gretchenlouise's review against another edition
4.0
This heart-wrenching true story gives a glimpse into the struggles of the Japanese American children librarian with whom Miss Breed corresponded during WWII. Excerpts from letters the children wrote her show how the books Miss Breed sent helped them through their internment in Poston, Arizona. A touching tribute to the power of correspondence to grant hope in dark times!
muddypuddle's review against another edition
5.0
The internment and mistreatment of Japanese Americans during WWII has always bewildered and incensed me. This true story connects kids not only to this sad part of American History, but also highlights a brave American woman who did something to help alter a horrendous situation.
panda_incognito's review against another edition
3.0
This nonfiction picture book tells the story of how a librarian stayed in touch with Japanese American children while they were in interment camps during World War II. It is very simple, and includes illustrations of the children's letters along with depictions of the librarian's surroundings and the camps that the children were in. This is a good introduction for elementary school students, but is light on content for an adult reader.
I have two concerns with this book that keep me from rating it four stars. One is that it unnecessarily includes a letter that references "Little Black Sambo." The child's comment merely serves as an illustration for the heat, but this is likely to catch parents off guard and require a conversation that they didn't sign up for. Since the book is about combating discrimination, it seems odd that one of the letters included would reference a story with so much racial baggage. Surely, out of the whole collection, there would have been something else more appropriate.
Secondly, the timeline in the back specifically names three Democrat presidents who were involved in future reevaluations of the interment camps, but does not name Ronald Reagan for the timeline entry about the U.S. government finally apologizing for what happened. This seems to be nothing more than bias on the author's part, since it breaks with her format and approach. Also, she only refers to an apology, without mentioning that the U.S. government actually paid reparations to many survivors. This is a very significant fact, and even though not all readers will look through the timeline anyway, the author should have included this.
I have two concerns with this book that keep me from rating it four stars. One is that it unnecessarily includes a letter that references "Little Black Sambo." The child's comment merely serves as an illustration for the heat, but this is likely to catch parents off guard and require a conversation that they didn't sign up for. Since the book is about combating discrimination, it seems odd that one of the letters included would reference a story with so much racial baggage. Surely, out of the whole collection, there would have been something else more appropriate.
Secondly, the timeline in the back specifically names three Democrat presidents who were involved in future reevaluations of the interment camps, but does not name Ronald Reagan for the timeline entry about the U.S. government finally apologizing for what happened. This seems to be nothing more than bias on the author's part, since it breaks with her format and approach. Also, she only refers to an apology, without mentioning that the U.S. government actually paid reparations to many survivors. This is a very significant fact, and even though not all readers will look through the timeline anyway, the author should have included this.
k_b00kish's review against another edition
4.0
Good picture book for older children in talking out Japanese internment in the US during WWII, based on the experience of a public librarian for San Diego Public Library
fernandie's review against another edition
4.0
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
jackiemcguire's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I very much enjoyed the text and illustrations throughout this book. It provided a unique insight into what life in Japanese Internment camps in California and Arizona were like during WWII, as well as the many hardships faced as a result of racist policies. The bibliography and timelines at the back allowed me to search for more pertinent information on the subjects discussed. I would suggest this book for children 8-12.
lauralynnwalsh's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fascinating book about the internment of Japanese children during WWII and their correspondence with the librarian, Clara Breed. Breed wrote regularly to around 30 children who were imprisoned and sent them books and other supplies. Highly recommended.
sunflowerjess's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
5.0
When hundreds of thousands of Japanese-Americans were forced to leave their homes, their livelihoods, everything, and move to prison camps, some kept in touch with their local public librarian. This librarian, Clara Breed, sent books, letters, necessities, and comfort items to the young children, and they wrote her postcards back. She kept these postcards, and this is what this book is about. I appreciated the photographs and the brief history of Japanese people in the U.S. This book is illustrated by a Japanese artist who perfectly captured the mood and emotions of this time.
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the entry of the United States into WWII, this country, the country that was fighting for freedom and democracy aboard, did a terrible thing to some of its citizens. It began when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, an order that authorized the internment of over 100,000 Japanese American citizens, including men, women, and children, as well as any resident aliens from Japan.
Write to Me is the story of one San Diego librarian, Clara Breed, who saw the injustice of incarcerating innocent people and whole families and tried to make it somewhat bearable for her young library patrons. Grady begins with the sad moment when young Katherine Tasaki has to return her books and relinquish her library card. Later, seeing the children she knew from the library off at the train station, Miss Breed gave out books and stamped postcards for the kids to write and let her know how and where they are and if they needed anything.
Soon, the postcards Miss Breed had give out began to arrive at the library from [Santa Anita Racetrack] Arcadia, California. She began writing the kids, sending them boxes of books and more postcards. On weekends, she visited and brought even more books. After seeing the kinds of conditions her young friends were being subjected to and the enjoyment the books she sent gave them, Miss Breed began writing letters and magazine articles asking for libraries to be opened in the internment camps for the kids to have easier access to reading.
Miss Breed continued to correspond with the kids she knew even after they were moved to the Poston Internment Camp in Poston, Arizona, in the middle of the desert. She also continued sending books, as well seeds, thread, soap, and crafts materials. Learning about the harsh conditions they lived with everyday, Miss Breed continued to write letters and magazine articles, hoping to make the country aware of how its citizens were being treated.
Write to Me is a picture book for older readers who are just beginning to learn about this period of American history and while it focused on Miss Breed's actions more than on the actual treatment of the Japanese American families she tried to help or the pervasive racism towards them, it does show young readers that one person can really make a difference in the lives of others. I think that's a message that will certainly resonate for them in today's world.
Interestingly, the focus of each of Amiko Hirao's gently muted color pencil illustrations is reflected in the postcard excerpts sent by the children that are found on almost every page.
There is extensive back matter, including an Author's Note, a recounting of Notable Dates in Clara Breed's Life, Selected History of Japanese People in the United States, a Selected Bibliography, and suggestions for Further Reading. The front and back end papers contain relevant captioned photographs.
Though it is for a somewhat older child, with scaffolding teachers might want to pair this with I Am An American by Jerry Stanly, for a more rounded picture of Japanese American internment camps.
The Japanese American National Museum has an online collection of letters written to Clara Breed from her young patrons incarcerated in internment camps, including Katherine Tasaki. You can read them HERE
One of the magazines Clara Breed wrote articles for was the Horn Book Magazine and you can read one of her articles "American with the Wrong Ancestors" published July 7, 1943 HERE
This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was purchased for my personal library
Clara Breed wrote another article in Jan/Feb 1945 issue of the Horn Book Magazine, which is not online but I found it in the library. The article is "Books That Build Better Racial Attitudes" and while it is really dated, I was curious to see what she recommended. One of the books is called The Moved-Outers by Florence C. Means, about the internment of a Japanese American family, and may very possibly be the first book about it. It was also a 1946 Newbery Honor book. I actually read it when I was researching my dissertation, but ultimately didn't use it, except as an example of patriotic propaganda. I'm definitely going to have to reread it one of these days.
Write to Me is the story of one San Diego librarian, Clara Breed, who saw the injustice of incarcerating innocent people and whole families and tried to make it somewhat bearable for her young library patrons. Grady begins with the sad moment when young Katherine Tasaki has to return her books and relinquish her library card. Later, seeing the children she knew from the library off at the train station, Miss Breed gave out books and stamped postcards for the kids to write and let her know how and where they are and if they needed anything.
Soon, the postcards Miss Breed had give out began to arrive at the library from [Santa Anita Racetrack] Arcadia, California. She began writing the kids, sending them boxes of books and more postcards. On weekends, she visited and brought even more books. After seeing the kinds of conditions her young friends were being subjected to and the enjoyment the books she sent gave them, Miss Breed began writing letters and magazine articles asking for libraries to be opened in the internment camps for the kids to have easier access to reading.
Miss Breed continued to correspond with the kids she knew even after they were moved to the Poston Internment Camp in Poston, Arizona, in the middle of the desert. She also continued sending books, as well seeds, thread, soap, and crafts materials. Learning about the harsh conditions they lived with everyday, Miss Breed continued to write letters and magazine articles, hoping to make the country aware of how its citizens were being treated.
Write to Me is a picture book for older readers who are just beginning to learn about this period of American history and while it focused on Miss Breed's actions more than on the actual treatment of the Japanese American families she tried to help or the pervasive racism towards them, it does show young readers that one person can really make a difference in the lives of others. I think that's a message that will certainly resonate for them in today's world.
Interestingly, the focus of each of Amiko Hirao's gently muted color pencil illustrations is reflected in the postcard excerpts sent by the children that are found on almost every page.
There is extensive back matter, including an Author's Note, a recounting of Notable Dates in Clara Breed's Life, Selected History of Japanese People in the United States, a Selected Bibliography, and suggestions for Further Reading. The front and back end papers contain relevant captioned photographs.
Though it is for a somewhat older child, with scaffolding teachers might want to pair this with I Am An American by Jerry Stanly, for a more rounded picture of Japanese American internment camps.
The Japanese American National Museum has an online collection of letters written to Clara Breed from her young patrons incarcerated in internment camps, including Katherine Tasaki. You can read them HERE
One of the magazines Clara Breed wrote articles for was the Horn Book Magazine and you can read one of her articles "American with the Wrong Ancestors" published July 7, 1943 HERE
This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was purchased for my personal library
Clara Breed wrote another article in Jan/Feb 1945 issue of the Horn Book Magazine, which is not online but I found it in the library. The article is "Books That Build Better Racial Attitudes" and while it is really dated, I was curious to see what she recommended. One of the books is called The Moved-Outers by Florence C. Means, about the internment of a Japanese American family, and may very possibly be the first book about it. It was also a 1946 Newbery Honor book. I actually read it when I was researching my dissertation, but ultimately didn't use it, except as an example of patriotic propaganda. I'm definitely going to have to reread it one of these days.