Reading an inside perspective on Executive Order 9066 and the Japanese American interment camps that followed is a totally heartbreaking but important experience, and I deeply believe everyone living in the USA needs to read this book ASAP. I've always admired Takei, and this book just heightens that. He does a marvelous job recounting not only the time he and his family spend in the camps, but also the state of political affairs during and after that time, and how this experience affected his entire life. I really don't know how to say anything that will do this book justice - just read it!! ( )

This graphic memoir is a must read - especially for high school history courses! George Takei's experience in Japanese internment camps and his work and activism in later life provides a compelling story to understand the systemic racism experienced by Japanese Americans. ( )

This graphic novel/memoir explores the plight during WWII of men, women, and children of Asian decent who were herded into internment camps for no other reason than their race. George Takei's family were forced to live in stables built for horses and hot shacks with few amenities. Takei's pride show when he relates things about his father, who was often chosen as leader where ever they lived. George and his family experience many forms of prejudice, sometimes delivered by their own people. Also, George shares his joy at being chosen to star in the television series Star Trek and the subsequent feature films, but it is clear that the emphasis of this story is the injustice he experienced. Overall, They Call Us Enemy is an eye-opening book that is well worth the read. ( )

A graphic novel memoir of George Takei's time in the Japanese American incarceration camps during WWII starting when he was 4 years old, the oldest of three children. Overall I liked it, though the frame story (stories?) were a little confusing as older!George seemed to be speaking at several events (a very minor criticism)

I learned about Japanese incarceration in school (we read [b:Farewell to Manzanar: A True Story of Japanese American Experience During and After the World War II Internment|649361|Farewell to Manzanar A True Story of Japanese American Experience During and After the World War II Internment|Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481673039l/649361._SY75_.jpg|807858] in eighth grade), which in hindsight surprises me for a conservative state but it shouldn't, given that the camps are part of state history (Minidoka is in south-central Idaho). With George telling the story of his younger self, we see how his parents made the best of it for their children and how child!George didn't understand the cruelty against his family. The ending draws obvious parallels to modern American concentration camps and the cyclical nature of history.

Strongly recommend for introducing younger audiences to these aspects of American history. ( )

George Takei’s memoir is powerful and important. I had some knowledge about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII, but that knowledge was sketchy and incomplete. I had no idea about the curfews, the financial assets being seized…

Also, this:

“He [Earl Warren] said – we have no reports of spying, or sabotage, or fifth column activities by Japanese Americans… and that is ominous, because the Japanese are inscrutable. You don’t know what they are thinking. So, it would be prudent to lock them up before they do anything.”

(Earl Warren later became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.)

The horrific events are seen through children’s eyes. The children don’t understand, and it’s poignant and sad to see them thinking that the family is going on vacation, having an adventure. My heart breaks for the parents that did their best to protect their children and give them happy (deceptively so… ☹) childhood memories.

The target audience for They Called Us Enemy is rather young, apparently. So I found the writing kind of dry and simplistic at times. I wasn’t very impressed by the art either, but I might possibly be “spoiled” by manga. These minor gripes do not make the story any less powerful.
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