This dialogue shows how the girl might have become aware that people see her as “different”. Her asking if something is "wrong" with her face suggests how she interprets other people’s action to personal flaw. While she may not yet understand the reason behind why people see her differently, her question reveals an awareness that her appearance makes her stand out. This exchange of words between her and her mother also shows that she might have felt anxious with how other people perceive her (15).

The interaction seems to suggest a close relationship between Lundy and the family. His gentle insistence could imply that he is aware of the family's circumstances and possibly the father's arrest, prompting him to act out of sympathy. This moment appears significant as it may mark one of the first shifts in the family's public identity, suggesting they were no longer seen as just neighbors but were instead beginning to be treated with pity (6).

Analysis

The mother has been able to hide her emotions throughout this whole chapter. She kills her dog and chicken and releases her pet macaw, she is actively tossing away her life and she can't even do anything about it. At the end of the day she finally gets a moment to herself were she can see the life she had. She gets a bottle of whine a sips it as she reminiscences over her life. She starts laughing uncontrollably at her helplessness, then she starts crying. eventually she's able to collect herself then heads off to bed.

Analysis

The daughter doesn't know where they are going or why they are going. She doesn't know how long they'll be gone. The mother has kept the reasoning behind recent events hidden form her children and the daughter studying for a test she'll never take is proof of that.

Analysis

In this section I think what the dad is trying to do is not to worry his family. When he writes to the mother, he decides to write her about the weather although he could write about something else (maybe how they are treating him or how he is doing emotionally), but the fact that he is not addressing that proofs that perhaps he does not want his family to be more worried than they are already. The father perhaps knows how hard it is on her wife and he probably does not want her to have another thing to worry about or to even worry the kids.

Analysis

For the son, his father got taken away from him and the hat is the one gift he has from him. The way the son is refusing to take it off even when he is hot and wears it everyday although the hat fits big on him shows how much he misses his dad and perhaps his closeness to him. The hat, although it's just an object, it connects them both and makes him feel like he has his dad close to him.

Analysis

The mom has been dealing with a lot all by herself like having to make decisions for her family while her husband is in jail. That night she had done a lot to prepare to leave the next day like getting things packed and letting her pets go, etc. She's trying to stay strong and make sure she's not leaving anything behind. So, when she forgot to give the kids the candy, it was like something she had to do before they left their home, pets, and Joe Laundy. She remembers what Joe Laundy tells her as a way to deal with the stress she's feeling.

This quote emphasizes the variety of ways the family is attempting to cope with the father's absence. Although the father is not physically present, the mother is trying to find a way to continue thinking and acting for him. By the way she leaves his clothing out of the suitcase, she continues to think about him coming home, and how she seems to want his presence. Her actions also seem to be conflicting because although she is leaving clothes out for him, she is also packing away valuable items such as the comic books and the rest of his items. Part of her wants to accept his absence, but also remind herself that he is coming back home.

Analysis

The daughter asked her mom what coniferous trees are to see if the mom knew what they were. After the mom had to admit saying no, I think the daughter wanted to end the conversation since she didn't get the answer or reaction she wanted from her mother. She might have felt that her mom was too focused on other things like moving and didn't really want to engage with what the daughter learned from school. This shows the relationship they have where they aren't as close and expressive to one another.

This quote illuminates how the mom is forced to take on responsibilities that were not traditionally hers, and she seems to not be doing them well. She feels overwhelmed with the copious amounts of responsibilities she has overtaken now that she is in the only position of power in the family. Although she may be overwhelmed with what she has to take on, the quote also illustrates how she is more than willing to complete these tasks in order to help out her family.

Analysis

As the mother looks for duffel bags, it appears that nowhere has them in stock and were sold out. It may be that there was not a large stock of duffel bags in the first place; however, for the whole town to essentially be completely out of stock implies that there was also high demand for such a product and many people were buying it. For so many people to be buying duffel bags during this time, it may mean that many people in town were getting ready to leave and were packing. To add on, there is also the possibility that people could be buying multiple duffel bags as that could also explain the whole town being sold out. If they were buying multiple duffel bags, or any at all, that tells they were preparing to pack up most belongings, perhaps in the situation they most definitely need to take everything with them.

Analysis

Not only does him climbing into bed with his mother mean that he is still comfortable with doing so but that could potentially also be explained from him being young and being used to sharing a bed with his parents. Besides that, him also coming to ask about the noise could show that he is curious person who questions many things and wants answers. Also, him continually asking him mother about what the noise is could tell readers that he is determined to find out the answer to his questions and wants to learn more until he gets answers.

Analysis
This part shows the mother’s quiet fear and how she has accepted what is happening. She is getting ready to leave home because of the war, but she does not know what will happen next or how long they will be gone. Even though not knowing makes her scared, she focuses on the one thing she does know: they have to leave. This shows that she feels lost and like she has no control. The mother does not complain. She just follows the orders and starts packing, even while she feels afraid and unsure. This quote helps us understand how worried she is about what comes next, and it also shows how strong she is by staying calm and doing what she needs to do.

Analysis
This part with Joe Lundy shows how other people in town react to what is happening to the family. Joe will not take money for the things she bought. That is his way of being kind because he knows she is being forced to leave. He even gives her candy for her kids, which is a small but sweet thing to do. Joe does not look at her and talks quietly, which shows he might feel bad or even guilty about what is going on. This shows that not everyone is mean. Some people, like Joe, care and try to help in small ways. It also shows how strange and sad the situation is. A store owner is letting someone take things without paying because he knows her life is being turned upside down. Joe’s quiet act of kindness shows that some people in the community understand and want to support the family in any way they can.

Analysis

This is a very dramatic moment, relatively early on in the book. Although we already know that the family is going to incarceration camps, this moment marks a big change in the book. We begin to see the emotional toll that this experience will have on individuals. This personal moment is also emotionally charged, and it makes the reader have some sympathy for the family.

Analysis

The mother is overwhelmed. She is packing the entire family up, her entire life and house up, all in the absence of her husband. The bird represents the comfort and security of her husband that she needs and misses so much. The saying "You're all right," reaffirms to her that she is doing a good job caring for her family. It also reveals that she is craving support, and is struggling on her own.

'Don't, then,' said the woman.

'I'll eat it,' said the boy." (Otsuka 17)

Analysis

The simple act of eating his sister food when she found it tough shows / foreshadows the boys maturity. Despite being younger than the sister, the boy took the responsibility to eat the chicken when the sister "immaturely" gave up on the chicken just because it was "tough," showing that there are moments where he is more mature than his older sister.

Analysis

the mother gets heated whenever she looks at the gleaners painting, she wants to yell at them saying "get up" but cant, to her theres more to life than just being hunched down, for the gleaners the people were piking the eccess potatoes in oder to survive, and she feels like they have another way to survive its just that they are only focused on the well known side. like if there was another way to prevent hunger and not stay in the field bent down all day.

A few seconds later there was a loud thump and the book came tumbling back down the stairs." (Otsuka 13)

Analysis

The daughter's decision to balance the book Birds of America on her head while her mother is packing for forced eviction shows the lack of urgency as she doesn't fully grasp the severity of what's happening.

analysis

the mother has the difficult choice in hiding all of her items that represent her culture and heritage. items that are specifically of japanesse culture, like the china, and chopsticks. she only leave out the american things such as the book. this is a tough moment for the mother because she has to leave behind her culture and things on what she has grown up with. its clear that she does not want to do so but has no choice. lighting the cigarrette after can be seen as a symbol of relief, after doing something that broke her heart.

Analysis:

The Daughter can clearly feel something suspicious is happening. It is almost like a feeling of asking “is this real?” because she can sense there is something wrong. The Mother also does not force her to play the piano because she does not know what will happen next. It seems as though she wants to make the most of the time they have left before they are forced to leave their home. She does not want to spend their last moments making her do something she does not want to

Analysis

The Daughter’s classmates were perhaps staring at her because she was a Japanese American and since they were in removal proceedings, they did not know what would happen to her. This caused her to question why they may have been staring at her, as she may have felt that something was wrong. Her mother tried to avoid the negativity from affecting her and made sure to help her feel safe. 

Analysis

Buddhism and Shintoism are the main religions of Japan. Christianity/following Jesus Christ is not something that is inherent in most families, especially most families in the 1940s. We can infer that a newfound belief in Christ is part of the Mother is trying to "prove" that she is American by following a typical American religion. It seems that the mother may truly believe in the teachings of Jesus, as she tells her children that Jesus died for their sins. In this action, she is spreading the teachings of Jesus.

Analysis

The sister is hitting puberty while inside the camps. She is in the preteen years at the moment of the quote, and by the end of the war she will be a teenager. Naturally she will change as a person, and the added discomfort, uncertainty, and awfulness of the family’s situation adds little stability for her in a time of confusion with her own body and feelings. I am also curious as to how this will affect the mother, as she is now watching her daughter go through a very developmental phase of life without the presence of her father and her husband.

Analysis: The boy is portrayed as a responsible older sibling. He listens to the weather forecast and gives his sister instructions (to drink her water). His concern for their well-being is shown when he relays the message of taking an umbrella for the wet weather. The radio also provides a sense of routine. The boy thinks he's going on a trip and will be back so he listens to the weather forecast little does he know he won't be coming back.

Analysis: This small detail about the unkept yard speaks about the father's former role in the family. Before his arrest, he maintained the house. Now that he is gone, the yard is a mess, full of weeds and overgrown grass. This shows how his absence has caused some things to fall apart and the messy yard is a reminder that a part of their family is missing.

Analysis

The mom goes through a difficult time on the night before leaving their home and starts to sing the song "La donna e mobile." In the song women are described as "fickle." Like the lyrics suggests, the mother is unpredictable, like "a feather in wind." This is evident on page 21, when she can not stop laughing looking at the empty wall before breaking down and crying alone. Powerless to protect her family's future, she has done everything in her power and can only hope the best for her children, husband and herself.

Analysis

Even though the boy is of Japanese descent, he is born in America and has embraced American culture. This is evident from his stamp collection, his participation in the Sacramento State Fair--a common American event--the Joe Palooka comics, which were very popular in the USA at the time and symbolize American childhood, and his baseball glove, which represents his connection to a classic American game. All of this shows that although he is a Japanese American citizen, born and raised as an American, he still suffers the consequences of his heritage and is not considered fully American by the authorities.