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Pearl Harbor Bombed by Japanese
Summary:Jeanne's father and older brothers were going off to catch some fish in the morning when they heard about a harbor of some name being bombed by the Japanese.
Turning Point: The Pearl Harbor bombing changed Jeanne's life by making all Japanese people living in America vulnerable from the turning eyes of disgust.
Relevance to Theme: She them realizes that even though she is an American citizen, she is still discriminated for having the looks of a Japanese person. -
"Papa's Disappearance"
Summary: Jeanne's father was taken by the alien men to be interrogated. There was no word of her father until an article was published about him being arrested for delivering oil to Japanese submarines.
Turning Point: They would have to move to Terminal Island where she would be more discriminated by Japanese kids for not speaking the language.
Relevance to Theme: Jeanne realizes she can't fit in to Japanese people because she can't speak Japanese. -
Manzanar Camp
Summary:All the Japanese people living in the West coast is moved to a camp called Manzanar in Owens Valley. There Jeanne's huge family moves in getting put into a small dusty bunk with cracks.
Negative Character Development:Jeanne learns how they would be put behind fences even though the Japaneses people living in America didn't do anything wrong
Relevance to Theme: She becomes confused of if she counts as a Japanese person or not. -
Papa Arrives
Summary:Jeanne's father arrives at Manzanar after 9 months of being a prisoner in North Dakota. He comes back with a cane and starts concocting alcohol becoming an alcoholic.
Negative Character Development:She starts experiencing sadness because of how her father who was like a leader of the family all of a sudden turned into the bottom. She starts losing respect for her father.
Relevance to Theme:She questions why Japanese men were taken for interrogation when they didn't do anything wrong -
December Riots
Summary: Riots start in the barracks complaining about the conditions of the camps. Some people were hurt and two were killed after soldiers started shooting. Conditions of the camp become better and the Wakatsukis move into Block 28 in the spring.
Positive Character Development: The better conditions of the camp makes her feel better about the situation.
Relevance to Theme: The riot gives her an idea of how the Japanese people need to have their voice have their respect. -
New Life Leaving Manzanar
Summary:Hiroshima gets bombed by the Americans and the camps closes and before the camp closes, the Wakatsuki family goes back to the West Coast to Los Angeles. Not able to find a place to stay, the family moves into a public housing project in Long Beach.
Turning Point:She finally feels freedom after years in the internment camp.
Relevance to Theme:She hears about some Japanese people being shot on the streets because of the tension making her worry if she was to be shot because of her looks. -
Moving into Santa Clara Valley and Jeanne's Senior Year
Summary:The Wakatsuki family moves to San Jose, so Jeanne's father can work at a Strawberry Farm. Jeanne spends her senior year there and becomes popular among the school being the school's carnival queen.
Positive Character Development: She almost fits in with the people in her high school.
Theme Relevance: She tries to fit in with the American beauty standards which affects her confidence and realizes that American people are favored more. -
Back at Manzanar
Summary: Years pass and Jeanne is married to James Houston with three children. They go back to Manzanar to experience what Jeanne has gone through. Looking at the empty ruins of the camp, Jeanne deals with her feelings about the discrimination of Japanese people when she was in school.
Positive Character Development: She feels at peace when visiting the ruins of the camp.
Relevance to Theme: She finally understands her identity by accepting herself after many years. -
Theme Statement: Being able to have your own identity requires accepting yourself first.
