Characters
How many children are in the family?
What is the central theme of this book?
The impact of racism and wartime fear on identity and family.
(Loss of innocence, assimilation pressures, and the struggle to reclaim normalcy after injustice.)
How did the woman dirty her white gloves?
She was burying the white dog.
What does the stain on the cash register symbolize?
Joe's guilt
How long were they in the camp?
About 3 years.
(Left home in 1942- returned after war ended 1945)
Who owned the hardware store?
Joe Lundy
Give me a brief timeline of the events the family went through (Plot line)
The evacuation order arrives.
The family packs and disposes of belongings.
They travel by train to the internment camp.
Life in the Utah camp.
The war ends and they are released.
The father comes home.
The family tries to rebuild life.
Why was the father arrested at night?
The FBI wanted to keep things under wraps until the internment camps were public knowledge.
What do the wild horses in the desert symbolize?
Freedom
Where was their identification number?
On their collars
What did the boy want to be when he grew up?
A jockey
Give me 2 examples of how the family experiences a loss of identity?
Stripping of names and roles: In camp, people are reduced to numbers and lose the identities they had in normal life.
Family roles shifting: The mother becomes hardened, the children become distant, and the father returns a changed man.
Cultural disconnection: The family avoids traditions and language they once had, unsure of what parts of themselves are “safe.”
Emotional numbness: Characters suppress feelings to survive, losing a sense of who they were before the trauma. Having to blend into society again instead- no one to talk about it to.
Broken self-image: The children question who they are after being treated like criminals, blurring their sense of self.
Erasure of the past: They avoid discussing their previous life or experiences in camp, letting pieces of their identity fade.
When does the woman see the relocation notice?
Spring 1942
What did the woman burning their Japanese items represent?
Her "burning" away her identity and accepting that this is their new normal.
What point of view was the book mainly written in?
Who came to the door saying the would take care of the house while the family was gone?
Milt Parker, a lawyer
Give me 2 examples of racism from the book?
Racial profiling: The family is targeted solely because of their Japanese ancestry.
Collective suspicion: Japanese Americans are treated as a monolithic “enemy,” not as individuals.
Dehumanization: People assume they are disloyal or dangerous without evidence.
Stereotype-based punishment: Their removal and imprisonment stem from wartime racial fears, not actions.
Internalized stereotypes: The children begin to believe some of the negative ideas society places on them.
How is the family's home different from when they left?
(Multiple answers)
Their house is not in good condition and vandalized.
Goods they locked up missing, rosebush gone. New neighbors next door.
What does white dog represent?
Represents innocence and the loss of normal life; its death symbolizes the sacrifices forced on the family.
What was the first place the family stayed at after leaving their house in Berkeley?
Tanforan racetrack
Horse stable
What was the exact date the father was taken by the FBI?
December 7,1941
Give me 2 examples of how the family assimilated in the book?
Loss of cultural identity: The family suppresses Japanese customs, language, and heritage to appear “more American.”
Pressure to blend in: After camp, the children work hard to adopt American norms so they won’t stand out.
Internalized shame: Characters feel embarrassment or guilt connected to their Japanese identity.
The family avoids discussing their culture or the camp experience to fit back into society.
What was the purpose of Confession?
Multiple answers.
For the father to give insight on the mistreatment he endured while at his internment camp.
To expose the futility of trying to prove his innocence to a prejudiced system that has already convicted him based on his race.
What does the father's uniform & confession papers symbolize?
Symbolize authority, control, and the pressure to conform or submit.
What was the perspective of the last chapter, Confession, and who was he talking too?
First person pov and he was talking to the FBI