Customer Reviews

Baseball Saved Us

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book is a great inspiration to young children. It deals with obstacles in life and the ways they are over come. Even if you are different, there are ways for everyone to fit in.

Ken's father spent WWII in the Minidoka Japanese-American Internment Camp in Idaho. Ken, the author was raised in Seattle. Shorty is stuck in the barracks without friends, surrounded by noise and boredom. No one has anything to do. His dad sees verves fraying and has an idea, Build a baseball diamond and organize games. The men make the diamond, the women improvise the uniforms. Games are scheduled under the gaze of the guard towers. Shorty scores a big hit under nervous angry pressure. After the war, he continues to be taunted, but learns self respect under the pressure of adversity. The benefit from this book, is that there is no whitewash. It is honest, and yes, he was called Shorty, cuz life is like that.

This book is an amazing resource for teaching students about the inequalities that took place during WWII. It is a reality check to all of those who stood by and watched their fellow friends and neighbors as they were forced to leave their homes and be placed in internment camps. This is not just a gut check. This book served to illustrate how the simple things in life can mean everything. This book receives my highest rating and is first rate with teachers everywhere.

I read this to my "just-turned 8" year old son who really identified with the kid as "odd man out." The story both communicates what it was like to be in a Japanese internment camp from a kid's perspective, and communicates how it feels to be an outsider (a feeling I'm sure every child has felt some time) by talking about baseball and being the "littlest" and physically different kid. A nice, serious story with a smile at the end.

Baseball Saved Us captures the wealth of emotions suffered at a dark moment in American history. I think it is important for children to understand the events as well as the reasons behind why something as horrible as this could ever take place. The author cleverly avoids getting tangled up in too much detail and sticks to the story and characters. I am of Chinese American decent and the emotions that Shorty feels, specifically the anger are real emotions that I remember clearly. Baseball Saved Us is a story of quiet, realistic heroism.

This book tells the story of a boy inside an internment camp during WWII. It deals with a lot of feelings, yet shows how determined the detainees were to survive and create an acceptable life for themselves. The story demonstrates that one must continue to strive for a good life even when conditions hold little promise for happiness.

In the field of picture books that make the point that the internment of Japanese Americans was a bad thing, BASEBALL SAVED US dares to go to a step farther and actually tell a story. It captures a moment in time and the courage of an individual boy who found hope and a way to connect through an All-American sport. Excellent contribution to children's literature from one of the precious few Japanese-American authors.