The Tillamook County Library is joining over 150 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.
For 2026, all participating libraries will invite their communities to read They Called Us Enemy by George Takei. This graphic memoir recounts Takei’s childhood imprisonment in American concentration camps during World War II following the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans. Confronting questions of patriotism, family, loyalty, and community, Takei’s work is an examination of what it means to be American, both in the past and in the present.
Stop by any Tillamook County Library branch starting in April and borrow a physical copy or check out the eBook from Libby or Hoopla. The additional books will be available until the first week of June.
We will have several programs at various libraries:
Meet with other readers to discuss the book on Friday, May 8, 2:00pm at the Manzanita Branch Library and Friday, May 22, 2:00pm at the Pacific City Branch Library.
Learn about The Japanese-American Experience of WWII with Alton Chung Thursday, May 28, 2:00pm at the Tillamook Main Branch Library.
This regional book club program will conclude on Sunday, May 31st with a livestream author talk featuring George Takei, held in Los Angeles and streamed online on Youtube for viewers across the West Coast from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. A link to the Youtube livestream will be available in May. The Tillamook County Library will host a One Book, One Coast celebration and viewing of the author program at the Tillamook Coliseum Theater.
Please join us in this community reading program and join your neighbors in book discussions that explore what it means to be American as we approach our 250th birthday!
About Tillamook County Library: The Tillamook County Library is a County taxpayer supported organization dedicated to lifelong learning, access to library services, inclusion and respect. By promoting literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement, the library creates a strong and vibrant community. The library provides resources and programs that empower individuals of all ages to explore, discover, and grow. For more information, please visit www.tillabook.org.