The first person of colour to play basketball in the NBA, as it's now known, was a Japanese American kid, who'd left university in Utah, first to help the US war effort in Japan, and then to play for the New York Knicks. But it seems the grumbling about his ethnicity in the stands (and presumably the press) meant he was dropped after three games – and so he quit the sport, graduated, married the one he needed and led a life pretty much out the spotlight. This quickly read biography, pitched well for the young audience it aims at (apart from daftly giving each spread an interrupting chapter title, as if it was one of those verse novels) shows that life can still be wonderful even if you're diverted away from your main aim, but equally importantly and correctly points out a historical injustice. Misaka on this evidence certainly deserves his place in the roster of the game, even if his court time as a pro was very much on the short side. But he certainly didn't seem, from this, to have kvetched and quibbled and spat his dummy out, playing the race card until it got discoloured with use. You can debate whether he should be celebrated for his humility or his achievement – this to me says both are worth applauding. A strong four stars.

Hayley Diep introduces young readers to Wataru Misaka, a young Nisei, or first generation Japanese American who although not forced to moved to an internment camp in 1942 still faced great discrimination because of his ethnicity. Although he only played less than a handful of games in the NBA, Misaka made a difference. It's about time readers are introduced to this gentle man and his important contribution to equality in professional sports.

I have added this book to my TrueStory Bookshop and recommend it in three categories:
True Stories ~ Athletes
True Stories ~ Asian and AAPI Stories
True Stories ~ War & Conflicts
https://bookshop.org/shop/KarlinGray

This picture book biography profiles the first person of color and first Japanese-American to play in the NBA. The story covers Misaka's early life, shares context about heightened anti-Asian prejudice during WWII, and highlights this man's perseverance in the midst of adversity.

The author celebrates Misaka's boundary-breaking accomplishments, but also shows how he went on to have a happy and successful life even after he got cut from his team. I like how this book acknowledges the very real barriers that Misaka faced without defining him by them, honoring his choice to eventually leave basketball behind and pursue other things. The author's note includes more details and some photographs, and I enjoyed learning about this mostly forgotten historical figure.

I would recommend this to children and adults who are interested in sports biographies, WWII history, and stories about people standing up against discrimination. People who enjoyed this would most likely also enjoy "If Lin Can: How Jeremy Lin Inspired Asian Americans to Shoot for the Stars," by Richard Ho.

What an unusual children’s book. It was basically a history lesson on how people of certain race was treated and interacted with during World War 2 and the Pearl Harbour invasions.
As an adult, I found it fascinating and it led me to do some research.
Easy to read, short, but probably for the older children’s age bracket.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.