Frank Abe's Blog, page 2

“Criminals,” a novel in the spirit of John Okada

Before a packed house on February 2 at mam’s bookstore in Seattle Chinatown, I was honored to help launch Criminals, the debut novel by Ben Masaoka of Seattle of a postwar Japanese American family that was published after his recent death. Ben modeled his voice on that of another notable JA novelist, John Okada, and … Continue reading “Criminals,” a novel in the spirit of John Okada →

In Memoriam: Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

To me she at first was just Jeanne Houston, my housing officer in 1970 at Cowell College in the early days of UC Santa Cruz, a younger Nisei with a sunny smile who seemed more like a peer than administrator. We’d share breakfast in the Cowell Commons and not once did she ever mention camp … Continue reading In Memoriam: Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston →

Asserting our history and defending civil liberties in 2025

On this date we’re in a strange transitional phase, preparing to defend democracy and civil liberties, books and libraries, history and knowledge and education, as they all come under concerted and coordinated attack in the four years to come. The example and literature of Japanese American resistance to wartime incarceration is more relevant than ever, … Continue reading Asserting our history and defending civil liberties in 2025 →

Thanks for a great 2024

We’re closing out 2024 and the launch of The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration with appreciation for everyone who attended one of our events this year or picked up a copy of our Penguin Classics anthology. We spoke at 15 public events over the past year. Thanks to your great response, the book is now … Continue reading Thanks for a great 2024 →

Teachers Guide for “The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration”

Just in time for the annual conference this week of the National Council of Teachers of English in Boston, Penguin Random House Education has issued a new Teacher’s Guide to accompany our new Penguin Classics anthology of The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration. You can download it for free as a ten-page PDF. The guide is … Continue reading Teachers Guide for “The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration” →

What now? Look to our shared history

In an instant, the election changed everything. It has profoundly shifted the context of the work we do toward the darkness that is openly promised by a new president. I gave my first interview five days after the election to Bianca Vandenbos at the Book Notions blog: “We flatly call the last section of our … Continue reading What now? Look to our shared history →

What now? Look to history

In an instant, the election changed everything. It has profoundly shifted the context of the work we do toward the darkness that is openly promised by a new president. I gave my first interview five days after the election to Bianca Vandenbos at the Book Notions blog: “We flatly call the last section of our … Continue reading What now? Look to history →

Online interviews and a podcast for Penguin anthology

It’s gratifying to see our Penguin Classics anthology continue to find its audience. We were recently contacted for interviews for a poetry podcast and three online Q and A’s. Cascadian Prophets Podcast, October 1, 2024 “Frank Abe on The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration,” conducted September 20 by Paul E. Nelson for the Cascadia Poetics Lab. … Continue reading Online interviews and a podcast for Penguin anthology →

Audiobook readers bring “The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration” to life

The audiobook cover comes in q square format that reveals more detail to the right in the original painting by Disney artist Gene Sokioka, entitled “Political Fires of Discontent Listen to the audiobook for The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration and I guarantee you will come away with an entirely fresh experience of the writings … Continue reading Audiobook readers bring “The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration” to life →

Excavating Stories and Unearthing History in Fall 2024

The weather is turning, and it appears to be time to hit the road again starting this weekend, mostly to promote the new Penguin anthology but also to meet continuing interest in the graphic novel and camp resistance in general. Here’s the list as it stands today of in-person and virtual speaking events for this … Continue reading Excavating Stories and Unearthing History in Fall 2024 →