I knew about this book when it first published, but didn’t get around reading it until now. I’m sorry to have waited so long. An important story, completely inspirational, not only for us librarians, but all Americans. ( )

Great book on a schoolteacher who kept in touch with her Japanese-American students who were sent off to detention camps during WW II. ( )

Very insightful book covers a dark chapter in American history with a detailed primary source-laden account of the daily life in Japanese-American concentration camps from the 1940s. It drives you mad to imagine the United States allowing such an institutional racist act to fester for as long as it did and with so little regard for the Japanese Americans who were imprisoned there. The book is written with a slight bent toward the young readers (many of the last sentences of a chapter end with exclamation points). The book is offers many surprising facts in its text and its rich library of images. An anti-Japanese cartoon by Dr. Seuss, descriptions of the horrible bathroom facilities accorded to the Japanese-Americans, and the fact that Eisenhower's older brother was placed in charge of the military organization charged with relocating the Asian-American population are just a few examples of the level of detail this amazing book holds on its subject. The primary sources that offer glimpses into the venomous hatred many held toward the Japanese is striking; ranging from state governors to regular people writing letters into their local newspapers. The presentation of the book is top-notch, filled with many fascinating pictures and clear layouts for the various first person accounts. One comes away with a better understanding of the racism directed against the Japanese during this time as well as measure of respect for both librarian Clara Breed and First Lady Eleonore Roosevelt. ( )

Clara Breed was a children's librarian in San Diego who, during the Japanese internment, kept in touch with several of her young Japanese patrons. The book discusses the vitriolic attitudes of the country against the Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor and the "justification" for their evacuation and internment. Miss Breed exchanged many letters with her young friends and also sent along packages of books, small toys, and items requested by the children and their families. The reprinted letters are all by the kids; no letters from Miss Breed have been found, although the author cites a couple of library journal articles by Miss Breed in support of the Japanese. A compelling aspect of history, seen through the eyes of the younger internees and their trustworthy friend the librarian.

This book is based on real life letters between students interned during World War II and their librarian. It's a great demonstration of compassion in the face of trauma and injustice. I love this book because it acts as a reminder to be sensitive to the victims of conflict and mistreatment based on their ethnicity. ( )