Citizen 13660
There’s something about incorporating visual imagery that makes history so much more tangible. And Miné Okubo has done just that in order to bring history to life in Citizen 13660. Originally published in 1946, Citizen 13660 is a documentation of life inside the World War II “relocation centers” for those of Japanese ancestry. This oft-overlooked portion of American history is brought poignantly to life by Okubo’s expressive ink drawings and accompanying text. Okubo nearly always includes herself in the images displayed, giving them a sense of immediacy: readers are watching Okubo watch the events unfold. She writes in a plain, matter-of-fact style, with the emotion coming through in her drawings. This new edition includes an introduction by Christine Hong, which provides a thought-provoking history of the book. Without a doubt, this book should be on required reading lists for high schools across the country.
Reviewed by
Allyce Amidon
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
