Parents' Guide to

My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story

By JK Sooja, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Racism, hope in actor's Japanese Internment experience.

Book George Takei Picture Book 2024
My Lost Freedom book cover: Japanese American boy sits with black puppy inside barbed wire fenced-in area

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In MY LOST FREEDOM: A JAPANESE AMERICAN WORLD WAR II STORY, George Takei recounts his experience as a child in the Japanese Internment prison camps. Detailing the struggles, racism, and injustice of being thrown into camps, Takei shows the resilience of his family and others in the Japanese American community during this time. His story is a powerful example of how it feels to be treated as an enemy by your own nation, government, and culture.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Despite the heaviness of the content, George Takei manages to keep his story positive, uplifting, and powerful. It would have been easy to fill the pages of My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story with sad and painful images of racism, persecution, and suffering, but Takei instead makes sure to consistently show Japanese Americans with pride, smiles, and integrity. The way Takei describes how his family and others came together in the camps to help each other, survive, endure, and make the best out of impossible circumstances, shows perseverance, courage, and teamwork. Moments of resilience and resistance are still represented, but they are done so without any violence or drama.

Takei does a remarkable job conveying Japanese American pride and dignity amidst one of the nation's greatest mistakes and tragedies. A strong author's note in the back of the book breaks down in more detail what Takei's experience was like over 3 years and further talks about how later in life he served the Japanese American community, like testifying at congressional hearings, serving as chairman emeritus of the Japanese American National Museum, and serving on the board of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission. Plenty of real family photos also help bring home the reality of what Takei, his family, and others went through.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in autobiographical picture books about historical events. Did any of the violence in My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story particularly surprise you?

  • How do Takei, his family, and others show perseverance, courage, teamwork, integrity, and self-control? What acts really stood out to you as truly heroic? why?

  • Why do you think it was so important for Japanese Americans to receive an apology from the U.S. government? Why is apologizing helpful in general?

  • Do you think something like this could happen today? Why or why not?

  • Why do you think some people in the Japanese American community disagreed over questions 27 and 28 that asked if they would fight for the U.S. as a soldier?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate