Baseball Saved Us
1 Paperback/1 CD (see all formats)

"The camps where Japanese-Americans were interned during WWII are an ugly piece of American history. Mochizuki provides a glimpse into this period as a young boy and his family are whisked away to a desert camp. For the boy and his camp mates, developing baseball prowess brings a modicum of sanity to the experience and provides a means of relating to schoolmates upon return to post-war America. Mochizuki narrates with gentleness and a depth that comes from intimate understanding. The boy's indignation at camp conditions, as well as his resolve to become a better ball player and his pride in his accomplishments, is clear. Mochizuki’s words are made all the more powerful by Dom Lee's scratchboard and ink illustrations."

"During World War II the author's parents were sent to an internment camp in Idaho. That family history led to this poignant story about a young Japanese American boy in a internment camp and the baseball diamond that gave the internees a purpose in life and a way of passing the time. The young boy's triumph in a game played while in captivity helps him when he returns home and continues his baseball career. The baseball heading over the fence on the last page tugs at the heart of readers as it symbolizes freedom lost, and regained. Author Ken Mochizuki reads his award winning book. There is some soft background music, and a few gentle sound effects, but the power of the words need little embellishment. Young students will be made aware of the overt racism Japanese-Americans faced during this period of history. This treasure of a book is well-treated in this format."