Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams's Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration by Elizabeth Partridge

 

I missed reading this book when it first came out in 2022 but I am here to say this should be required reading for Americans of all ages. An excellent children't nonfiction book is a treasure for kids and adults, and this is an absolutely astounding take on the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II through the lens (literally) of three photographers who documented the atrocity from different angles. Dorthea Lange, Ansel Adams, and Toyo Mitatake were all taking photos for different reasons and many of their photos remained hidden for many years. The combination of the illustrations and the photographs make for an engaging read and brilliantly show the things that could and could not be photographed. Because this book is the shape of a picture book, middle school students may not pick it up, but it is absolutely perfect for visual learners and gives them exactly the right amount of information they need to understand what happened and empathize with the American citizens whose constitutional rights were stripped from them during a time of war. Educators should read this book and work it into history, ELA, and even art classes. Don't miss this treasure!

Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick

Jordan Sonnenblick first impressed me with Notes from the Midnight Driver, which I enjoyed for it's humor, it's emotion, and the way Sonnenblick's characters love music. Like Notes from the Midnight Driver, this book is for teens (unlike some of his other middle grade titles) and features a character with an interest in the arts—this time photography. Actually, Peter is a baseball pitcher who has big plans to play high school baseball with his best friend AJ. However, a major arm injury leaves Peter with no chance of ever pitching again. So he enters high school not quite knowing who he is without baseball as his identity. Fortunately, his grandfather, a professional photographer, has been subtley teaching him the art of photography and turns his equipment over to Peter when he need it most. Unfortunately, Peter sees signs of dementia in his grandfather and doesn't know how to best get help for him. In another fortunate turn of events, Peter meets Angelika in photography class and she becomes more than just his photography partner. This book has no huge surprises or big twists and turns—it's just a year in the life of a kid trying to be himself and do the right thing for his family, friends, and girlfriend. It's alternately funny and sad and a great choice for 8th or 9th graders.