Take What You Can Carry
Gr 7 Up-In 1978, Kyle, a rebellious kid in a new town, gets in over his head trying to impress his friends by shoplifting. Decades earlier, young Ken Himitsu is angry about being incarcerated in Manzanar, an internment camp where thousands of Japanese Americans were forced to relocate during World War II. The two plots intertwine in a surprising way as the boys experience parallel feelings of frustration in coping with unwanted circumstances, and both ultimately gain wisdom from an elder. Pyle's expressive artwork draws a visual distinction between the stories: the 1978 sections are illustrated with solid lines and shades of blue, while the World War II story line is rendered in sepia tones and soft brushstrokes, evocative of vintage photographs and Japanese ink wash paintings. Though Ken's story, told only in images, presents a well-researched picture of life in Manzanar, wordless storytelling might not be the ideal way to introduce this complex topic. An excellent historical note at the end of the book provides necessary context, but readers unfamiliar with the period are unlikely to have the patience to stick with a story they don't understand. Still, even if the specifics elude some teens, the essential emotions shine through. This graphic novel makes a powerful statement about respect, gratitude, and forgiveness. Readers may be compelled to learn more about the events that inspired the story, making it a good companion for nonfiction works such as Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's Farewell to Manzanar (Houghton Mifflin, 2002) or Heather C. Lindquist's Children of Manzanar (Heyday Bks., 2012).-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CAα(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.