Monica Sone's memoir entitled Nisei Daughter literally means "second generation" (Japanese American) daughter, but has many underlying meanings. The drastic contrast of the Japanese word "Nisei" and the English word "Daughter" represent the stark, clear division of the separate worlds that were forced to join for Monica Sone and those of her generation. The identity tug of war between Japanese heritage, ancestry, and tradition with American idealism, democracy and freedom are represented by these two little words...Nisei Daughter. In her memoir, Monica Sone describes her personal struggles with self-identity within her family, her community, and her nation.

In the early years of her life Monica Sone describes knowing nothing of a self-identity struggle. Her parents were the true "cross-over" generation, the Isei, meaning they were born and raised by Japanese parents in Japan, and moved to America. Her mother was only 17 at the age of her arrival...