Point of View

The novel is narrated from the third-person limited point of view. The principle character in the novel, Yuki Sakane, is present in all scenes of the novel and is the only character to have interior thoughts revealed by the narration. The remaining characters in the novel are perceived largely through Yuki's eyes, and Yuki often interprets the actions of other characters. However, Yuki many times does not appear to understand the larger social significance of some narrative structures. This allows readers to frequently construct their own conclusions. For example, Yuki is cannot understand why the experience could lead some Japanese Americans to resent the United States.

The third-person limited point of view is particularly appropriate to the novel. It allows Yuki to emerge as the protagonist and allows the reader to develop an intimate relationship with the character. In this sense, the point of view nearly...