Displacement
Books | Young Adult Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Historical
4.2
(223)
Kiku Hughes
A riveting tale of a teenager's unexpected journey into her grandmother's past, exploring the intergenerational impact of the Japanese-American internment camps during World War II.While on vacation in San Francisco, Kiku suddenly finds herself displaced to the 1940s Japanese-American internment camp that her late grandmother, Ernestina, was forcibly relocated to during World War II. As these displacements continue, Kiku becomes "stuck" in the past, living alongside her young grandmother and other Japanese-American citizens in the internment camps.Through this firsthand experience, Kiku receives an education she never got in history class. She witnesses the lives of Japanese-Americans who were denied their civil liberties and suffered greatly, yet managed to cultivate community and commit acts of resistance in order to survive.In Displacement, Kiku Hughes weaves a bittersweet tale that highlights the power of memory and the importance of understanding our history. This historical graphic novel sheds light on a dark chapter in American history, revealing the strength and resilience of those who endured it.
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Author
Kiku Hughes
Pages
288
Publisher
First Second
Published Date
2020-08-18
ISBN
1250801621 9781250801623
Community ReviewsSee all
"This is a deeply personal story to me. I’ve never been comfortable putting it all in writing, but for anyone who knows me, I hope you realize this is not a reluctance to discuss a gross social injustice that affected thousands of Japanese Americans in the 1940s. I hope you feel compelled to ask me about Executive Order 9066 or the 442nd. I’ve sought answers that never quite satisfy my need to know, but I’m always happy to share the knowledge I’ve learned over the years, because I truly believe history is doomed to repeat itself if we don’t educate ourselves. Our futures lie in our pasts, and I think this graphic novel illustrates that very well.<br/><br/>I enjoyed both the artistry and story of this graphic novel, but the biggest takeaway is the message. This is one of the clearest dialogues I’ve read on the subject that traces the past to the present. While it skews more YA, I think it should by read by everyone and discussed, since this is still a subject that’s not always covered in school. We can help remedy that by starting our own conversations and seeking out that knowledge, and I hope this book can become a starting point for that."
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Allie Peduto
"3/5 for me personally, but 4/5 as a book for a tween/ young teen reader<br/><br/>Honestly, I was definitely not in the target audience for this. I’d prob give this book to someone who is in 5th to 9th grade, rather than someone my age, but I’m sure it’d be great for that age group. It did feel like it was infodumping at times, and the text to image balance wasn’t quite right. But the art was phenomenal, and the story was good. The pacing also wasn’t quite right. That said, it would be a great way to introduce the topic of the Japanese Internment/Imprisonment Camps to a tween/teen reader, and also introduce the topic of intergenerational trauma to a younger reader. I also really liked the way it connected past events to the present. Honestly, this book was not for me, but I would love to see it in a middle school library, as I think it would be really great for that age group to read.<br/>"
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