欧宝娱乐

While John Okada鈥檚 novel could be read for its historical perspective on the internment of Japanese-Americans and their experiences post-WWII, it was not written as a historical novel. No-No Boy was published just over a decade after the end of the war and is a vibrant, fresh exploration of the complex issues of identity (ethnic/cultural/racial/national).

With his cast of characters Okada is able to get at the reality and illusion of identity. Not only does he portray Ichiro鈥檚 struggle, but each character is also caught in his own struggle for identity, so that he become a symbol of himself. This is the ultimate paradox of the 鈥渋dentity crisis鈥�.

No-No Boy was well ahead of its time and remains so. I read it looking for insight into the experience of others who find themselves outside the dominant social order. Okada is unflinching and accurate in his portrayal of the intersection of identity. The book may have been written more than half a century ago, but not very much has changed. The players might be different but its still the same game