We Are Not Free

Many of the characters face identity conflicts, whether those conflicts are imposed by family dynamics or the American government. Consider the recruitment questionnaire that the camp inhabitants are asked to fill out, and discuss how the dilemma plays into the theme of identity conflict. How do questions 27 and 28 in particular pose a problem? Why can a person answer neither “Yes-No” nor “No-Yes” to those questions?

When Mr. Uyeda is shot, his death impacts the camp. What does his death symbolize? Would peoples’ reactions have been different if not for the questionnaire?

Frankie is angry throughout most of the novel. Analyze his character arc, tracking how and why his anger changes from beginning to end. Consider: why he doesn’t return to New York after Pearl Harbor, why he enlists in the military, and how serving in the war changes him.

Why are the people at Tule Lake treated so differently from those in Topaz City? While developing your answer, relate your arguments to the theme of racism and injustice.

Tommy’s friends perceive him much differently than his parents do. Discuss those differences, and address the importance of what Aiko tells Tommy to do when his parents pressure him to renounce his American citizenship. Are these conflicts part of a larger theme?

How does Twitchy’s death impact his friends? Discuss how each of his friends is affected uniquely, and address at least one ironic aspect to this plotline.

Why did the author present Mas’s chapter in the form of letters written to his late father? What does it say about Mas that he writes these letters?

What advantages are there for the author to tell her story through so many different characters? How do the chapter titles mirror the themes of each chapter?