Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Jeanne Wakatsuki was born to Japanese-American parents in Inglewood, California, the youngest of ten children. As described in Farewell to Manzanar, she was interned with her family in the Manzanar camp from 1942-1945. After World War II ended and her family returned to California, Jeanne graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School and studied sociology and journalism at San Jose State College where she met her husband, James Houston. Her husband’s encouragement helped Wakatsuki Houston discuss her experiences during internment for the first time, and she eventually co-wrote her memoir with him. Farewell to Manzanar propelled Wakatsuki Houston to success and acclaim, and she has written other books since, including Don’t Cry, It’s Only Thunder, about the Vietnam War, and Beyond Manzanar, a collection of essays. Wakatsuki Houston lives in Santa Cruz, California.