Stealing Home
A powerful graphic novel introducing kids to Japanese-American internment through one boy’s unforgettable story.
$17.99
Quantity:
In a Curriculum Kit
Multiple Grades
Nonreligious
Supplemental Material
2026 Sixth-Grade Curriculum Kit
Stealing Home
Baseball should have been the biggest thing on his mind. Instead, a young Japanese Canadian boy finds his world turned upside down during World War II.
Stealing Home is a carefully researched graphic novel that tells the true-to-history story of a Japanese Canadian family forced to leave their home after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Told through the eyes of a child, the story helps young readers understand a difficult chapter of history in a way that is both accessible and age-appropriate.
The sepia-toned illustrations capture the uncertainty, loss, and resilience of the people affected while keeping the focus on the human story behind the historical events. As readers follow one family's experience, they'll gain insight into the racism, fear, and displacement faced by Japanese Canadians during the war.
An afterword and additional resources provide opportunities to explore the historical context more deeply and encourage meaningful discussions about discrimination, courage, and empathy.
Stealing Home offers more than historical facts. It helps young readers connect with the people behind the history and consider how individual choices affect others in times of uncertainty.
How to Use Stealing Home in Your Homeschool
- Before your child begins reading, take a few minutes to introduce the historical setting. A brief discussion about World War II and the experiences of Japanese Canadians can provide helpful context without revealing too much of the story.
- Most students will want to read Stealing Home in just a few sittings, and that's perfectly appropriate. The graphic novel format makes the story highly accessible while still addressing important historical themes.
- After each reading session, encourage your child to share observations and reactions. Questions such as "How would you have felt in that situation?" or "Why do you think people made those choices?" can help deepen understanding and encourage empathy.
- Use the story as a starting point for discussions about discrimination, citizenship, fairness, resilience, and the impact of fear during times of crisis. The graphic novel presents these topics in a way that is accessible to younger readers while remaining historically meaningful.
- Be sure to read the afterword and explore the additional resources included in the book. They provide valuable historical context and can help connect the story to the real experiences of Japanese Canadians during World War II.
Whether read independently or together as a family, Stealing Home offers an opportunity to explore an important chapter of history while encouraging thoughtful conversations about courage, justice, and compassion.
Publisher's Information
Publisher: Kids Can Press, under Hachette Book Group USA
Author: J. Torres
Illustrator: David Namisato
Age Recommendation: 9-12
Grade Recommendation: 4th-7th
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: No
Pages: 112
ISBN: 9781525303340
Format: Hardcover
Copyright: Oct. 5, 2021
“Stealing Home is a graphic novel appropriate for kids that offers a glimpse into one Japanese-Canadian family’s life during World War II.”
Read the Review
"Stealing Home is written as a slice-of-life memoir, set in a few years’ span beginning in the summer of 1941. While the main character is fictional, the events are not.”
Read the Review
"It is far more enjoyable to brush up on historical events by reading “living books” like biographies, historical fiction, firsthand accounts, and even graphic novels and children’s books, rather than pouring over dry, boring textbooks for hours on end.”
Read the ReviewFind answers to the most frequently asked questions about this product below:
Most children, from the reluctant, faltering reader to the brilliant but easily bored adolescent, will find graphic novels intriguing. A 2006 study found that the amount of reading children did for fun decreased from when they were eight through their teens. Graphic books can re-engage them in the delights of reading for leisure and learning. Here's an article we wrote with more considerations on Why Graphic Novels.
- April 15, 2026
K K.
We love these books! My kids love reading in the graphic novel format. Lots of good conversations sprouted from these books.
- April 15, 2025
Great graphic novel
Bina
All my kiddos loved this book. Even my 6 year old enjoyed “reading” it. The story is engaging and the illustrations are wonderful.
- August 15, 2023
Deep, but very good read!
Ryan T.
This story is so good! The graphic-style pages are very engaging for my 11 and 13 year old. The story gets deep and sad, but it really portrays adversity well and how to handle it. This is a must read for all middle schoolers.
- June 1, 2022
Good but sad
Jenny M.
My 10 year old and 12 year old read this, they enjoyed it but said it was also depressing. I love these historical comics, much better than my kids reading regular comics!! Please keep them coming, we will buy them!!
