29 pages • 58 minutes read
Julie OtsukaA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
How does Otsuka depict the loss of individual identity?
What questions of ethics arise from the mother’s choice to kill the white dog?
Who is included in the “you” that the father addresses in the final section?
Identify the scenes in which the young boy struggles with loneliness. In what ways is this a greater threat to his survival than the physical struggles of the camp?
The mother is a dynamic character, who changes through the story. How does she change, and what does this show about her?
Discuss the contrast between the gentle portrait of the father painted by the boy and the anger he exhibits in the final pages of the book. What broader themes can be drawn from this contrast?
Why does Otsuka choose to obscure the names of her characters? What is gained from this choice, and what is lost?
How does Otsuka depict depression, and what role does it play in the story?
Identify moments that speak to the theme of powerlessness. What role do these moments play in building out the broader themes of the book?
How does this novel portray American society and the American government?
By Julie Otsuka