Jessixa Bagley‘s Maurice and We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration by Frank Abe, Tamiko Nimura, Ross Ishikawa, and Matt Sasaki are representing Washington State at the 2023 National Book Festival!

The Washington Center for Book has selected one youth book and one adult book by Washington authors to represent the state at the 2023 National Book Festival: Maurice by Jessixa Bagley (Chronicle Books) and We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration by Frank Abe, Tamiko Nimura, Ross Ishikawa, and Matt Sasaki (Wing Luke Museum/Chin Music Press).

Both titles will be part of the National Center for the Book’s Great Reads from Great Places program. Great Reads from Great Places features books and authors representing the literary heritage of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Marianas. For over 20 years this program has included a highlighted youth title from each affiliate center. In 2022, “Great Reads from Great Places” began including titles for adults for the first time.

This year’s National Book Festival on Aug. 12 will be held in-person in Washington, D.C., but will include many livestreamed and recorded virtual programs celebrating books and authors. Jessixa Bagley, Frank Abe, Tamiko Nimura, and Ross Ishikawa will take part in online panel conversations with other chosen authors from state Centers for the Book in the Western Region. This and other panel discussions will be posted before Aug. 12 on the National Book Festival website and the Library of Congress YouTube channel. 

“We are excited to attend the National Book Festival and showcase these wonderful titles from Washington authors,” said Washington State Librarian Sara Jones. “We Hereby Refuse shines a light on areas of history we all should learn more about and sharing inspiring books, like Maurice, with children from all over the country, is especially rewarding.”

About the Books:
Maurice
As readers follow Maurice through good times and bad in this beautifully illustrated children’s book, his story shows that there’s light at the end of the tunnel and even when we feel like we’re at our lowest, we still have the power to meaningfully contribute to the world.

We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration
Japanese Americans complied when evicted from their homes in World War II – but some refused to submit to their ongoing imprisonment in American concentration camps without a fight. For the first time, three of their stories are woven together into one epic narrative.

Click on the bookmarks and posters below if you’d like to download printable copies of our 2023 National Book Festival materials for yourself and to share with community members.