A review by lyricallit
Picture Bride by Yoshiko Uchida

4.0

We are told the story of Hana, the young & strong Japanese woman who leaves her family to marry a man in California she has never met. The story is one of pride & independence, but also of community & cultural assimilation. Hana struggles to maintain the familiar Japanese culture that is so dear to her, while also striking out to become an American and accept those associated ideals.

I read this in anticipation of teaching it in the fall. Though some portions might be awkward in the classroom, it is overall a wonderful novel that is especially relevant to areas of the country with high populations of immigrants. Students who are native born citizens cannot imagine the struggle between two cultures: struggling to determine who you are, who you want to become, and who you've left behind. I strongly hope that my students who read this can gain a better understanding & respect for immigrants of all countries.