Library News & Updates

One Book, One Coast

Get ready for the biggest book club on the West Coast!

Join over 100 libraries throughout Washington, Oregon, and California from April 1 to May 31 in reading a shared book together.

This year’s selection is They Called Us Enemy, the Eisner Award-winning graphic memoir that recounts George Takei’s childhood in Japanese incarceration camps.

“One Book, One Coast is meant to spark conversations,” said Director of Libraries Annie Lewis in a press release for LA County Library. “But our hope is that it achieves much more. By exploring this period in our nation’s history, together we can learn, gain a deeper understanding of one another, and discover our shared humanity.”

Check out a physical copy of the book any time at the library, or if you prefer to read digitally, you can find an always-available copy on Libby from April 1 to June 6!

Takei will speak about the book on May 31 from 2 to 4 pm at East Los Angeles Library. Register to watch online. The first 10 people to show us their registration confirmation will win a free copy of They Called Us Enemy!

A square promotional graphic with a light beige background. Bold teal text at the top reads "Join the Largest Book Club on the West Coast!" Below that, dark text reads "April 1 – May 31, 2026." In the center, italic text reads the title They Called Us Enemy with "George Takei" beneath it. On the lower left, the graphic novel cover is shown — depicting a young Japanese American child looking back at a military guard in a dusty internment camp setting, with the authors' names Eisinger, Scott, and Becker listed. Next to it is a professional photo of George Takei, an older Asian American man in a gray blazer, smiling. In the lower right corner is the "One Book One Coast" logo featuring stylized mountains, a wave, and a sunrise.