As George and his family prepare for Christmas, they hear on the radio that Pearl Harbor has been attacked by the Japanese which would “naturally mean that the President would ask Congress for a declaration of war.”.

This results in “hostile words quickly erupt into violence throughout Tule Lake.”

When residents become seemingly more radical, George notes the unrest that exists throughout his second camp, Tule Lake.

With its engaging historical background and cultural depictions, They Called Us Enemy is a must-read for readers of all backgrounds. Overall, this 2020 American Award Winner lives up to the praise.

The combination of George’s conversation and a short, accompanied narrative tells not only George’s autobiography but the evolution of Japanese sentiment during and following World War II. The animated illustrations and comic style make this difficult subject more palatable for young readers while still depicting the tough reality of the characters’ situations.įrom the eyes of a young George Takei, readers are able to join George in his journey to understanding and coming to terms with his and his family’s imprisonment. They Called Us Enemy utilizes compelling visuals and accessible language to engage and educate readers on the difficult and often overlooked subject of Japanese internment.

Through simple, captivating images and storytelling, readers are given the chance to grow alongside George as the story progresses. In addition, George includes his thoughts on his incarceration. As readers learn George’s story and watch his growth physically and emotionally, they will view all stages of George’s life-from blissful childhood ignorance to teenage anger and thoughtful adulthood. This heartfelt story highlights the themes of family, sacrifice, and empathy. George’s later successes as an actor, activist, and author force him to reflect not only on his time in the camps but also on his understanding of his parents and their situation. When will the war end? How long will Japanese Americans suffer under this legalized racism? Will George, his family, and the other 120,000 Japanese Americans in internment camps ever be able to return home?Īs he grows older, George angrily questions how his parents and so many other Japanese Americans could have let this happen. Unable to grasp the injustices that George, his family, and other Japanese Americans are being forced to endure, George describes his joyful, yet troubled boyhood in two of America’s ten internment camps.Īs George and his family adjust to life in the internment camp, George cannot help but notice the anguish and anxiety his parents and families around them are experiencing. While George knows there is a war against the Japanese, he does not understand why he and his family are being forced to leave their home. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans are forced into internment camps.

They called us enemy graphic novel