Unbreakable
A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp
Published on 14. May 2026
Book
Hardback
48 pages
978-1-4197-7289-4 (ISBN)
Description
A powerful, emotional, and ultimately uplifting picture book about the real-life experience of a Japanese American boy incarcerated with his family during World War II.
Cowritten by Minoru (Min) Tonai, an advocate for Japanese American rights, Unbreakable is based on Tonai's harrowing real-life experiences and has been welcomed with five starred reviews.
This moving picture book includes extensive back matter: information on the American incarceration camps and the campaign to release Tonai's father, a timeline, a bibliography, author and illustrator notes, and questions for further discussion perfect for caregivers and educators to further engage young readers.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, strength comes in the form of the small, smooth stone Min's father gives him before being led away by FBI agents. In his absence, Min and his family do their best to keep their produce business afloat and earn enough support to get Min's father released. But the FBI won't release his father, and soon, Min and his family are forced into an incarceration camp in Colorado.
Imprisoned on the dusty plains and facing both the pain of displacement and the injustice of being incarcerated by his own country, Min must learn to adapt and to find beauty-and strength-where most wouldn't.
Cowritten by Jolene Gutierrez, author of Too Much! and Mamiachi & Me, and illustrated by acclaimed illustrator Chris Sasaki, this is an inspiring and powerful picture book. Share it with young readers who are asking questions about justice, belonging, and what it means to be American.
Lying in bed at night, Min thinks about things he's lost:
his family's home and business, Puppy, and most of all, Papa.
Min clutches his stone, hoping to see his father again.
Cowritten by Minoru (Min) Tonai, an advocate for Japanese American rights, Unbreakable is based on Tonai's harrowing real-life experiences and has been welcomed with five starred reviews.
This moving picture book includes extensive back matter: information on the American incarceration camps and the campaign to release Tonai's father, a timeline, a bibliography, author and illustrator notes, and questions for further discussion perfect for caregivers and educators to further engage young readers.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, strength comes in the form of the small, smooth stone Min's father gives him before being led away by FBI agents. In his absence, Min and his family do their best to keep their produce business afloat and earn enough support to get Min's father released. But the FBI won't release his father, and soon, Min and his family are forced into an incarceration camp in Colorado.
Imprisoned on the dusty plains and facing both the pain of displacement and the injustice of being incarcerated by his own country, Min must learn to adapt and to find beauty-and strength-where most wouldn't.
Cowritten by Jolene Gutierrez, author of Too Much! and Mamiachi & Me, and illustrated by acclaimed illustrator Chris Sasaki, this is an inspiring and powerful picture book. Share it with young readers who are asking questions about justice, belonging, and what it means to be American.
Lying in bed at night, Min thinks about things he's lost:
his family's home and business, Puppy, and most of all, Papa.
Min clutches his stone, hoping to see his father again.
Reviews / Votes
***STARRED REVIEW***"The narration provides just enough background to enlighten readers about this dark episode of U.S. history while never overwhelming them...The emotionally attuned, richly told tale of one family's unjust incarceration." * Kirkus Reviews * ***STARRED REVIEW***
"The book's succinct text and powerful digital illustrations retell the Tonai family's moving story for a new generation, who will surely understand the family's hardships, including their lengthy separation from Papa and the fundamental unfairness of their situation" * Booklist * ***STARRED REVIEW***
"This story is incredibly moving. Children will understand this accessible story, achieved without being watered down or condescending...Sasaki really captures the weighty emotions of this book within the characters' faces, both sadness and joy, tonally matching the art to the text...A heavy book that is done with tact; with meaningful prose and incredible artwork, this is a highly recommended purchase for collections." * School Library Journal * ***STARRED REVIEW***
"Based on Tonai's years at Amache incarceration center and written in collaboration with Gutierrez, this resonant account underscores young Min's plaintive words, "We've done nothing wrong, and we're losing everything."" * Publishers Weekly * ***STARRED REVIEW***
"Gutierrez does an excellent job of narrating Tonai's story through a child's eyes, making this terrible chapter in American history accessible in picture book form. Unbreakable confronts a harsh reality while also conveying a strong measure of hope and perseverance...an expertly crafted deep dive into history that will inspire curiosity and empathy in young readers." * BookPage * "Compelling...The coauthors use simple, descriptive prose to chart Min's difficult journey...Sasaki's vivid yet somber digital drawings emphasize Min and his family's despair"
* Horn Book Magazine *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Abrams
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Second Grade to Fifth Grade, Interest Age: From 6 to 9 years
Illustrations
Full-color illustrations throughout
Dimensions
Height: 273 mm
Width: 220 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
450 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4197-7289-4 (9781419772894)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Minoru Tonai | Jolene Gutiérrez
Unbreakable
A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp
E-Book
04/2026
Abrams Books for Young Readers
€17.49
Available for download
Persons
Cowriter Jolene Gutierrez is an award-winning teacher-librarian who has worked with neurodivergent learners since 1995. Her grandparents lived just down the road from Amache Incarceration Camp, and she first learned of it from her family, not in school. Gutierrez now shares the history of Amache with her students, and it was her honor to partner with Minoru Tonai to tell his family's story. Gutierrez lives in Denver, Colorado, and is the author of many books for young readers, including Too Much!, The Ofrenda That We Built, and Mamiachi & Me. Cowriter
Minoru (Min) Tonai (1929-2023) was a Japanese American rights activist. He and his family were incarcerated at Amache from 1942 to 1945, and since their release, Tonai worked to preserve and tell stories about what his family-and so many others-endured during WWII. As the son of a teacher, one of Tonai's passions was sharing his memories of Amache with students, including students from the ABC School District, the Katari program, UCLA, and Granada High School in Colorado. He was the grand marshal of the Nisei Week 50th anniversary parade, founder and president of the Amache Historical Society, and board president of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. In 2015, Japanese Emperor Akihito presented Tonai with the Order of the Rising Sun medal, Gold Rays with Rosette, for "promoting friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States." Tonai's three children-Susan, John, and Teresa-continue to tell his story.
Chris Sasaki is an Emmy and Annie Award-winning animation artist. Along with their work on major motion pictures such as Monsters University, Inside Out, and Onward, they have illustrated several books for young readers, including Home Is a Window, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, and Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Picture Book and the Dilys Evans Founder's Award from the Society of Illustrators. Sasaki is based in Los Angeles, where they live with their dog, Ghost.
Minoru (Min) Tonai (1929-2023) was a Japanese American rights activist. He and his family were incarcerated at Amache from 1942 to 1945, and since their release, Tonai worked to preserve and tell stories about what his family-and so many others-endured during WWII. As the son of a teacher, one of Tonai's passions was sharing his memories of Amache with students, including students from the ABC School District, the Katari program, UCLA, and Granada High School in Colorado. He was the grand marshal of the Nisei Week 50th anniversary parade, founder and president of the Amache Historical Society, and board president of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center. In 2015, Japanese Emperor Akihito presented Tonai with the Order of the Rising Sun medal, Gold Rays with Rosette, for "promoting friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States." Tonai's three children-Susan, John, and Teresa-continue to tell his story.
Chris Sasaki is an Emmy and Annie Award-winning animation artist. Along with their work on major motion pictures such as Monsters University, Inside Out, and Onward, they have illustrated several books for young readers, including Home Is a Window, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, and Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Picture Book and the Dilys Evans Founder's Award from the Society of Illustrators. Sasaki is based in Los Angeles, where they live with their dog, Ghost.