Baseball Saved Us

by Ken Mochizuki

Book Overview

Twenty-five years ago, Baseball Saved Us changed the picture-book landscape with its honest story of a Japanese American boy in an internment camp during World War II. This anniversary edition will introduce new readers to this modern-day classic.

One day my dad looked out at the endless desert and decided then and there to build a baseball field.

"Shorty" and his family, along with thousands of other Japanese...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1880000199
• ISBN13: 9781880000199
• Release Date: October 2018
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 9.9" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 11 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 6 to 7

Customer Reviews

baseball saved us

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.

Baseball Saved US

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.

Amazing

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.

Kid's Eye View of Japanese Camps, Being an Outsider

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.

A sensitive, well told story

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.