The Japanese government attacked the US Pacific fleet in Hawaii on 7 December 1941. On the following day the US declared war on Japan and for those of Japanese decent, most of whom were American Citizens, life would never be the same. This book focuses on a dark time in our history. This slender book, deftly annotated by Joanne Oppenheim with a stirring Foreword by Senator Daniel Inouye, is also "one for the ages." Without question, this... will quickly become a minor classic. --Arthur A. Hansen, Professor Emeritus, History & Asian American Studies, California State University, Fullerton Rare indeed are glimpses into the mind and heart of a boy as he becomes a man, but even more intriguing about Stanley Hayami's story is that it is told in his own voice, penned as his sixteen-year-old life of innocence and idealism unfolded in an American concentration camp and ended, still in his teens as a new recruit, trying to help a buddy in one of the fiercest and last battles in Europe in World War II. Author Joanne Oppenheim gets title page credit as annotator, but has done much more than the word implies, weaving a gripping tale that will hold the interest of the young adults at whom it is aimed and will be appreciated by general readers as well. Oppenheim educates Americans through a journey of words, pictures and illustrations - a journey of our past as an American people. This book belongs in the library of every American historian. Book Description Joanne Oppenheim painstakingly reconstructs the experience of Stanley Hayami, a real-life teenager whose attention was focused on school, sports, and hope for the future, and who then joined the Army to fight for freedom for all. Oppenheim sensitively contextualizes Hayami's words with background comments. Rare indeed are glimpses into the mind and heart of a boy as he becomes a man, but even more intriguing about Stanley Hayami's story is that it is told in his own voice, penned as his sixteen-year-old life of innocence and idealism unfolded in an American concentration camp and ended, still in his teens as a new recruit, trying to help a buddy in one of the fiercest and last battles in Europe in World War II. Author Joanne Oppenheim gets title page credit as annotator, but has done much more than the word implies, weaving a gripping tale that will hold the interest of the young adults at whom it is aimed and will be appreciated by general readers as well. Oppenheim educates Americans through a journey of words, pictures and illustrations - a journey of our past as an American people. This book belongs in the library of every American historian. Joanne Oppenheim painstakingly reconstructs the experience of Stanley Hayami, a real-life teenager whose attention was focused on school, sports, and hope for the future, and who then joined the Army to fight for freedom for all. Oppenheim sensitively contextualizes Hayami's words with background comments. Oppenheim is the author of more than 50 books for and about children. Her book, Dear Miss Breed (Scholastic) won the 2007 Carter G. Woodson Award of the National Council for the Social Studies. She is also the author of the Read It! Play It! series that promote literacy. Used Book in Good Condition