner with Minoru Tonai to tell his family’s story. Gutiérrez lives in Denver, Colorado, and is the author of many books for young readers, including Too Much!, The Ofrenda That We Built, and Mamiachi & Me.
Cowriter Minoru (Min) Tonai (1929–2023) was a Japanese American rights activist. He and his family were incarcerated at Amache from 1942 to 1945, and since their release, Tonai worked to preserve and tell stories about what his family—and so many others—endured during WWII. As the son of a teacher, one of Tonai’s passions was sharing his memories of Amache with students, including students from the ABC School District, the Katari program, UCLA, and Granada High School in Colorado. He was the grand marshal of the Nisei Week 50th anniversary parade, founder and president of the Amache Historical Society, and board president of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. In 2015, Japanese Emperor Akihito presented Tonai with the Order of the Rising Sun medal, Gold Rays with Rosette, for “promoting friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.” Tonai’s three children—Susan, John, and Teresa—continue to tell his story.
Chris Sasaki is an Emmy and Annie Award–winning animation artist. Along with their work on major motion pictures such as Monsters University, Inside Out, and Onward, they have illustrated several books for young readers, including Home Is a Window, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, and Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Picture Book and the Dilys Evans Founder’s Award from the Society of Illustrators. Sasaki is based in Los Angeles, where they live with their dog, Ghost.
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