This spring, FVRLibraries is joining more than 140 library systems across California, Oregon, and Washington for One Book, One Coast, a shared community reading program connecting readers across three states through one powerful story.
This year’s selection is They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, co-written with Steven Scott and Justin Eisinger and illustrated by Harmony Becker. The graphic memoir recounts Takei’s childhood imprisonment in American concentration camps during World War II following the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans.
Through vivid storytelling and expressive illustrations, Takei reflects on family, loyalty, patriotism, and identity — examining how fear and prejudice shaped a pivotal moment in U.S. history. Both deeply personal and historically grounded, the book invites readers to consider what civic responsibility, civil liberties, and belonging mean today.
By reading together, communities across the West Coast are engaging in a shared conversation about history, resilience, and the role stories play in helping us better understand one another.
Watch the Livestreamed Author Talk with George Takei
The program will conclude on May 31 from 2-4 pm with a livestream author talk featuring George Takei, held in Los Angeles and streamed online for viewers across the West Coast. FVRLibraries will host the event in person at the Vancouver Community Library.
Streamed live online
FVRLibraries will host a community watch party at Vancouver Community Library, where attendees can view the livestream together and stay afterward for informal discussion and reflection.
Community members who prefer to watch from home may register for the livestream (the link will be live on May 31.)
Get the Book
Copies of the book are currently circulating at FVRLibraries locations and online. Beginning April 1, unlimited digital access will be available through the Libby app.
We invite you to read along and participate in this regional conversation.