Displacement

What are the possible reasons for framing the story as a time travel narrative, rather than a more straight-forward piece of historical fiction (or even biography)? How does the time travel frame influence the way the plot unfolds or the themes of the story?

How do the three major themes interact, influence, or complicate each other? What other themes might be suggested by the story? Use examples from the text.

How does the traumatic experience of one generation impact future generations, even without concrete connections to the past? What examples of this generational trauma, besides the Japanese incarceration camps, exist in US history?

What is the value of memory, personal or collective? What does the novel suggest that we can do with the memories and stories passed down from our families and communities?

What are some of the ways the Japanese community demonstrate Resilience and Resistance, both in the past and currently? Use examples from the text to explain.

In what ways does Kiku’s story question and/or contradict the official accounts of Japanese incarceration as told by governments and history books? In what ways (if any) has this story altered your perceptions/understanding of the history of Japanese incarceration and its aftermath?

Consider the tone and placement of the references to the 2016 Presidential Election and to Donald Trump’s speeches, particularly his anti-immigrant policies. How do these moments connect to the overall plot and themes of the story?

How does the novel engage with the concept of the “model minority”? What is the effect of its inclusion, and how do you think it alters the novel’s treatment of discrimination?