One Book, One Coast brings together library systems across California, Washington State, and Oregon for a shared community reading program that celebrates literacy, learning, community, and civil discourse.
All participating libraries will read and discuss “They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei with physical copies of the book available to borrow and unlimited digital copies of the eBook in English and Spanish available from April 1 through June 6 on the Libby app by Overdrive.
Key Dates
March 1: Physical copies of “They Called Us Enemy” became available at participating libraries. If you’re an L.A. County Library customer, check the catalog (https://catalog.lacountylibrary.org/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=they%20called%20us%20enemy). If you belong to another system, you can sign up for your local library’s newsletter and check their website to confirm participation in One Book, One Coast and to find out when copies of the book will be available for checkout.
April 1-June 6: All participating systems will have unlimited digital copies of “They Called Us Enemy” available on the Libby app by Overdrive. Participating library systems will also feature programs and activities inspired by the book. Be sure to check with your library system to see what they have to offer.
May 31: One Book, One Coast will close this year’s reading program with a special author talk featuring Takei. The event will be held in-person at East Los Angeles Library and will also be livestreamed on YouTube.
About the Book
“They Called Us Enemy” is a graphic memoir recounting actor/author/activist George Takei’s childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II. Confronting questions of patriotism, family, loyalty, and community, his work is a stunning examination of what it means to be American, both long ago and today.
Takei is a renowned civil rights activist, social media icon, Grammy-nominated recording artist, New York Times bestselling author, and pioneering actor whose career has spanned over six decades. Best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in “Star Trek,” he has appeared in more than 40 feature films and hundreds of television episodes. He has leveraged his public profile to champion social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and marriage equality.
To close out One Book, One Coast, an author talk and book-signing will be held on Sunday, May 31, from 2 to 4 p.m. at East Los Angeles Library, 4837 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles. Takei will sit down for an interview with L.A. County Library Director Dr. Skye Patrick and Cathy De Leon, director of Long Beach Public Library.
Can’t make it to the event but would like to participate? Register for the livestream: https://library-lacounty-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ek6Fa2kxSjq1vs_BvlyHRg#/registration