Manzanar National Historic Site Related Reading List
The listing of resources below does not presume endorsement by the National Park Service. This is intended to be a comprehensive and inclusive list; the content of some books, when compared, contradict each other. The many perspectives on this subject should be considered as one develops his/her understanding of the treatment of Japanese Americans and their immigrant parents before, during and after World War II.
(Key: E = elementary school, M = middle school, H = high school, R = reference)
Books
Armor, John and Peter Wright. Manzanar; Photographs by Ansel Adams. (1988) - Ansel
Adams images of Manzanar from 1943, commentary by John Hersey (M,H,R)Baker, Lillian. American and Japanese Relocation in WWII; Fact, Fiction, and Fallacy.
(1992) - argues the internment was necessary and public safety and national security. (H,R)Baker, Lillian. The Japaning of America. (1991) - questions the wisdom of redress. (H,R)
Benti, Wynne, editor. Born Free and Equal, The Story of Loyal Japanese Americans.
(2001) - based on the book published by U.S. Camera in 1944 with photographs and text by Ansel Adams. (R)Bunting, Eve. So Far From the Sea. (1998) - a young girl and her family visit Manzanar.
(E)Burton, Jeff. Confinement and Ethnicity. (2002) - overview of each of the different
facilities that held Japanese American during WWII. May be viewed on the Internet, at www.nps.gov/manz. (H,R)Chuman, Frank F. The Bamboo People: The Law and Japanese Americans. (1981) -
history of laws pertaining to and fought against by Japanese Americans. (H,R)Daniels, Roger, et al. Japanese Americans from Relocation to Redress. (1991) -
extensive account of Japanese American experience from the evacuation order to redress and reparations. (R)Embrey, Sue Kunitomi. The Lost Years, 1942 - 1946. (1972) - overview of the events
that led to the evacuation, life in the ten relocation centers, and resettlement. (H,R)Fillebrown, Tom, Sierra College. Standing Guard. (2002) - a collection of photographs
and oral history narrative from Japanese American residents of Placer County. (H,R)Garrett, Jesse A. and Ronald C. Larson, ed. Camp and Community: Manzanar and the
Owens Valley. (1977) - compilation of twenty interviews with Owen Valley residents documenting Manzanar's impact on and relationship to surrounding communities. (R)Gesensway, Deborah and Mindy Roseman compilers. Beyond Words: Images from
America's Concentration Camps. (1987) - a collection of previously unpublished works by artists in War Relocation Centers. Includes descriptive biographical sketches of artists. (H,R)Sone, Monica. Nisei Daughter. (1993) Original publication 1953 - autobiographical
story of a Japanese American girl from Seattle, her growing racial awareness and relocation experience. (M,H)Stanley, Jerry. I Am an American. (1994) - photos, interviews and personal recollections
of one high-school boy, Shi Normura. (M,H)Sugimoto, Henry. Painting an American Experience. (2000) - collection of paintings
done by the artist in Jerome and Rohwer War Relocation Centers in Arkansas. (R)Tajiri, Vincent. Through Innocent Eyes: Writings and Art from the Japanese American
Internment by Poston I Schoolchildren. (1990) (Compiled in 1943 as Out of the Desert by Ray Franchi and Paul Takeda). - collection of poems, artwork, and writings from schoolchildren in Poston War Relocation Center to their pen pal peers in the "outside world." (H,R)Takashima, Shizuye. A Child in Prison Camp. (1998) - a Japanese Canadian woman
artist records in words and watercolors her experiences as a child in a Canadian internment camp during WWII. (M,H)Takei, Barbara and Tachibana, Judy. Tule Lake Revisited. (2001) - a brief history and
guide to the Tule Lake War Relocation Center, later the Tule Lake Segregation Center. (R)Tunnell, Michael O. The Children of Topaz. (1996) - diary excerpts from a 3rd grade
class of Japanese Americans held with their families in Topaz War Relocation Center, Utah. (E,M,H)Two Views of Manzanar. (1979) - exhibition of photographs by Ansel Adams and Toyo
Miyatake. (H,R)Uchida, Yoshiko. Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese-American Family. (1982) -
vivid portrayal of a Japanese American family before and after December 7, 1941. (H)Uchida, Yoshiko. Journey Home. (1978) - Yuki and her parents are released from Topaz;
when they return home, they are faced with prejudice and violence as they attempt to start a new life after the war. This is a sequel to Journey to Topaz (1971). (M)Uchida, Yoshiko. The Bracelet. (1993) - a second grade Japanese American girl is sent to
a relocation center and discovers the meaning of true friendship. (E)Unrau, Harlan D. Manzanar: A Historical Study of the Manzanar War Relocation Center,
Volumes I and II. (1996) - detailed history of Manzanar; the people, place, and events. Available at http://www.nps.gov/manz/hrs/hrs.htm. (R)Weglyn, Michi. Years of Infamy. (1976) - extensively documented and footnoted work,
provides historic overview and personal accounts. (R)Welch, Catherine A. Children of the Relocation Camps. (2000) - explores how Japanese
American children experienced school, meals, sports and other aspects of camp life. (E)Owens Valley Resources
Chalfant, Willie. Story of Inyo. (1922) - classic text on Owens Valley history covering
Native Americans, homesteading, ranching and the water war. (H,R)Nadeau, Remi. Water Seekers. (1968) - covers the City of Los Angeles' efforts to secure
Water supply from the Owens Valley and decades-long conflict that followed. (H,R)Smith, Gerry. Deepest Valley. (1998) - guide to Owens Valley's natural history. Also
Features a strong chapter on the local history, stretching from early Indian presence to water wars between the City of Los Angeles and the Owens Valley. (H,R)Video Resources
Days of Waiting
Steven Okazaki, producer/director, 28 minutes
Distributor: Transit Media (800-343-5540). Contact: NAATA (415-863-0814)
Academy-award winning documentary depicts the story of Artist Estele Peck Ishigo; a Caucasian woman married to a Japanese American man, interned at Heart Mountain Relocation Center. Based on her autobiography, Lone Heart Mountain.Once Upon a Camp Multilingual Classroom Series
Distributed by NAATA (415-863-0814), this collection by UCLA Asian American Studies Center and the Japanese American National Museum includes a Teacher's Guide for each video:
The Bracelet, John Esaki, director. Story by Yoshiko Uchida, 2001. 25 minutes (grades K-5). How does a 2nd grade girl cope with leaving her best friend when she is sent to a War Relocation Center with her family? Historic photographs, home movie footage and original illustrations tell this story. Teacher Patty Nagano reads the story and conducts a discussion and activities with a 2nd grade class.Dear Miss Breed, Veronica Ko, director. 2001. 13 minutes (grades 6-8). The real life story of librarian Clara Breed's voluminous communications with her Japanese American students. Rare home videos and excerpts from some of her 250 letters.
Interactions, Justin Lin, director. 2001. 33 minutes (grades 9-12). Four high school students were given four days to learn what life was like for teenagers in camp during WWII. They interview former internees, visit the remains of one of the camps, and ask, "What would I have done?" and "Could this happen to me?"
New books come out all the time and we welcome your suggested additions!
Contact the MANZ Education Coordinator for suggested additions. Phone 760-878-2194, ext. 10.