For twelve-year old Elwood Evans, the bombing of Pearl Harbor is a day he'll never forget. His older brother, Benjamin, was killed in the attack. Several months later, just as his life is getting back to rmal, Elwood learns of a Japanese internment camp located at Heart Mountain, about fifteen miles from his home in Cody, Wyoming. He and his best friend, Skeeter Hill, decide to investigate, convincing themselves that even President Roosevelt needs their help. But for Elwood, the journey to Heart Mountain turns into a deeply personal mission as sharp, jagged words, like hatred and revenge, take over his mind. He realizes that the only way to deal with his rising resentment is to go to Heart Mountain by himself and do something about it, but the long solitary walk is t without its challenges and unexpected surprises. This story portrays the ugliness of racism and one boy's struggle to rise above it.
Scott Bitely has been involved in education most of his life and has done just about everything except drive a school bus. He graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor of science in education and from Western Michigan University with a master of arts in reading. Scott lives in West Michigan, just a stone's throw from Lake Michigan and the beautiful sand dunes of Silver Lake, with his wife and five children. He is also the author of Simmer Down, Mr. C. For more information, visit scottbitely.com.