Baseball and World War II

Mochizuki, Ken. 1993. Baseball saved us. Ill. by Dom Lee. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc.


Ken Mochizuki tells the story of how one group of Japanese Americans survives the internment camps they were forced to live in as a result of treatment of Japanes Americans by the United States government during World War II. The story focuses on a boy whose love of baseball helps him survive during his time at the internment camp and in difficult situations after the war is over.


The book, inspired by actual events, describes the isolation, loneliness, and frustration of the Japanes Americans of the forced internment. They are forced from their homes and jobs and relocated to Idaho. In the book, the Father realizes the frustration and "that's when Dad knew we needed baseball." Illustrations created by applying encaustic beeswax on paper then scratching out images and adding oil paint over them, make the reader feel as if you are there in the dusty, desolate, camp. As Shorty begins to feel more comfortable and gain happiness from playing baseball, the illustrations began to change. More colors are added such as red, blue, green until the last celebratory illustration in the book. Written in short sentences, the text conveys the emotions of the characters.

Upon a first reading of the book, I thought more could have been added to the text. However, a second and third reading allowed me to see that the short, clipped sentences without elaboration allows the reader to sense the desperation, finality, and uncertainty of the real-life event.


Recommended for grades 2-6.


Keywords: Japanese Americans, Internment Camps, World War II, Courage.