The Buddha in the Attic Summary
Julie Otsuka

The Buddha in the Attic Overview

In "The Buddha in the Attic," Julie Otsuka tells the story of a group of Japanese women who traveled to America as picture brides. Although the Japanese poured themselves into making better lives for themselves and their families, they were forced to leave behind all they had worked for to be housed in interment camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The novel explores the intercultural relationships between the Japanese and the Americans as well as the pursuit of the American dream. Other themes addressed in the novel include marriage, Japanese culture, and rumors.