Overview
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āA powerful book about advocating for friends and neighbors during times of great division.ā āKazu Kibuishi, #1 New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of the Amulet series
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Introduction by award-winning author Ken Mochizuki
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Afterword by Devin Naar, author of Jewish Salonica
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Marco Calvo always knew his grandfather, affectionately called Papoo, was a good man. After all, he was named for him. A first-generation Jewish immigrant, Papoo was hardworking, smart, and caring. When Papoo peacefully passes away, Marco expects the funeral to be simple. However, he is caught off guard by something unusual. Among his close family and friends are mourners he doesnāt recognizeāJapanese American familiesāand no one is quite sure who they are or why they are at the service. How did these strangers know his grandfather so well?
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Set in the multicultural Central District of Seattle during World War II and inspired by author and artist Josh Tuiningaās family experiences, We Are Not Strangers explores a unique situation of Japanese and Jewish Americans living side by side in a country at war. Following Marcoās grandfatherās perspective, we learn of his life as a Sephardic Jewish immigrant living in America and his struggles as he settles into an America gearing up its war efforts. Despite the war raging just outside US borders, Papoo befriends Sam Akiyama, a Japanese man who finds his world upended from President Rooseveltās Executive Order 9066. Determined to keep Samās business afloat while he and his family are unjustly incarcerated, Papoo creates a plan that not only changes the lives of the Akiyamas but of the entire Nihonmachi community.
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An evocative and beautiful color-illustrated historical fiction graphic novel revealing the truth of one manās extraordinary efforts, We Are Not Strangers converges two perspectives into a single portrait of a communityās struggle with race, responsibility, and what it truly means to be an American.
This book title, We Are Not Strangers, ISBN: 9781419759949, by Josh Tuininga, Josh Tuininga, published by Abrams ComicArts (September 12, 2023) is available in hardcover. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
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