Baseball Saved Us--the groundbreaking children's book about the Japanese American concentration camp experience during World War II
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Shorty and his family, along with thousands of other Japanese Americans, have been forced to relocate from their home to Camp. One day Shorty's dad looks out across the desert and decides they should build a baseball field. Fighting the heat, dust, and freezing cold nights, the prisoners need something to look forward to, even if only for nine innings. So in this unlikely place, surrounded by barbed-wire fences and guards in towers, a baseball league is born. And Shorty soon finds that he is playing not only to win, but to gain dignity and self-respect.
Inspired by a long-hidden and shameful part of America's past, and the people who triumphed over it, this modern classic remains a moving story of hope, courage, and endurance. The new 25th Anniversary Edition features an updated cover and author's note.--from the publisher
32 pages 978-1880000199 Ages 6-11
Keywords: historical fiction, baseball, Japanese American internment, World War II, United States, Social Studies Curriculum, family, hope, sports, 6 year old, 7 year old, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, diverse books, diversity, racism, discrimination, prejudice,
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One day my dad looked out at the endless desert and decided then and there to build a baseball field. "Shorty" and his family, along with thousands of other Japanese Americans, have been forced to relocate from their homes to a "camp" after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Fighting the heat, dust, and freezing cold nights of the desert, Shorty and the others at the camp need something to look forward to, even if only for nine innings. So they build a playing field, and in this unlikely place, a baseball league is formed. Surrounded by barbed-wire fences and guards in towers, Shorty soon finds that he is playing not only to win, but to gain dignity and self-respect as well.
Inspired by actual events, this moving story of hope and courage in a Japanese American internment camp during World War II reveals a long-hidden and ugly part of the American past. This 25th Anniversary Edition features a revised cover and a new introduction from the author and illustrator.--from the publisher
