No-No Boy by John Okada
University of Washington Press, Seattle: 1976
ISBN: 0-295-95525-2

Plot Summary:
The novel begins on the first day of 25-year-old Ichiro Yamada's release from prison. He's there for refusing to be drafted during WWII while his family is interred in separate camps. He quickly realizes what life is going to be like for him when encounters Eto, a Japanese friend of his who fought in the war, spits on him on his way to his parents house/grocery store. For the most part, Ichiro blames his mother for his situation. He would never have refused the draft if his mother hadn't been so opposed to him fighting the Japanese.

Life is difficult at home, where Ichiro's mother believes Japan won the war, his father is sinking into alcoholism, and his brother Taro hates Ichiro and plans on joining the army as soon as he turns 18. Ichiro encounters prejudice, but also meets some people who don't care about what he did. Once he decides to get away from Seattle and lands a job in Portland, only to turn it down when he realizes that he will never really escape his past, or his parents. He will only be less of what he is without them in his life.

Upon his return to Seattle, Ichiro finds his mother drowned in the bathtub. This is somewhat liberating for him and his father. A night out on the town with another No-no boy, Freddie, has disastrous results. Freddie dies after a bar fight, yet Ichiro starts to see there is hope for himself. He is not so far gone as Freddie and can still see the promise that America holds for him.

Critical Evaluation:
This is a story like nothing I've ever heard before. Of course I knew of the Japanese internment camps, but I didn't realized the Japanese men in these camps were being drafted. What an excruciating decision to be forced to make. Okada does an excellent job of representing every possible point of view on the matter. There are the Caucasians and African-Americans who hate all the Japanese, those who feel guilty about the situation, the Japanese who fought in the war and hate the No-no boys, and the Japanese who thought Ichiro did the right thing, and even those who couldn't have cared less about what he did. It was very compelling reading.

Reader’s Annotation:
Forced to make an unpopular decision, Ichiro Yamada must now face the consequences of his actions. Will he ever be able to see the good in a country that betrayed him?

Information about the Author:
John Okada was born in Seattle in 1923. He served in the army during World War II, and died of a heart attack at the age of 47. No-No Boy was his only novel.


Genre: historical fiction

Curriculum ties: 10th/11th grade English, American history (WWII)

Booktalking Ideas:
I would start by talking about the complex decision that Ichiro had to make. I would ask what you would have done in the same situation, and was it fair? Then I would talk about Ichiro's relationship with his family, Kenji who fought in the war, and Freddie, who did not. What made them similar or different?

Reading Level/Interest Age:
This is a book for older teens, at least 16 years of age, to adults.

Challenge Issues:
This book might be challenged for its language and use of racial epithets, as well as some sexuality and violence. I would explain the library's selection policy to the challenger and give him/her a complaint form to fill out.


Why I chose this book:
I read this book in order to answer my discussion question for the book Luna.