The Overlap of THEN and NOW: Asian American Hatred

Award-Winning Graphic Novel/HistoryDISPLACEMENT

By Kiku Hughes

Paperback, 288 pages
Published August 18th 2020 by First Second
ISBN  1250193532
Praise For DisplacementA 2020 ALA Asian/Pacific American Award Young Adult Honor Title

Listed as one of YALSA’s 2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

This is a compelling and highly accessible graphic blend of personal history, American history, current events with a dose of magical realism. The central premise is the time-travel-displacement experience of a contemporary Japanese-American daughter. She becomes aware of surprising and traumatic  details of her grandmother’s Japanese internment story from her own seemingly lived experience. For those familiar with Jane Yolen’s THE DEVIL’S ARITHMETIC, (Holocaust history) it is an effective device to engage young readers with the past that is integrated through a contemporary lens.
This graphic format is highly readable and emotionally powerful. It reads as  a well-researched fictional piece, until reaching the end to discover that the author’s family story actually forms the complex foundation of the story.
Hughes includes information about her own family, and about notable resistance heroes from that illegal incarceration experience. I’ve read multiple versions of Japanese internment stories. This one does a fantastic job of tying history to present day, of exploring the reason that much of this history was silenced, even within families, and of the crisis of identity as it relates to personal past, social past, and present realities.
Highly recommended.
April. 2021
Hardcover, 400 pages
by HMH Books for
Young Readers
ISBN 035813143X
* NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * PRINTZ HONOR BOOK * WALTER HONOR BOOK *
Traci Chee is an award winning author. Reading this book confirms that she is a consummate storyteller and researcher. She frames the Japanese-American incarceration during WWII (and related United States War Powers orders and consequences of that era) within a network of deep and rich friendships, neighborhood history, and the individual voices/experiences of a group of Japanese-American teens. I felt I had a decent grip on the facts of this era, which proved to be seriously lacking. This book approached as close to a lived experience of those events as someone removed from the time and place could have. I won’t forget the experiences or the characters, and neither will you.
At first I imagined I’d need a chart or notes to sustain the complexity of the individuals, their levels of connection, their personalities, and their varied experiences throughout the five years portrayed in this novel. That was far from the case, because each person’s voice and emotional journey engaged me and stayed with me. Each was so thoroughly brought to life on the page that any individual experience brought to mind its impact on the others to whom they were so intricately and brilliantly connected.
I classified this (for my own purposes) as both fiction and nonfiction because the actual experiences of Chee’s family members and others she interviewed are seamlessly woven throughout the fictional telling within actual time and places. If you have no clue about what “no-no” responses were (and their consequences), what segregation camps were, how the 442nd Regimental Combat team changed the outcome of the European front in WWII (and the cost of those successes in Japanese-American lives), or how the Revocation of the Japanese Exclusion Ban actually affected imprisoned Japanese-Americans, this is a must-read book.
And even if you DO have enough background that you feel aware of the above details (as I was), this is STILL a must-read book. What it provides is a much-needed understanding of the real-time impact of those years on those who were victimized by it, and also by the rest of American society in entrenching racism within our lives. When the phrase “systemic racism” is used (and so often denied), a book like this can help to make it real. It can (might) also open the door to honest conversations. What’s more, it is a compelling, engaging, emotional journey that every good read should be.
Both titles are classified as books for teens, yet both should be read by adults as well, and I will be encouraging that among my friends and network. The graphic DISPLACEMENT is particularly effective with middle grade readers who are in the process of learning American history.
These are  also an essential reads for those in support of current Asian-American-Pacific-Islanders who are targets of overt racism that threatens lives and security in this “free country” of ours. It is not enough to shake our heads or send “thoughts and prayers”. Voices, bodies, and activism are the responsibilities of all who believe in the core values of this country, of humanity.
Learning accurate information about generational trauma and hatred can prepare us to be more effective allies.

A “Couple” of Unsung Civil War Heroes: CLOTHESLINE CODE

By Janet Halfmann

Illustrated by Trisha Mason

Brandylane Publishers

Ages 6-11, Non Fiction Picture Book, hardcover & softcover

Buy this book at Bookshop, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble,Brandylane Publishers, and other booksellers

 

…BREAKING NEWS….

Congratulations to Janet Halfmann and Trisha Mason! CLOTHESLINE CODE has been awarded honors in the 2022 Storytelling World Resource Awards

… Returning to original review… I  was among others who endorsed author Janet Halfmann’s “hidden history”, THE CLOTHESLINE CODE: The Story of CIVIL WAR SPIES LUCY WALKER and DABNEY WALKER. before its release. Illustrations by Trisha Mason bring Janet’s heart-pounding story to life and augment understanding of the historical setting and circumstances, making it  suited for ages 6-11, but for adult readers, too. Here’s my early endorsement:

“Be prepared for page after page of surprises in this accurate and dramatically written and illustrated profile of Civil War heroes Lucy Ann and Dabney Walker. This is an impressive account of the brilliance, bravery, and boldness of a married couple who escaped enslavement to become spies for Union forces. They were praised while alive but have been overlooked by history—until NOW!”

And here are more details to tide readers over until it releases on February 1, 2021:

Lucy and Dabny are two of the uncounted Black people who risked their lives to fight for and otherwise serve the Union forces during the Civil War. Black men who served in uniform for the North were nearly always segregated into all-Black units and assigned a white leader. In this portrait of heroes we learn that Dabny was assigned to a brand-new intelligence unit, accompanied by his wife. The Walkers were both bright and innovative. Careful observations, questioning, and determination inspired the couple to develop a complex way to adapt the army’s established flag-signal system into a secret clothesline code. If it worked, and if they could remain undiscovered, they could provide information about plans and troop movements from behind Confederate lines.

When they were fully confident in their code, they planned for Lucy to hang laundry in specific colors and positions from the enemy encampment. Dabny and Lucy recognized the risk, from being returned to enslavement or execution. Despite the dangers, both pushed ahead to contribute to the success of the Union Army and help to end both the Civil War and centuries of slavery.

The Walkers had already risked everything in escaping from their own enslavement, yet they continued to serve the wider community, the military, and the nation in which they were finally able to live freely. During their lives and for a few years after, their heroism and contributions were well known in the Washington area where they made their home after the war. Even so, history managed to ignore them for more than a century and half. It’s to the credit of Halfmann, Mason, and Brandylane Publishers that they are finally reaching a wider public.

This publication offers all the advantages of a fully illustrated picture book with images that amplify and enrich a well-told narrative. The word count is more than typical, but every word carries its weight. That includes the supplementary text throughout, from the dedication to introduction to author notes to resource references and quotation sources.

Halfmann has demonstrated a deft touch and craft in digging out the bones of stories from history, people and facts that were long-buried from the population as a whole. She identifies intrepid individuals who have championed and sustained these noble stories, often using primary sources. Then, like constructing a quilt, she transforms neglected and ragged scraps into a work of art that inspires and comforts without distorting the factual content. She showcases real lives and relationships. Janet is not Black, but she has a proven track record of pursuing authentic stories, accessing legitimate voices, and seeking the most reliable “own voices” to consult and provide corrections or validation as her works are developed.

Halfmann’s prior successes in this arena are shining spotlights on rarely reecognized heroes and s/heroes, opening the way for others to explore and share even further. Check out The Story of Civil War Hero ROBERT SMALLS (in picture book and chapter book formats) and multi-award-winning picture book, MIDNIGHT TEACHER: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School.

These, along with the Walker’s story, present colorful and dramatic content that invite screen adaptations. Until that happens, inspire yourself to make the most of your own lives by reading Halfmann’s titles, including THE CLOTHESLINE CODE: The Story of CIVIL WAR SPIES LUCY ANN and DABNEY WALKER.

CHILDREN’S AUTHOR http://www.janethalfmannauthor.com

Meet Janet Halfmann:

@JanetHalfmann

Recent titles by Janet include The Clothesline Code: The Story of Civil War Spies Lucy Ann and Dabney Walker; A Bobby-Dazzler of a Pouch!; The Story of Civil War Hero Robert Smalls (Chapter Book for Grades 3-7); Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School; Grandma Is a Slowpoke; Animal Teachers; Eggs 1, 2, 3: Who Will the Babies Be?; Home in the Cave; Star of the Sea; Good Night, Little Sea Otter; Fur and Feathers; Little Skink’s Tail; and Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story. Janet has written more than forty fiction and nonfiction books for children

Before becoming a children’s author, Janet was a daily newspaper reporter, children’s magazine editor, and a creator of coloring and activity books for Golden Books. She is the mother of four and the grandmother of six. When Janet isn’t writing, she enjoys gardening, exploring nature, visiting living history museums, and spending time with her family. She grew up on a farm in  Michigan and now lives in South Milwaukee, WI.

The book is releasing from Brandylane Publishers and the illustrator is Trisha Mason. The book is distributed by Ingram. It is available from bookstores and online booksellers. You can find more info about the book on my website: https://www.janethalfmannauthor.com/the-clothesline-code

IS IT OVER? Happy 2021!

We’re ALL counting on 2021 to be a huge improvement over 2020, right?  Well, to kick off the new year, I’m sharing a  “two-fer” good news.

Later this spring (stay tuned for details) a new picture book will hit the stands, written by Sandy Brehl and illustrated by Becky Hirsch. It has absolutely nothing to do with politics or Coronavirus, but check out the title:

IS IT OVER?

Blurb-

KA-BOOM!  When storms send you running for cover, be brave, look up. Find a story in the storm to calm your fears. Your story just might help someone you love.

The cover reveal and social media announcements will begin later this month, but close friends and family are getting a sneak preview. Followers here are both friends and family, so you are all first up to hear the news!

I’d love to have you follow along with our updates and announcements. If any of you have blog or other outlets to review books or interview creators, please get in touch! We’ll be grateful for any interest and support.

If you haven’t already done so, you can find me on Facebook at Sandy Brehl Author, on Twitter @SandyBrehl and @PBWorkshop and at https://sandybrehlbooks.com

You can find Becky online at https://www.rhirschillustration.com  or as rhirschillus on Instagram.

Heads up, there is another Rebecca Hirsch illustrator online, so don’t just  Google her name. That name must have been first in roll call when art talent was being handed out!

Here’s a tiny glimpse of an interior image, my welcome to the new year.

 

Happy New Year, everyone, and stay cautious as we continue our Covid battles!

Sandy’s email:

sbrehlhce@yahoo.com

Becky’s email:

rh@rhirschillustration.com

 

 

 

Review: BROTHER’S KEEPER by Julie Lee

 

BROTHER’S KEEPER by Julie Lee.

  • ISBN-10 : 0823444945
  • ISBN-13 : 978-0823444946
  • Holiday House, 2020
  • Starred reviews: Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publishers’ Weekly, Booklist
  • Junior Library Guild Selection
  • Jane Addams Peace Award Finalist

“The martial and political conflict in 1950 Korea is catalyst and backdrop, and the story of the Pak children’s treacherous flight is compelling. The underlying domestic struggle between Sora and her parents carries equal weight, though.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

The various accolades listed above provide plenty of motivation for reading BROTHER’S KEEPER by Julie Lee. Even so, I’ll add my voice to their praise, in hopes that many more will read this remarkable story.  The subject of the Korean War has had far too many untold stories, but that is especially true from the perspective of Korean families from the North who made their way, against enormous odds, to the southern peninsula in order to reach freedom and basic survival.

I was an avid fan of M*A*S*H- the television series. I read and heard that their technical consultants were sticklers for historic accuracy, but my assumption was that this reflected the expertise of medical and military advisors. In other words, Western points of view. I vividly recall several episodes in which refugees from northern territories and also North Korea were streaming south in the midst of the storyline. Those scenes came to mind while reading a few scenes in this novel. Over the long run of the series, a few more storylines and perspectives of local Koreans came into play, but things were distinctly focused on an American telling. After all, this was a series about American medical services during the Korean “policing action”, the war that was never declared, and so has never actually ended.

With that said, I began reading BROTHER’S KEEPER eagerly, knowing that I’d have much to learn and hopeful that the storytelling would be compelling. I was not disappointed. The story involves the early days of Allied (American) involvement with Communist North Korea (1950-51). Families fearing increasing repression and longing for freedom faced only one alternative- an escape as refugees to the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. The risks involved were immeasurable, especially when the family included three children.

The complexity of the times, places, Korean names and occasional vocabulary, and political circumstances are made navigable by thoughtful design and formatting choices. Chapter labels are dated, a past tense voice feels urgently in-the-moment, and interspersed passages in italic font allow for flashbacks and recollections. These passages were not overdone or utilized as “cheap tricks” for information dumps or shortcuts in the story line. Rather, they served to expand and deepen the reader’s awareness of the conflicted feelings Sora (or noona, older sister of a male person) has for her siblings, culture, education, and especially for her mother. Each step of her threatening and harrowing physical journey is hindered and tangled within the strands of her inner journey. Compounding these specific and societal conflicts are the universal sibling and age-appropriate emotional reactions that young readers will recognize in themselves.

It is an enormous accomplishment when a novel for middle grade readers manages to balance a high-stakes, action-packed plot with an intimate emotional experience. This is even more true when the physical obstacles eventually resolve while the underlying story continues to unfold. Readers gradually recognize what has been at stake all along, discovering a framework through which to view  their own external life experiences as tools for exploring the landscape of their emotions and relationships.

There are dangers, action-packed scenes, and nail-biting conflict aplenty for readers whose tastes lean that way, but there are also political and social issues for readers who take a  more analytic approach to historical novels. The fact that this fictional story was inspired by the author’s mother makes each detail even more heart-pounding. The notes, glossary, and historical event synopses in the back pages add welcome authenticity to a story that can seem nearly impossible to believe.

As an author, I have three goals for success when anyone asks  me, “How are your books doing?”

  • Is anyone reading it (them)?
  • Does the reader feel eager to talk to someone about the book(s)?
  • Has the reader learned anything new, without feeling they were being “taught”?

I don’t know what Julie Lee’s goals are for this book, but as I read BROTHER’S KEEPER i could answer all of the above with YES, YES, and YES.

And, while we’re on the subject of North Korea…

A few years ago I read a contemporary novel set in North Korea for late middle-graders and teens, IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN, by Anne Sibley OBrien.

What a rare topic, incorporating a wide range of important issues, complex characters, a heart-pounding plot, and intense family relationships. O’Brien’s personal history, professional focus, and obvious research combine to create a novel unlike most others. She offers a well-written and page-turning suspense-thriller-entertainment novel for early teens. O’Brien also writes well enough to  allow central character, Mia, to reflect on her cultural and familial identities while learning about harsh realities in modern day North Korea, all without slowing the pace by a single beat.

That central character and voice, Mia, rings true throughout her journey. She transforms, credibly,  from a tightly-packed, self-restrained early teen to discovering, by necessity, that she is more capable, creative, and direct than she would ever have  imagined she could be.
There is no separating this story from the reality of contemporary North Korea, and there shouldn’t be. This novel turns a “trope” or political talking point into a complex reality filled with humanity, intrigue, and mystery.

 

A Masterful Mixture of Voices from WWII Homefront

THE SUMMER WE FOUND THE BABY

by Amy Hest

Candlewick, 9780763660079, 192pp.

Publication Date: August 4, 2020

 

 

 

 

This middle grade, multi-voiced view of WWII from a Long Island summer getaway achieves a remarkable sense of contemporary relevance. It employs alternating voices with distinctly narrow points of view as the narrators. Eleven-year-old Julie and  her six-years-old sister Martha arrived from the city as summer residents with their writer/father, becoming temporary  next-door neighbors to the family of year-round resident Bruno Ben-Eli. With Julie’s single-minded pursuit of proving herself, young Martha in perpetual search of a mom-figure, and Bruno in a persistent state of worry over his brother-gone-to-war, the yearning in each voice resonates with undercurrents of familiar sibling emotions, pre-teen angst, and the tunnel vision of youth.

That title-worthy baby appears early on in this situation, propelling the threesome’s individual and shared actions and the tone of their storytelling until the final (satisfying) resolution. Each short chapter/voice layers in actual information with unreliable content, weaving a mystery and missions that pull readers along by its artful blend of a middle grade novel structure while providing the accessibility and appeal of a well-written verse novel. Wry humor laced throughout offers welcome release at crucial moments.

Several things in this new offering struck me as  stand outs. I’m not a New Yorker, but have read quite a few books for kids that are set in “the city”, from classics like Tar Beach and Harriet the Spy to modern marvels like Nana in the City and The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya, among many others. In each case the city becomes a character, expressing various neighborhood personalities, whether seen through illustrations or in the multi-sensory qualities that emerge from well-written text. Even so, I’ve encountered very few books for kids that are set on Long Island. 

If you have others to suggest, please leave recommendations in the comments.

I’ve often marveled at how very different “the island” seems from “the city”, at least as portrayed in adult books and in movies. This story offers a strong sense of a very particular place and time, so near and yet so far from what many of us view as “New York”. I thoroughly appreciated finding a sense of what life might actually be like in this extension of “the city”.

Also, as the call for presenting diverse characters on the page is finally leading to more books doing just that, a legitimate caveat is to write those diverse characters as simply living life authentically and fully formed, without attaching historical or identity issues to them as if to validate their presence on the page. In this case, Bruno Ben-Eli and his family are never directly labeled as a war-era Jewish-American family, and yet their individual and family lives introduce non-stereotypical characters as fully formed players in these complex relationships.

There’s much to enjoy in this new stateside World War II novel. And it you enjoy this one, try DUKE, the first of Kirby Larson’s Dogs of War series. There’s no dog involved, and the stories are quite distinct, yet the struggles of preteens dealing with timeless troubles and war-centered worries in both invite discussion and comparison.

I reviewed a library copy of THE SUMMER WE FOUND THE BABY.