Partridge, Elizabeth. Seen and Unseen: What Toyo Miyataki, Dorothea Lange, and Ansel Adams Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration. Lauren Tamaki, Illus. Graphic. Chronicle, 10/2022. 132pp. $21.99. 978-1-4521- 6510-3. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 5-12.
What happened during the Japanese American incarceration? How did it feel as it unfolded? What was seen and unseen when three different talented photographers framed the events? Tamaki’s pen-and ink-wash illustrations incorporate period photographs and primary source documents, bringing dramatic vitality, variety, and emotional power to Partridge’s clear and concise text. Their joint exploration of how, and why, three talented photographers—Lange, Miyataki and Adams—diverged in what they captured, reveals the complex, shameful, and heroic history of Japanese American internment in a way that is both elegant and profound. Engaging text places readers in the moment from the bombing of Pearl Harbor to repatriation as the camps closed. Eighteen pages of back matter go deeper, exploring various ramifications from civil liberties to anti-Asian prejudice, while providing source notes, photo credits, additional facts, and personal perspectives. A tour de force, perfect for personal consumption or class discussion. This book has California-specific content. Reviewed from an ARC
Melissa McAvoy, Retired