A New Book Teaches Kids About JA History

Earlier this year, I wrote a story for Discover Nikkei about a new children’s book titled, “Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp“.

This beautifully written and illustrated book, launched in April 2026, introduces a dark chapter of American and Japanese American (JA) history in an educational yet uplifting way to young readers. It is authored by Min Tonai and Jolene Gutiérrez, with art by Chris Sasaki.

Read my story here: https://discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2026/5/6/unbreakable

Japanese American Incarceration

The picture book tells the real-life story of Min Tonai when he was a 13-year-old boy. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, Min’s world turned upside down. Not only did the attack trigger the US entry into World War II, but it also led to the arrest and imprisonment of his father as a suspected Japanese spy.

Within months, Min and his mother and siblings, along with more than 120,000 other Japanese and Japanese Americans living along the US West Coast, were rounded up and incarcerated in one of 10 hastily built camps in remote areas around the country. Min and his family were sent to the Amache incarceration camp in southeastern Colorado and remained there until the end of the war.

Image is a photograph taken from the book.

From a Child’s Perspective

The story’s strength lies in its perspective—the point of view of a child trying to understand and navigate the rapidly changing world around him. The vivid storytelling (and even the fantastic cover illustration!) encourages readers to enter Min’s world and join him on his journey.

In one unforgettable scene, the family is forced to move to a temporary detention center. The worried faces of Min and his family peer through the bars of a horse stall at the Santa Anita racetrack. Paper tags are pinned to their clothes and luggage—the numbers on the tags meant to replace their names.

“They’ve taken it all, Min thinks. Our father, our freedom, and now even our names.”
Excerpt from “Unbreakable”

Image is a photograph taken from the book.

Unbreakable: Important Lessons

When I first learned about this book, I wondered how such a complicated subject could be translated for children. Perhaps I think of kids as fragile beings that should be cocooned in bubble wrap! But co-author Jolene Gutiérrez shared a comment that resonated:

“As a parent, teacher, and librarian, I feel very strongly that young readers need to know some of the hard truths,” says Gutiérrez, who has taught about the Japanese American incarceration for nearly 30 years. “I teach many lessons about different lived experiences and dark histories. I’ve seen how exploring these topics can help readers become more aware and compassionate.”

Gutiérrez also created a teacher’s guide that might be a helpful tool to encourage young readers to better understand the story.

The book is recommended for children ages 6+.