My Thoughts:
This book of 40 one-page biographies of Asian American and Pacific Islanders are perfect for upper elementary and middle level readers who can get a short teaser of these leaders and then go and do research to complete their own inquiry project by finding other sources. The illustrations of each leader by Victo Ngai adds to the biography because of its use of background art and color palette.
Many of the names were very familiar to me as someone from Hawaiʻi, like Duke Kahanamoku, Daniel Inouye, Patsy Mink, Tammy Duckworth and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. What I appreciated, though were the lesser known standouts.
One example is number 23, Wataru "Wat" Misaka (12/21/23-11/20/19). During World War II, the Misaka family was spared imprisonment under the incarceration order so that he could attend college at the University of Utah where he was a basketball standout on their 1944 national championship. While traveling with the team, he would sometimes say he was from Hawaiʻi (he was a nisei from Utah) so that his team did not suffer from anti-Japanese pushback. Sometimes he even had to sit somewhere else other than the bench because of the racist crowds.
For the Japanese Americans in internment camps, Wat Misaka was a beacon of hope. After he won the championship, he was drafted in the US Army, but was able in return to Utah after the war and help his team win another championship.
When he got drafted in 1947 to play with the New York Knicks, he became the first player of color to play basketball professionally. Although he only played three games before the Knicks released him, he decided to return to Utah to study engineering rather than accept the invitation to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. Because of the huge anti Japanese sentiment, this historical event was not celebrated until 1999 when he was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame. In 2009 President Barack Obama honored him at the White House as the first person of color in the NBA.
Pair this story with #40, Sunisa "Suni" Lee, the Hmong American gymnast from St. Paul Minnesota whose father built equipment for her as the Hmong community helped contribute to fundraisers for her training, and there is a pattern of strong community and perseverance in all of these stories.
From the Publisher:
Meet forty people who helped change the world in countless ways in this beautifully illustrated collective biography.
From scientists to sports stars, aerospace engineers to artists, every person shines in this collection. Dynamic portraits portray each person with bold colors and clever, precise details. Each biography celebrates the determination and courage of people who were on the forefront of changing society.
Using their specific talents, each individual fought for the space for people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to be seen and treated with dignity and respect. Their important legacy lives on today.
Publication Details:
Author: Veeda Bybee
Illustrator: Victor Ngai
Publisher: Versify (March 28, 2023)
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