Dear friends and colleagues: I just read a graphic novel called *We Are Not Strangers*, based on a true story, by Josh Tuininga. It takes place in Seattle between 1938 and 1987. The narrator is a Sephardic Jewish immigrant who is faced with the dilemma of how to help his friend, an American of Japanese descent, who is about to be evacuated from his home and business during world War II to live in an internment camp. The book shows two perspectives of history during those years - for those with Jewish heritage and for those with Japanese heritage. Its engaging illustrations and text really capture the feel of Seattle during those years. It touches on immigration, World War II, Sephardic culture and customs, Japanese culture, friendship, and doing the right thing, along with lots of Seattle culture and neighborhoods.
I highly recommend it as a very quick read and am wondering if others heard about it. I believe it would be an excellent book for youth - with its themes of empathy and an introduction to those times and events of distrust and hatred against Jews and Japanese. The way it reads seems like it's targeting preteens and teens but it's cataloged as adult. Weird. Happy and healthy new secular year to all! Toby Harris
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