Synopses & Reviews
and#160;As a boy, Kenichi andldquo;Zeniandrdquo; Zenimura dreams of playing professional baseball, but everyone tells him he is too small. Yet he grows up to be a successful player, playing with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig! When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor in 1941, Zeni and his family are sent to one of ten internment camps where more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry are imprisoned without trials. Zeni brings the game of baseball to the camp, along with a sense of hope.
This true story, set in a Japanese internment camp during World War II, introduces children to a little-discussed part of American history through Marissa Mossandrsquo;s rich text and Yuko Shimizuandrsquo;s beautiful illustrations. The book includes author and illustrator notes, archival photographs, and a bibliography.
Praise for Barbed Wire Baseball
andquot;In language that captures the underlying sadness and loss, Moss emphasizes Zeniandrsquo;s fierce spirit as he removes every obstacle in order to play his beloved baseball and regain a sense of pride. Shimizuandrsquo;s Japanese calligraphy brushandndash;and-ink illustrations colored in Photoshop depict the dreary landscape with the ever-present barbed wire, with that beautiful grassy baseball field the only beacon of hope.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
andquot;As this expressive picture book makes clear, Zenimura never allowed his small stature to diminish his dreams.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist
andquot;Moss is a skilled author of historical narrative nonfiction for young readers; her tale is both well researched and well told. But itandrsquo;s the visually stunning, sensitive illustrations by the hugely talented Shimizu that make the book a standout.andquot;
andmdash;New York Times Book Review
andquot;Text and illustrations mesh to create an admiring portrait of an exemplary individual who rose above his challenges and inspired others.andquot;
andmdash;School Library Journal
andquot;In her picture book debut, artist Shimizu finely crafts pen-and-ink illustrations with a calligraphy brush to help portray a true story of resilience during WWII.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly
andquot;Shimizuandrsquo;s Japanese brush and ink illustrations, digitally layered with dusty colors suggestive of the arid relocation camp, are a visual feast, from the patterned swirls of battleship steam and desert dust, to the series of depictions of Zenimura in motion, to the rhythmic composition of the female detainees stitching the potato-sack uniforms.andquot;
andmdash;Bulletin of the Center for Childrenand#39;s Books
andquot;Yuko Shimizuandrsquo;s arresting illustrations, evoking the firm lines, dramatic curves and color wash of Japanese prints, add drama and authenticity to this memorable account.andquot;
andmdash;The Wall Street Journal
andquot;This is a beautifully designed and inspirational sports story about the power of American dreams, even when such dreams are sometimes deferred.andquot;
andmdash;HornBook
Award
2013 California Book Award Winner - Juvenile Category
California Reading Associationandrsquo;s Eureka! Nonfiction Childrenandrsquo;s Book Awards - HONOR
Notable Childrenand#39;s Books from ALSC 2014
and#160;
Review
"Moss is a skilled author of historical narrative nonfiction for young readers; her tale is both well researched and well told. But itand#8217;s the visually stunning, sensitive illustrations by the hugely talented Shimizu that make the book a standout."
Synopsis
Historical fiction at its best, this novel by bestselling author Marissa Moss tells the story of Sarah Emma Edmonds, who masqueraded as a man named Frank Thompson during the Civil War. Her adventures include serving as a nurse on the battlefield and spying for the Union Army, and being captured by (and escaping from) the Confederates. The novel is narrated by Sarah, offering readers an in-depth look not only at the Civil War but also at her journey to self-discovery as she grapples with living a lie and falling in love with one of her fellow soldiers.
Using historical materials to build the foundation of the story, Moss has crafted a captivating novel for the YA audience. The book includes a Civil War timeline, archival photos, a glossary of names, a detailed note on sources, and a new readers guide.
About the Author
Marissa Moss is a bestselling author who lives in Berkeley, California. Yuko Shimizu is an award-winning illustrator whose work appears in the New York Times, New York magazine, and Rolling Stone. This is her first childrenand#8217;s book. She lives in New York City.