Reviews with content warning for Racism - No-No Boy

The story of a Japanese American young man who answers “No” to two questions regarding his loyalty and willingness to go to war. The story takes place exclusively after the protagonist was released from years of incarceration, both in prison and in a camp. The reception he receives as a “No No boy” is heartbreaking.

An excellent and necessary read, especially for those who only have a cursory understanding of the US’s role in Japanese discrimination and incarceration.

Content Warnings

ambercchen's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad slow-paced

4.75

i wish more asian american diaspora writing was like this novel bc this is what it’s all about!!! the nothingness, the immigrant parent/american child dynamic, the double consciousness!!!!!! okada’s descriptions get lost in itself and emi’s characterization isn’t the best but by god this novel is good

Content Warnings

shoob3's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Content Warnings

misosoupcup's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

originally had this at 4.5, but i just kept on thinking about this book weeks after reading it. beautiful prose. anger, disappointment, are pretty much always present in this book quietly sparkling and crackling in the background until ichiro stumbles upon some revelation or blows up on another character. the moments of contemplation and sadness are underlined by this numb feeling afterwards. very flawed book but the moments that shine really stand for themselves.

Content Warnings

mollymfay's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

aleatorizzy's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I had to read this book for my Asian American fiction class and it's been one of the few times in recent memory where I read slowly because the material was just so emotionally laborious to read. The raw and unflinching grief that is central to this book is made even more effective by the outside knowledge that its author never got to see the recognition it got and to have that wide affirmation of the experiences penned. No-No Boy is a post-world war two novel that takes place over a short amount of time, perhaps a few weeks at most, centered on the protagonist Ichiro's return to American society after being in prison for refusing the draft. However, in this short span of time and in the people he reconnects with or meets, Ichiro discovers and re-discovers that there is no American society for him, perhaps there never was, perhaps there never can be. I think one of the standout quotes that encapsulates the overall feeling of the book is when Ichiro thinks: "But it is not enough to be American only in the eyes of the law and it is not enough to be only half American and know that it is an empty half. I am not your son and I am not Japanese and I am not American." There is no name, no place, no way Ichiro can ever find peace with every part of himself together. This book takes a tragic look at the alienation of post-war Japanese-Americans, coupled with a fixation on American masculinity, motherhood, and madness. There's a reason this is the first full novel we read for class, and I'd totally mark it as one of my essential reads. It is raw and difficult and shattering in the complete brokenness and despair it highlights in Ichiro's thoughts and the characters around him, and it's done beautifully.

Content Warnings

More...