Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp

“Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp” by Minoru Tonai and Jolene Gutiérrez, with illustrations by Chris Sasaki, tells the true story of a family torn apart during World War II.

In 1941, Minoru Tonai’s father is suddenly accused of spying. When Pearl Harbor is attacked weeks later, he is arrested and taken away. Left behind, Min’s mother struggles to keep their business alive, but fear and prejudice drive customers away. Soon, the family is forced from their home and sent to a temporary detention centre, where they are made to live in a converted horse stall behind barbed wires. Months later, they are relocated again, this time to the Granada Relocation Centre in Colorado, where they endure harsh, cramped conditions for years. Eventually, Min’s father is permitted to rejoin them, but it takes even longer before the family can finally return home.

The powerful writing lays bare the injustice faced by Japanese American families, while the haunting illustrations invite readers to witness their pain, resilience, and quiet strength.

A must-read for Grades 2 and above.

Book releases on 7 April 2026.