Informational- Written Review

Barbed Wire Baseball

Marissa Moss

Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Barbed-Wire-Baseball-Internment-Hardcover/dp/B00ZQC2B9U/ref=sr_1_2?crid=ZHQHRLG80P7F&keywords=barbed+wire+baseball&qid=1561433902&s=gateway&sprefix=barbed+wire+bas%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-2

Perseverance and hope are two characteristics that Japanese American Kenichi “Zeni” Zenimura embodies throughout the book titled Barbed Wire Baseball.  This true tale tells the story of Zeni’s life before and during World War II.

Zeni always wanted to become a baseball player, but because of his size, his parents and others said it would never happen.  Due to Zeni never letting go of his dream, he did become a successful baseball player that played with Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. 

His dream was short-lived because of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor.  At this time in America, most Japanese Americans were moved into internment camps.  Although Zeni was a successful athlete, he and his family were forced to move into an internment camp where he wasn’t willing to give up on his baseball dream. 

To find out how Zeni took this negative situation and made it a more positive experience for himself and others, you will need to check out the book from the library.

Awards and Distinctions
2018 California Young Medal Winner- Picture Books for Older Readers
2014 Asian/ Pacific American Award for Literature, Honor

Moss, Marissa. (2016). Barbed Wire Baseball. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.