A Line Can Go Anywhere is a picture book biography of artist Ruth Aiko Asawa written by Caroline McAlister and illustrated by Jamie Green.
Asawa was born in California and lived a life divided by an “invisible line.” In one part of her world, she spoke Japanese and learned calligraphy in Japanese school, and then in the other part of her life, she attended American public school, spoke English, and was called Ruth instead of Aiko. When the war starts, Asawa can no longer move between these different worlds. Her family tried to cut the lines connecting them to Japan, but even still, her father was detained and her family was forced to go to a relocation center.
Asawa’s life continued to throw hardships at her. Despite her persistent communications, officials were slow to respond to her about reuniting her family with her father. Despite her hard work, she was unable to get an art teacher degree because her college would not let a Japanese person student-teach. McAlister writes about these traumas in an accessible way for younger readers to learn about prejudice and how it can shape a person’s life.
The illustrations in this book are electric. They capture the urgency and emotion of Asawa’s life and demonstrate the many lines that divided it. Green’s work beautifully mixes the shapes of Asawa’s sculptures into the storytelling of her life. Each page merits exploration of all the details packed inside. One of my favorite pages features a drawing of Asawa standing in the Rohwer War Relocation Center in Arkansas. Even though barbed wire surrounds her, Asawa draws what is beyond the fences. Green’s illustration of this scene demonstrates the power art has to transcend our circumstances.
McAlister’s recounting of Asawa’s life and Green’s illustrations will spark curiosity and creativity in young readers. This book will introduce readers to Asawa’s magnificent art as well as her belief that art is for everyone.
Elinor Serumgard is a poet, artist, and book reviewer from Issaquah, WA. Elinor graduated from Western Washington University in 2022 with a degree in Creative Writing. For more of their work, please see elinorserumgard.com
