Finding Their Way: Japanese American and Japanese Stories for Young Adults: A Booktalk

Kira-kira / Cynthia Kadohata.

This beautifully written Newbery Award winner chronicles the childhood of Japanese American sisters growing up in the segregated south. (New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, c2004. 0689856393)

Spirited Away By Hayao Miyazaki

Spirits, gods, and a Japanese bathhouse. Chihiro finds herself in this strange world. Worse, her parents have been changed into pigs. How will she ever get everyone back to the real world? (Viz Comics, 2002)

Ironman By Chris Crutcher

Bo Brewster is training for the Ironman Triathlon. He tells a teacher off and ends up in an anger-management class run by a Japanese-American cowboy. Bo finds new challenges and some unlikely new friends. (Greenwillow, 1995)

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

A multi-racial Japanese-American starts a swim team for the school outcasts. (Greenwillow, 2001)

Fighting for Honor by Michael Cooper

What was it like to be a Japanese-American when America and Japan were at war? Some Japanese-Americans were forced to live in camps and others fought bravely for America . (Clarion Books, 2000)

Author Spotlight-Allen Say

Allen Say was born in Yokohama, Japan. He came to America as a young man. Now he is a full-time writer and illustrator. The following 3 books are based on his (and his family's) experiences.

The Ink-Keeper's Apprentice by Allen Say

Kiyoi was thirteen and living alone in Tokyo! One day, he boldly asked the greatest cartoonist in Japan to be his mentor. (Harper & Row, 1979)

Tea with Milk by Allen Say

Masako was an American born in San Francisco. Then, her parents decide to return to Japan. Will Masako find happiness in Japan or only isolation? (Houghton Mifflin, 1999)

Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say

This story tells of two young men coming to America —the author and his grandfather. (Houghton Mifflin, 1993)

Shizuko's Daughter By Kyoko Mori

Yuki is left to deal with her cold father and colder new stepmother, after her mother's suicide. Will Yuki overcome the tragedy of her mother's life and death? Will she ever find love? (Henry Holt, 1993)

The Makioka Sisters By Junichiro Tanizaki

If you like Jane Austen novels, you will probably like the Makioka sisters. The Makioka's are a proud, but no longer rich family of four sisters. This story is about their attempts to arrange a good marriage for Yukiko, the third sister.

Hiroshima By Laurence Yep

A twelve-year-old girl experiences the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. (Scholastic, 1995)

The Four Immigrants Manga By Henry Kiyama

This early manga documents the experience of four Japanese Immigrants. Kiyama discusses picture brides, the San Francisco earthquake, and racism. (Stone Bridge Press, 1998)