Actor George Takei releases children’s book about time in Arkansas internment camp during WWII

Miriam Battles
·1 min read
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Children can now learn about the life of actor George Takei with the release of his new picture book that details his time at an Arkansas internment camp during WWII.

FILE – George Takei arrives at the Star Trek Day celebration in Los Angeles on Sept. 8, 2021. Takei has a picture book scheduled for next spring that draws upon his early childhood years spent in internment camps for Japanese-Americans. Takei’s “My Lost Freedom,” illustrated by Michelle Lee, will be published April 30. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

In a social post, Takei said his new book titled, “My Lost Freedom” looks back on his memories to help children understand how he felt during his time at the camp in Rohwer. He had been relocated to the camp from California when he was 5 years old.

“It’s a true story about growing up in Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II. I looked back at my own memories to help children today understand what it feels like to be treated as an enemy by your own country. This is a story of my family’s courage and the importance of staying true to yourself in the face of injustice.”

George Takei

McGehee plans ceremony, special guests to commemorate 10 years of Japanese-American Internment Museum with George Takei keynote

Takei visited Arkansas to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the McGehee Japanese American Internment Museum last year.

Officials with the museum said that 17,000 Japanese Americans were relocated to Arkansas during WWII. There were two internment camps located in Arkansas: Rohwer and Jerome.

To purchase “My Lost Freedom,” visit PenguinRandomHouse.com.

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