“Brilliant.”—Elizabeth Partridge
Fred Korematsu liked listening to music on the radio, playing tennis, and hanging around with his friends—just like lots of other Americans. But everything changed when the United States went to war with Japan in 1941 and the government forced all people of Japanese ancestry to leave their homes on the West Coast and move to distant prison camps. This included Fred, whose parents had immigrated to the United States from Japan many years before. But Fred refused to go. He knew that what the government was doing was unfair. And when he got put in jail for resisting, he knew he couldn't give up.
Inspired by the award-winning book for adults Wherever There’s a Fight, the Fighting for Justice series introduces young readers to real-life heroes and heroines of social progress. The story of Fred Korematsu's fight against discrimination explores the life of one courageous person who made the United States a fairer place for all Americans, and it encourages all of us to speak up for justice.
About the authors
Laura Atkins is an author, teacher, and independent children’s book editor with over twenty years of editorial experience. She worked at Children’s Book Press, Orchard Books, and Lee and Low Books, helping to produce winners of the Coretta Scott King Award and American Library Association Notable Book selections, among others. She taught creative writing at the National Centre for Research in Children’s Literature (NCRCL) in London, where she also received her M.A. in children’s literature, and she completed her M.F.A. in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2016. In addition to cowriting Fred Korematsu Speaks Up, Laura is the author of the lighthearted picture book Sled Dog Dachshund (Minted Prose Press). Passionate about diversity and equity in children’s books, Laura is based in Berkeley, California, where she lives with her daughter. Find out more at www.lauraatkins.com.
Stan Yogi is the coauthor, with Elaine Elinson, of Wherever There's a Fight: How Runaway Slaves, Suffragists, Immigrants, Strikers, and Poets Shaped Civil Liberties in California. He managed development programs for the ACLU of Northern California for fourteen years and is the coeditor of two books, Highway 99: A Literary Journey through California's Great Central Valley and Asian American Literature: An Annotated Bibliography. His work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, MELUS, Los Angeles Daily Journal, and several anthologies. He is married to nonprofit administrator David Carroll and lives in Los Angeles.
About Heyday
Heyday is an independent, nonprofit publisher and unique cultural institution. We promote widespread awareness and celebration of California’s many cultures, landscapes, and boundary-breaking ideas. Through our well-crafted books, public events, and innovative outreach programs we are building a vibrant community of readers, writers, and thinkers.
Visit www.heydaybooks.com for more information.
Praise for Fred Korematsu Speaks Up
“This is a book for all the young people who deserve to feel the joy and power of making a difference in this world—and for the educators, parents, and grandparents who love them. How wonderful to see that no one is alone!”—Jane Kurtz, cofounder of Ethiopia Reads
“Fred Korematsu Speaks Up has it all: a compelling storyline with an appealing hero, thorough and accurate background information that places his story in different contexts both historical and contemporary, and an inviting design that uses many visuals even those familiar with the story will not have seen. Easily one of the best nonfiction children’s books on any aspect of Asian American history.”—Brian Niiya, content director for Densho
“Brilliant.… The authors do a terrific job of placing Mr. Korematsu’s bravery in its historical context, and don’t flinch at exposing the heavy price he paid for his choices.”—Elizabeth Partridge, award-winning author of Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don't You Grow Weary
“A powerful, nuanced book about a man who has had a profound impact on American civil liberties.”—Patricia Wakida, coeditor of Only What We Could Carry: The Japanese American Internment Experience
“The authors and illustrator have given a gift to the world with their telling of this story, one which instead of needing to be ‘required reading’ will simply be devoured by young and old alike.”—Craig Wiesner, cofounder of Reach and Teach
Fred Korematsu liked listening to music on the radio, playing tennis, and hanging around with his friends—just like lots of other Americans. But everything changed when the United States went to war with Japan in 1941 and the government forced all people of Japanese ancestry to leave their homes on the West Coast and move to distant prison camps. This included Fred, whose parents had immigrated to the United States from Japan many years before. But Fred refused to go. He knew that what the government was doing was unfair. And when he got put in jail for resisting, he knew he couldn't give up.
Inspired by the award-winning book for adults Wherever There’s a Fight, the Fighting for Justice series introduces young readers to real-life heroes and heroines of social progress. The story of Fred Korematsu's fight against discrimination explores the life of one courageous person who made the United States a fairer place for all Americans, and it encourages all of us to speak up for justice.
About the authors
Laura Atkins is an author, teacher, and independent children’s book editor with over twenty years of editorial experience. She worked at Children’s Book Press, Orchard Books, and Lee and Low Books, helping to produce winners of the Coretta Scott King Award and American Library Association Notable Book selections, among others. She taught creative writing at the National Centre for Research in Children’s Literature (NCRCL) in London, where she also received her M.A. in children’s literature, and she completed her M.F.A. in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2016. In addition to cowriting Fred Korematsu Speaks Up, Laura is the author of the lighthearted picture book Sled Dog Dachshund (Minted Prose Press). Passionate about diversity and equity in children’s books, Laura is based in Berkeley, California, where she lives with her daughter. Find out more at www.lauraatkins.com.
Stan Yogi is the coauthor, with Elaine Elinson, of Wherever There's a Fight: How Runaway Slaves, Suffragists, Immigrants, Strikers, and Poets Shaped Civil Liberties in California. He managed development programs for the ACLU of Northern California for fourteen years and is the coeditor of two books, Highway 99: A Literary Journey through California's Great Central Valley and Asian American Literature: An Annotated Bibliography. His work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, MELUS, Los Angeles Daily Journal, and several anthologies. He is married to nonprofit administrator David Carroll and lives in Los Angeles.
About Heyday
Heyday is an independent, nonprofit publisher and unique cultural institution. We promote widespread awareness and celebration of California’s many cultures, landscapes, and boundary-breaking ideas. Through our well-crafted books, public events, and innovative outreach programs we are building a vibrant community of readers, writers, and thinkers.
Visit www.heydaybooks.com for more information.
Praise for Fred Korematsu Speaks Up
“This is a book for all the young people who deserve to feel the joy and power of making a difference in this world—and for the educators, parents, and grandparents who love them. How wonderful to see that no one is alone!”—Jane Kurtz, cofounder of Ethiopia Reads
“Fred Korematsu Speaks Up has it all: a compelling storyline with an appealing hero, thorough and accurate background information that places his story in different contexts both historical and contemporary, and an inviting design that uses many visuals even those familiar with the story will not have seen. Easily one of the best nonfiction children’s books on any aspect of Asian American history.”—Brian Niiya, content director for Densho
“Brilliant.… The authors do a terrific job of placing Mr. Korematsu’s bravery in its historical context, and don’t flinch at exposing the heavy price he paid for his choices.”—Elizabeth Partridge, award-winning author of Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don't You Grow Weary
“A powerful, nuanced book about a man who has had a profound impact on American civil liberties.”—Patricia Wakida, coeditor of Only What We Could Carry: The Japanese American Internment Experience
“The authors and illustrator have given a gift to the world with their telling of this story, one which instead of needing to be ‘required reading’ will simply be devoured by young and old alike.”—Craig Wiesner, cofounder of Reach and Teach
About the Fighting for Justice Series: Introducing young readers to people who spoke up and fought for their rights in California history
This groundbreaking series takes a new approach to biography in telling the stories of courageous men and women who fought for their rights and the rights of others. Blending free-verse poetry and illustration with historical primary-source material, Fighting for Justice biographies are accessible to readers with different interests and reading levels, encouraging young people to speak up and make a difference in their own worlds.
Current and Future Books
The Right to Love Who You Love
HARVEY MILK SPEAKS UP
Harvey Milk (May 22, 1930–November 27, 1978), activist and San Francisco city supervisor, was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, and fought for gay rights.
The Right to an Equal Education
ALICE PIPER SPEAKS UP
Alice Piper (June 7, 1908–August 22, 1985), a Paiute girl from Big Pine, California, sued the public school district for the right to attend high school as a Native Californian.
The Right of Any Body to Participate
ED ROBERTS SPEAKS UP
Ed Roberts (January 23, 1939–March 14, 1995), the first severely disabled person to attend the University of California, Berkeley, was an activist who fought for the rights of people with disabilities.
The Right to Live as a Free Person
BIDDY MASON SPEAKS UP
Laura Atkins and Arisa White Biddy Mason (August 15, 1818–
January 15, 1891) was born a slave in Georgia and fought in court for her freedom in Los Angeles, California, eventually becoming an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
July 2018, 978-1-59714-403-2
This groundbreaking series takes a new approach to biography in telling the stories of courageous men and women who fought for their rights and the rights of others. Blending free-verse poetry and illustration with historical primary-source material, Fighting for Justice biographies are accessible to readers with different interests and reading levels, encouraging young people to speak up and make a difference in their own worlds.
Current and Future Books
The Right to Love Who You Love
HARVEY MILK SPEAKS UP
Harvey Milk (May 22, 1930–November 27, 1978), activist and San Francisco city supervisor, was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, and fought for gay rights.
The Right to an Equal Education
ALICE PIPER SPEAKS UP
Alice Piper (June 7, 1908–August 22, 1985), a Paiute girl from Big Pine, California, sued the public school district for the right to attend high school as a Native Californian.
The Right of Any Body to Participate
ED ROBERTS SPEAKS UP
Ed Roberts (January 23, 1939–March 14, 1995), the first severely disabled person to attend the University of California, Berkeley, was an activist who fought for the rights of people with disabilities.
The Right to Live as a Free Person
BIDDY MASON SPEAKS UP
Laura Atkins and Arisa White Biddy Mason (August 15, 1818–
January 15, 1891) was born a slave in Georgia and fought in court for her freedom in Los Angeles, California, eventually becoming an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
July 2018, 978-1-59714-403-2
