Wat Kept Playing: The Inspiring Story of Wataru Misaka and His Rise to the NBA

Meet Asian American basketball hero Wataru Misaka. His story will inspire young readers to challenge barriers, dream big, and keep playing.

As the child of Japanese immigrants, Wataru "Wat" Misaka often felt like he didn't fully belong in either Japanese or American culture. He was sometimes excluded, treated differently, and bullied, even though he was born in the United States.

As he grew up, however, Wat discovered he had a very special talent for playing basketball. Even at just five foot seven, he was unstoppable.

Wat was a key player on his basketball teams, leading both his high school and college teams to victory in state and national championships.

But could he finally achieve his dream of playing basketball professionally? Would people finally recognize Wat for who he truly was--a person who was both Japanese and American and an amazing basketball player?

Author: Emily Inouye Huey
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: 03/05/2024
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.40h x 11.40w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781639932085
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 03/15/2024 pg. 79
School Library Journal 07/12/2024 pg. 1

About the Author
About the Author
Emily Inouye Huey is an author of historical books for children and teens. Her first novel, Beneath the Wide Silk Sky, has received several awards, including the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Golden Kite Award and the Whitney Award for Youth Novel of the Year. Emily holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can visit her at emilyhuey.com or on Instagram at @emily_inouye_huey.

About the Illustrator
Kaye Kang is a Korean-born artist who likes to sketch outside and play with her cat, Gigi. She specializes in character design and visual development for the animation industry. Ever since she was a little kid, she has always been fascinated by fine art and how nature can be portrayed in the eyes of others. She enjoys observing and drawing everything from her life and sharing it with people. She lives in San Francisco, California.