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Fred Korematsu: All American Hero
Our hero is mild-mannered Fred Korematsu, an ordinary welder working in a shipyard who transforms into a champion for more than a hundred thousand people.
This story follows Korematsu from his all-American childhood in Oakland, California, to his role as a young man in challenging the Internment, to his reopening, as a man in his sixties, the very case he had lost before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1944.
This story follows Korematsu from his all-American childhood in Oakland, California, to his role as a young man in challenging the Internment, to his reopening, as a man in his sixties, the very case he had lost before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1944.
- GenresBiographyGraphic Novels
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 3, 2023
The story of Fred Korematsu is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Fred stood up for his rights; he refused to let his government define who he was. Fred disobeyed the order to relocate to internment camps (Executive Order 9066) and fought all the way to SCOTUS. Even though lost he never stopped fighting for his rights. A wonderful book for young readers.
September 7, 2017
A story of a little-known American hero, framed around 9/11. Sheirin, a Muslim girl, watches all her elementary school friends turn their backs on her after the Towers were attacked. The children, mirroring their parents' fear and frustration, taunt her and make her life at school miserable. She questions whether she really IS American for the first time. Then, she meets an old, tiny Japanese woman who has a tale to tell...
A story of Fred Korematsu, a Japanese-American who is imprisoned in a horse stall along with other Japanese Americans during WWII, Americans who lose everything because they LOOK LIKE the enemy. He fights this discrimination, and loses...and loses...and loses. But he doesn't give up, and this is the case that ultimately led to the ruling that demanded reparations for every Japanese American who was uprooted and imprisoned.
Sheirin learns that America sometimes turns on its own citizens for really terrible reasons. She realizes that she can be brave like Ken, and face her future with courage.
Reading this in the midst of the DACA controversy brings the truth of 'the different' back to light. I have great faith in the young people of our country...but the old ones? Not so much. Timely and thought-provoking.
A story of Fred Korematsu, a Japanese-American who is imprisoned in a horse stall along with other Japanese Americans during WWII, Americans who lose everything because they LOOK LIKE the enemy. He fights this discrimination, and loses...and loses...and loses. But he doesn't give up, and this is the case that ultimately led to the ruling that demanded reparations for every Japanese American who was uprooted and imprisoned.
Sheirin learns that America sometimes turns on its own citizens for really terrible reasons. She realizes that she can be brave like Ken, and face her future with courage.
Reading this in the midst of the DACA controversy brings the truth of 'the different' back to light. I have great faith in the young people of our country...but the old ones? Not so much. Timely and thought-provoking.
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May 15, 2019This book is a historical fiction graphic novel that tells the story of Fred Korematsu and the Japanese internment camps. The writing in this book is simple and not very difficult to read/understand, but it is still very educational and informs the readers on this specific time period in America. The graphics help show the context and setting since the script doesn't, which really ties this book together and makes it an interesting yet very informational piece. I recommend this book for any age due to the simple language and graphics, but also to people who enjoy historical books, non fiction, and graphic novels. This book is a quick read but very enjoyable so it will be worth your time.
November 25, 2019
As a writer myself, the lack of editing in this drove me up the walls. It hopped between past and present tense like nobody's business. The art also fluctuated, with Korematsu looking older at the age of 23 or so than he does at the age of 40.
There are definitely interesting things to learn about the Japanese internment and the fight for civil liberties for minorities. I think this book is great for children to learn more about the past and how it draws parallels with current events (regardless of when "current" is). I definitely learned some interesting bits that I want to look into more. One such mention is that people of Japanese decent all over the Americas were sent to the internment camps, not just Japanese Americans. Worth reading to learn more in a quick, accessible way.
There are definitely interesting things to learn about the Japanese internment and the fight for civil liberties for minorities. I think this book is great for children to learn more about the past and how it draws parallels with current events (regardless of when "current" is). I definitely learned some interesting bits that I want to look into more. One such mention is that people of Japanese decent all over the Americas were sent to the internment camps, not just Japanese Americans. Worth reading to learn more in a quick, accessible way.
March 23, 2021
I thought this book explained very well about what happened to the Japense people during WWII and even the Muslims during 9/11.
June 15, 2016
A quick, tireless insight into the liberation struggles of Japanese Americans in the 20th century. A story of hope, of freedom and of one man's fight for humanity. The script is quite simple, refreshing and yet educative in all sense. The pictorial style used to deliver made me last until the last page. I would recommend this to an eleven year old as well as a fifty year old.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews