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Quick answer: The best books on Japanese American internment tell the story of the 120,000 people forced into camps during World War II. Start with Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston, They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka, Infamy by Richard Reeves and Citizen 13660 by Miné Okubo.
In February 1942, ten weeks after Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. It led to the forced removal of about 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast, most of them American citizens, to hastily built camps in deserts and swamps. Families lost homes, farms and businesses. Many young Japanese American men later fought with great distinction for the same country that imprisoned their families. In 1988, the US government formally apologized and paid reparations. The books below include memoirs by people who lived it, histories, novels and some of the best books for teaching children about this chapter of American history.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farewell to Manzanar | Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston | Memoir | The classic first read |
| They Called Us Enemy | George Takei | Graphic memoir | Teens and adults |
| When the Emperor Was Divine | Julie Otsuka | Novel | Book clubs |
| Infamy | Richard Reeves | History | The full story |
| Citizen 13660 | Miné Okubo | Illustrated memoir | Primary sources |
| Facing the Mountain | Daniel James Brown | Narrative history | War stories |
| Years of Infamy | Michi Weglyn | History | Serious readers |
| Desert Exile | Yoshiko Uchida | Memoir | A family story |
| Nisei Daughter | Monica Sone | Memoir | Growing up Japanese American |
| No-No Boy | John Okada | Classic novel | Literary fiction fans |
| The Train to Crystal City | Jan Jarboe Russell | History | A little-known story |
| Snow Falling on Cedars | David Guterson | Novel | Mystery and courtroom fans |
| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet | Jamie Ford | Novel | Book clubs |
| Weedflower | Cynthia Kadohata | Middle-grade novel | Ages 10 and up |
| Baseball Saved Us | Ken Mochizuki | Picture book | Ages 6–10 |
1. Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston
Jeanne Wakatsuki was seven when her family was sent to the Manzanar camp in California. Her memoir, written with her husband, is honest and moving, and it’s taught in schools across the country.
2. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
The Star Trek actor tells the story of his childhood in two camps, Rohwer in Arkansas and Tule Lake in California, in this graphic memoir. It’s powerful, accessible and a great choice for reluctant readers.
3. When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
In spare, beautiful prose, Otsuka follows one family from Berkeley to a camp in Utah and back again. It’s short, haunting and perfect for discussion.
4. Infamy by Richard Reeves
Reeves tells the story of the decision to remove Japanese Americans, life in the camps and the long road to an apology. It’s clear, angry and thorough.
5. Citizen 13660 by Miné Okubo
Okubo, an artist, drew and wrote about her life in the Tanforan and Topaz camps. First published in 1946, it’s a unique eyewitness record, wry and observant.
6. Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown
From the author of The Boys in the Boat, this book follows Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd Regiment and their families back home. It’s inspiring and heartbreaking.
7. Years of Infamy by Michi Weglyn
Weglyn, who was imprisoned as a teenager, spent years researching government records. Her 1976 book helped launch the movement for redress.
8. Desert Exile by Yoshiko Uchida
Uchida, a children’s author, describes her Berkeley family’s removal to Tanforan and the Topaz camp in Utah. It’s quiet, dignified and deeply moving.
9. Nisei Daughter by Monica Sone
Sone describes growing up in Seattle in the 1920s and 30s and her family’s internment at Minidoka. It’s warm and often funny before the war comes.
10. No-No Boy by John Okada
Published in 1957, this novel follows a young man who refused to serve in the army and returns to Seattle after prison. It was rediscovered in the 1970s and is now a classic.
11. The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell
Russell tells the story of a family internment camp in Texas that held Japanese, German and Italian Americans, some of whom were traded for Americans held abroad. It’s eye-opening.
12. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
On a Pacific Northwest island in 1954, a Japanese American fisherman is tried for murder, and the island’s wartime history comes back to the surface. It’s atmospheric and thoughtful.
13. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
In 1940s Seattle, a Chinese American boy befriends a Japanese American girl just before her family is sent away. This bestseller is gentle and romantic.
14. Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata
Twelve-year-old Sumiko’s family is sent to the Poston camp in Arizona, on Mohave land, where she befriends a Mohave boy. It’s thoughtful and beautifully written.
15. Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki
A boy in a camp finds pride and courage by playing baseball, which helps him later when he faces prejudice at home. It’s a gentle, powerful book for young children.
Tips for Reading About Japanese American Internment
- Start with a memoir. Farewell to Manzanar or They Called Us Enemy makes it personal.
- Learn the terms. Many historians now prefer “incarceration” to “internment.”
- Read about the soldiers. Facing the Mountain shows another side of the story.
- Visit a site. Manzanar and Minidoka are national historic sites.
- Connect to today. Ask what the story teaches about fear and civil rights.
- Read with kids. Baseball Saved Us and Weedflower are great family reads.
Related: best books on World War II and best books on the Civil Rights Movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book about Japanese American internment?
Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston is the classic memoir, and They Called Us Enemy by George Takei is a powerful graphic memoir.
What is a good novel about Japanese American internment?
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka is a short, beautiful novel, and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford is a popular book club pick.
What is a good book about internment for kids?
Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki is a picture book for ages 6 to 10, and Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata is a novel for ages 10 and up.