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Tama works in the library at the Minidoka incarceration camp, where she has been imprisioned because she is Japanese American. Life in the Idaho camp is scary, sad, confusing, frustrating and lonely. Getting through each day is hard. Tama prefers to escape into her books, which are filled with stories of honour and adventure.
But every day, George is at the library, too - with a smile, yet another stack of books and his comforting presence. It is George who helps Tama understand that she isn't alone, and in that realization, hope is found.
Maggie Tokuda-Hall's wrenching and beautiful tale is based on the experience of her own grandparents, who met in Minidoka during World War II. Their story is one of hope, about a family bornout of love during an unconscionable time in American history, a time that has troubling resonance even today.
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In this book, the author Maggie Tokuda-Hall tells the story of how her grandparents, Tama and George, first met and fell in love.
It is an unusual premise for a picture book aimed at children, particularly bearing in mind that they met in a the a prison camp during World War Two. The Minidoka incarceration camp in Idaho was the place where American Japanese residents were forced to go following the attack on Pearl Harbour.
Within these awful conditions Tama worked in the camp library. It was through their love of books that she met George, fell in love, married and their first child was born.
It is a story of hope, love and survival. I particularly liked the Author's Note at the back of the book which includes a photo of Tama and George.
It is nicely illustrated with a muted colour pallette which is appropriate to the setting of the book. This book will appeal to both boys and girls.
ISBN: 978 1536236668
Publisher: Walker Books
Formats: e-book, hardcover and paperback
No. of Pages: 40 (paperback)
About the Author:
Maggie Tokuda-Hall is the author Also an Octopus, illustrated by Benji Davies, The Mermaid, The Witch and The Sea, Squad, illustrated by Lisa Sterle, and Love in the Library illustrated by Yas Imamura with more books forthcoming.
She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, son, and objectively perfect dog.
She has a BA in Studio Art from Scripps College, and an MFA in Writing from University of San Francisco.
About the Illustrator:
Yas Imamura is an Asian American illustrator living in Portland, Oregon.
Her works include collaborations with Anthropologie, Sanrio as well as her growing list of children’s books. Her preferred materials are gouache and watercolor and often finds herself drawn to projects that are playful, mysterious and a little offbeat.
(book and media courtesy of the publisher)
(author media courtesy of the author's website https://www.prettyokmaggie.com/)
(illustrator media courtesy of the Bright Agency)
(all opinions are my own)
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