Question

name: abigail stroud date: 12/16/25
they called us enemy: reading guide
directions: for each section of the text, please respond using complete sentences.
most important quote: select and share a quote/line from the section and include the page number. explain why this quote is meaningful to you and/or the text.
reader response: select a sentence starter and record your reaction to a specific character, image, and/or event from the text.
i wonder about... i noticed... if i were...
i’m surprised by... why did... i was confused by...
i like how... i feel... i’ll always remember...
...reminded me i imagine... i know the feeling...
i wish... i think... what if...
i understand/can’t understand... i realized... i never thought about...
i love the way... i believe... wow! if only...
pages 5-34: attack on pearl harbor to arrival at santa anita racetrack

1. describe george takei’s family life before the bombing of pearl harbor.
2. identify 3 restrictions and/or life changes experienced by japanese americans following the bombing of pearl harbor.

a.
b.
c.

1. after arriving at the santa anita racetrack, describe the living conditions takei and his family experienced.
2. most important quote:

quote:
reaction:

1. reader response:

Explanation:

This is a reading guide for the text "They Called Us Enemy", focusing on the experiences of George Takei and Japanese Americans around the Pearl Harbor bombing. To answer these questions, one must analyze the text's content about family life, post - Pearl Harbor restrictions, living conditions at the racetrack, identify a meaningful quote, and provide a reader response using the given sentence starters. For example, to answer question 1, one would look for descriptions of George Takei's family structure, daily life, and relationships before the bombing. For question 2, one would identify three distinct restrictions or changes like curfews, property seizure, or forced relocation. Question 3 requires details on the physical and social environment at the Santa Anita Racetrack. Question 4 needs a quote from the relevant pages (5 - 34) and an explanation of its significance. Question 5 uses a sentence starter to react to a text element.

Answer:

1. To describe George Takei’s family life before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, one would extract details from the text about his family’s home, relationships, daily routines, and cultural or social context. (Specific answer depends on text content, e.g., "George Takei's family likely had a stable home life, with connections to their Japanese - American community, engaging in cultural practices and daily activities typical of their neighborhood before the upheaval of Pearl Harbor.")
2. A. One restriction or change could be "Japanese Americans were subjected to curfews, limiting their movement during certain hours."

B. "Many Japanese Americans were forced to sell their property at a loss or abandon it as they were relocated."
C. "Japanese Americans were labeled as 'enemy aliens' or faced suspicion, leading to social ostracism and loss of civil liberties." (These are common historical and text - based examples; specific answers from the text may vary.)

1. To describe the living conditions at the Santa Anita Racetrack, one would look for details like overcrowded quarters, lack of privacy, unsanitary conditions, or the social dynamics among the internees. (E.g., "Takei and his family likely experienced overcrowded living in horse stalls or makeshift quarters, with limited access to proper sanitation and privacy, and a sense of communal hardship among fellow Japanese - American internees.")
2. Quote: (Depends on text, e.g., from page X: "We were just families, trying to live our lives, but the world saw us as enemies."), Reaction: (E.g., "I realize how unfair and dehumanizing it was for innocent families to be branded as enemies simply because of their heritage. This quote shows the injustice of the era.")
3. Reader Response: (Using a sentence starter, e.g., "I'm surprised by how quickly the lives of Japanese Americans changed after Pearl Harbor. It's shocking to see how a single event could uproot entire communities.")