Sent Away (Japanese-Americans: A Story Based on Real History)

This 80-page easy-to-understand reader is one of 12 historical novels in the Hopes and Dreams series, whose diverse and fascinating characters, regardless of their ethnicity, face prejudice, danger, hardships, and setbacks, but survive with perseverance, a little bit of luck ,and a generous amount of love in their new home in the US. Downloadable audio recordings of all 12 novels and free supplementary materials for teachers are available (visit ProLinguaLearning.com for more details).

Plot Summary for Sent Away: This is the story of the Higashis, a Japanese-American family. At New Year’s dinner in 1941, the Higashis celebrated their good life in Northern California, living on their successful strawberry farm and running a boarding house for the farmworkers. They were prosperous and proud to be in America. On December 7, the bombing of Pearl Harbor changed everything. Keiko and her brother Tatsu were American citizens, but they and their parents were sent away to Poston, a Relocation Camp in the Arizona desert for the duration of the World War II. It was dusty, hot, and crowded with poor sanitation. Mrs. Higashi died there. Tatsu joined the U.S. army and was killed fighting for America in Europe. Mr. Higashi helped administer the camp’s co-op, while Keiko studied and kept their tiny living space. After the war, Keiko and her father returned home to California to rebuild their lives.