My Thoughts: 

I read other books this semester that shared the perspectives of Japanese and Japanese American people incarcerated by the US government during WWII, but the graphic novel format of this book lent a different kind of gravity and insight into George Takei's experiences as an imprisoned child. I thought his reflections on his impressions at the time overlayed with his adult understanding were especially poignant and relevant today, as the US government holds and processes immigrant children and families that cross into the US unauthorized. The visual format of the memoir conveys the emotions and experiences of Japanese Americans effectively without the need for large amounts of dialog or written passages, and may make this more accessible to adolescents who are overwhelmed by traditional formats. What Takei does write is more impactful for its conciseness and precision. This book stayed with me long after I finished it, in part because it created such a strong visual impression.

Programming ideas: 

Students or patrons could make mini graphic novel memoirs about their own lives or their family history. They could also use this format to illustrate a historical event or create biographies of historical figures. This could be part of a research project for Social Studies or ELA, or it could be set up as an informal activity they complete in the library or take home. A class could create a graphic novel by assigning a time period or life stage of real people to each student and then arranging the chapters in sequence.