* NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * PRINTZ HONOR BOOK * WALTER HONOR BOOK * ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR LITERATURE HONOR BOOK *
From New York Times best-selling and acclaimed author Traci Chee comes We Are Not Free, the collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II.
Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco.
Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted.
Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps.
In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.
About the Author :
Traci Chee is the New York Times bestselling author of The Reader Trilogy; National Book Award finalist and Printz honoree, We Are Not Free; and the YA standalone fantasies Kindling and National Book Award longlist title, A Thousand Steps into Night. An all-around word geek, she loves book arts and art books, poetry and paper crafts, though she also dabbles at egg painting, gardening, and hosting game nights for family and friends. She lives in California with her fast dog.
Dan Woren is an American voice actor and Earphones Award-winning narrator. He has worked extensively in animation, video games, and feature films. He is best known for his many roles in anime productions such as Bleach and as the voice of Sub-Zero in the video game Mortal Kombat.
Ryan Potter has had numerous stories and novels published since he began writing in 2003, including the young adult novels Exit Strategy and Roman King and the Armies of Fire and Light, the adult novel The Cleaner, and the story collection Welcome to Detroit. He lives in the Detroit area with his wife and enjoys baseball, yoga, and routinely suffering through Detroit Lions games.
Andrew Kishino is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.
Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa is a professional opera singer, audiobook narrator, and screen actor who attended The Julliard School. He has appeared on Grey's Anatomy and Provaci ancora Prof!, an Italian television show. With extensive experience in classical music, he can speak Italian, French, English, and Japanese fluently. Born in Los Angeles, he was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Review :
"A brilliant and intimate portrayal...Nuanced and unforgettable characters will serve to enlighten readers about this devastating and shameful piece of America's past."
-- "Veera Hiranandani, Newbery Honor winning author"
"A compelling and transformative story of a tragic period in American history...Each voice is powerful, evoking raw emotions....An unforgettable must-read."
-- "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"
"The novel may be fiction, but it will be hard for readers not to fall deep into the harsh realities these teens face...Chee's words are a lot to take in, but necessary and beautiful all the same."
-- "School Library Journal (starred review)"
"[We Are Not Free] should become required curriculum reading on a shameful and relevant chapter in US history."
-- "Booklist (starred review)"
