They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei-204 pages

This is the story of the Japanese-American internment camps. Specifically, it is the story of George Takei and his family's experience in two different camps during World War II. It is an unthinkable, awful disgrace that American citizens were incarcerated and ripped from their homes simply for their looks. It is awful what the Japanese did at Pearl Harbor, but those who were incarcerated did not have anything to do with Pearl Harbor. Takei recalls his experiences as a young child in these internment camps and the events surrounding the incarceration. He was shielded by his parents from much of the most egregious, but still witnessed many atrocities. Takei's mother was one of thousands all but forced to renounce American citizenship to protect family, which would not be remedied until many were nearly deported to Japan. I saw Mr. Takei on stage at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. and heard him tell of the publishing of this necessary work. Hearing him talk of these atrocities intrigued me and I have been eager to read this work ever since. It is not a disappointment. I would recommend this to anyone, especially as a reminder that no one is perfect and as an essential window to an awful, embarrassing moment in American and World history.

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch - Alison Arngrim

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch - Alison Arngrim - 320  pages

Okay, so I watched a lot of Little House when I was growing up, and even now if I see a re-run, it is ON (does anyone else do that?  Re-watch all those shows you watched as a kid to see exactly how they warped you?).  And, confession time: Nellie Olsen was bar none my favorite character in Walnut Grove.  Especially when she was doing mean things to that goodie two shoes Laura.  Get her, Nellie!

I picked this up thinking there'd be some juicy behind the scenes insider stuff about Little House, and there was some, but mostly the take away here is what Arngrim's done with her Nellie success.  From the attitude to the exposure, she's used her time in ringlets as a vehicle to propel her into activism for both abused children and AIDS awareness.  Her narrative is sassy, thoughtful, compassionate, and at times brutally honest about her childhood experiences of abuse and neglect that inspired her to speak up and speak out.

A Little F'd Up: Why Feminism is Not a Dirty Word by Julie Zeilinger

272 pp.

This book is an excellent beginner's guide to feminist thought and history, with the emphasis on teaching younger women and men exactly what feminism is and isn't. It doesn't shy away from the movement's faults, but offers ideas on how the younger generation can possibly fix what she calls the movement's "PR problem". Includes a list of feminist websites, books, and organizations for further reading. Occasionally she strays into stereotypical images of a typical teenage girl, but usually it's to prove some kind of point. Excellent for anyone interested in the history of feminism and social activism.