Baseball Saved Us [Paperback]

Ken Mochizuki (Author), Dom Lee (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

During World War II, a young Japanese-American boy and his family are sent to an internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despondent in their desolate surroundings, father and son pull the camp together to build a baseball diamond and form a league.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

PW praised the "stylish prose" and "stirring illustrations" in this tale of a Japanese American boy's confinement in a WWII internment camp. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4–During World War II the author's parents were sent to an internment camp in Idaho. That family history led to this poignant story about a young Japanese-American boy in an internment camp and the baseball diamond that gave the internees a purpose in life and a way of passing the time. The young boy's triumph in a game played while in captivity helps him when he returns home and continues his baseball career. The baseball heading over the fence on the last page tugs at the heart of readers as it symbolizes freedom lost, and regained. Author Ken Mochizuki reads his award-winning book (Lee & Low, 1993). There is some soft background music, and a few gentle sound effects, but the power of the words need little embellishment. Young students will be made aware of the overt racism Japanese-Americans faced during this period of history. This treasure of a book is well-treated in this format.—Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 30 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880000199
• ISBN-13: 978-1880000199
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 9.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,509 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Multiculturalism
  • #10 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Multiculturalism
  • #14 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > Asian & Asian American

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baseball Saved US, July 26, 2004

By 

Amy "ahenn" (IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baseball Saved Us (Paperback)

Mochizuki, K. (1993). Baseball Saved Us. New York. LEE & LOW BOOKS.
The story of "Shorty" and his family living at an interment camp during WWII can be used when teaching students about war, especially WWII. Younger students can relate to the character of "Shorty" and his struggles with fitting in and the hardships he feels among peers. Older students can debate the equality issues and the effect war has on people concerning race, religion, and nationality. The issues of prejudices are revealed through the eyes of a young Japanese-American boy. This story revolves around baseball, an all American great pastime. Baseball is the answer because the Japanese-American's are American's. The injustices in this book are well written to inform a large audience at many age levels.

35 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Offensive and stereotypic, with problematic messages., May 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Baseball Saved Us (Hardcover)

The book starts out well. As a Japanese American teacher (retired) who was interned, however, I was very troubled by the stereotypic name ("Shorty") given to the protagonist; boys in camp had lots of nicknames--why select one that reinforces negative images? Was also disturbed by the boy's motivation, anger at the white camp guard, because it sends a poor message to young readers that they need anger at someone who was doing his job to motivate them. Most of the boys playing ball in camp played for love of the game, out of boredom, or someother reason but if they tried to do well it wasn't out of anger. Last, and most problematic, is the ending where after the war, Shorty is playing baseball and being called different racist names. Then he hits a home run and suddenly everyone loves him. The book never explains why calling people racist names is a bad thing. What if Shorty (like many children) couldn't hit a home run? The underlying message seems to be that if you assimilate enough into white culture (hit a home run) all your problems with racism will be solved. That's unrealistic and for those of us who have lived with racism, highly offensive. It's clear to me that the young man who wrote the book meant well but clearly he did not live through the war and has not thought these things out. Was told the book got some awards, and am most concerned that readers wouldn't see the inherent problems with the book. Baseball didn't save anybody.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars baseball saved us, March 31, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Baseball Saved Us (Paperback)

This book was about a boy and his family when america was at war with jaspan. The boys dad dicided to make a baseball field and everyone hekp it eas like the real thing. The boy was not such a good playaer but he practiced. After the war ended he went back home it was bad nobody talked him and also made fun of him. Basebasll season came and he palyed for a team there to they made fun of him saying Jap's no good. That same day he bated and he made jhi steam win. This sotry show the struggle and getting out it just by playing baseball.