Stealing Home

by J Torres (Author) David Namisato (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

When a boy struggles after moving to a Japanese internment camp during WWII, baseball shows him another way to approach life.

Sandy Saito is a happy boy who reads comic books and is obsessed with baseball --- especially the Asahi team, the pride of his Japanese Canadian community. But when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, his life, like that of every other North American of Japanese descent, changes forever. His family is forced to move to a remote internment camp, and his father must spend months away from them. Sandy, his mother and his brother cope as best they can with the difficulties at the camp. Over time, Sandy comes to realize that life is a lot like baseball. It's about dealing with whatever is thrown at you, however you can. And it's about finding your way home.

In this emotionally gripping graphic novel, J. Torres has artfully woven a fictional story into a historically accurate, thoroughly researched account of the events surrounding the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II. Using the approachable graphic novel format, the story of this grave chapter in North American history is gently told with sensitivity and insight, and the theme of baseball runs through the story as a message of hope and renewal. The time and place are evocatively rendered in David Namisato's detailed sepia-toned art. Along with its links to social studies and history lessons, this book offers a perfect lead-in to discussions about differences, inclusion and empathy, and about why this history is relevant today. The book includes extended background information in an afterword by Susan Aihoshi and resources for learning more.

Select format:
Hardcover
$17.99

Kirkus Reviews

An emotional, much-needed historical graphic novel. 

School Library Journal

A strong companion read to George Takei's They Called Us Enemy from the Canadian perspective, though aimed at a slightly younger audience. 

Review quotes

 
J Torres
J. Torres is a comic book writer orbiting near Toronto, Canada. His other writing credits include Do-Gooders, How to Spot a Sasquatch, BroBots, Teen Titans Go, and The Mighty Zodiac. His favorite princesses are Disney's Snow White, Mononoke, The Paperbag Princess, Starfire, and Wonder Woman.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781525303340
Lexile Measure
430
Guided Reading Level
5
Publisher
Kids Can Press
Publication date
October 20, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV008000 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | General
JUV030030 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Canada - General
JUV016160 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | Canada - General
Library of Congress categories
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