Japanese American Internment: Prisoners in Their Own Land

by Steven Otfinoski

Overview

Vivid storytelling brings World War II history to life and place readers in the shoes of the people who experienced the United States' Japanese internment camps. On the heels of Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. Through this order, more than 110,000 people of Japanese descent, many of them U.S. citizens, were forced to relocate to military camps for the duration of the war. Suspenseful, dramatic events unfold in chronological, interwoven stories from the different perspectives of people who experienced these events while they were happening. Narratives intertwine to create a breathless, "What's Next?" kind of read. Students gain a new perspective on historical figures as they learn about real people struggling to decide how best to act in a given moment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781543572575
Publisher:	Capstone Press
Publication date:	08/01/2019
Series:	Tangled History Series
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 7.50(h) x (d)
Lexile:	820L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 14 Years

About the Author

Steven Otfinoski has written more than 150 books for young readers. Three of his nonfiction books have been chosen Books for the Teen Age by the New York Public Library. Steve is also a playwright and has his own theater company that brings one-person plays about American history to schools. Steve lives in Connecticut with his wife, who is a teacher. They have two children, two dogs, and a cat.

Table of Contents

Foreword 4

1 Evacuation 8

2 Temporary Housing 30

3 Welcome to Camp 42

4 Life Behind the Barbed Wire 56

5 Survival 68

6 Going Home 84

Epilogue 96

Timeline 106

Glossary 108

Critical Thinking Questions 109

Internet Sites 109

Further Reading 110

Selected Bibliography 111

Index 112

About the Author 112

Interviews

1. Readers gain an intimate portrait of the events that led up to establishment of Japanese Internment camps and the Japanese American citizens who endured these camps during World War II. 2. Students who are interested in history will be mesmerized by little known details about why Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps and what life was like in them. 3. A focus on people inside and outside the internment camps gives students different perspectives on this time in American history. 4. The large cast of characters helps students see historical figures as real people struggling with racial prejudice and imprisonment in the land they call home.