In Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, World War II looms in the background and informs much of what the characters do and how their lives play out. Henry falls in love with Keiko, a Japanese American girl, but their relationship is complicated by the war, particularly the internment of Japanese Americans. When Keiko and her family are taken away from their home, Henry is heartbroken over losing the girl of his dreams. On top of that, the war impacts how people treat Henry. Even though he's Chinese American, the kids at school still call him racial slurs and bully him ferociously. It's certainly not the best of times.
Questions About Warfare
- How long do Henry and Keiko assume the war is going to last at first? How does this inform their friendship?
- Did you know about the U.S. government forcing all Japanese Americans into internment camps during World War II before you read this book? If so, do you think the book accurately portrays this era in U.S. history? If not, how does knowing a bit about this part of the country's past affect your understanding of World War II and the United States? Use quotes from the text to support your answer.
- How does Henry's father react to the internment of Japanese Americans? How does Henry react? What does this reveal about their respective characters?
- How are the internment camps described? Do they seem like nice places to live?
Chew on This
Ultimately, this book argues that there are some things war can't truly destroy—things like love.
Ultimately, this book is really a history lesson dressed-up as a love story.