No-No Boy

By John Okada and Karen Tei Yamashita

The first Japanese American novel: a powerful, radical testament to the experiences of Japanese American draft resisters in the wake of World War II

A Penguin Classic

After their forcible relocation to internment camps during World War II, Japanese Americans were expected to go on with their lives as though nothing had happened, assimilating as well as they could in a changed America. But some men resisted. They became known as "no-no boys," for twice having answered no on a compulsory government survey asking whether they were willing to serve in the U.S. armed forces and to swear allegiance to the United States. No-No Boy tells the story of one such draft resister, Ichiro Yamada, whose refusal to comply with the U.S. government earns him two years in prison and the disapproval of his family and community in Seattle. A touchstone of the immigrant experience in America, it dispels the "model minority" myth and asks pointed questions about assimilation, identity, and loyalty.

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with these three other Penguin Classics:
 
America Is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan (9780143134039)
East Goes West by Younghill Kang (9780143134305)
The Hanging on Union Square by H. T. Tsiang (9780143134022)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: May 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9780525505792

Reviews for No-No Boy

[carebear10712 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

I understand why this is considered a classic; I was moved by the emotions and struggles of not only the main character, Ichiro, but by all of the characters, and how each was affected by their decisions regarding WWII, and even their greater life decisions (for example, Mama's views on Japan and America and WWII). It is well written but not plot driven. While I enjoyed reading it when I picked it up, I never felt compelled to pick it back up again when I wasn't reading. Even still, I think this novel will stay with me for a long time. All of the books I've read about Japanese Americans during WWII all took place before or during the war, so it was interesting to read a new perspective: what happens after the war, when people return home? There were many wonderful insights in this book...about being an immigrant, about being an American, and what that means...about racism and hatred and people. These insights and his beautiful writing ultimately land the book as "I liked it" even though the plot didn't fully capture my attention.

[kcslade · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

OK, somewhat harrowing novel of a Jap.-Amer. youth who made a bad decision and must live with it.

[g0ldenboy_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Historically important, gritty account of a Japanese who refused to fight in WWII. Identity struggle. Interesting read. Pending further review.

[bryndahlquis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm not really sure what to say about No-No Boy. It's very tragic. Very true. Very well-written. It highlights an era of American history that is often, if not always, glossed over. I had no idea about Japanese-American issues before reading this book, and I must say that Ichiro's story told it very well.The only thing I would say is that the ending felt very abrupt to me and I wanted a little bit more. Every time it felt like things were concluding, more would happen. And then more happened, and then it ended.

[kchung_kaching · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Unfortunately, this was Okada's only published work before he committed suicide. It's one thing to be a draft-dodger, but for Japanese Americans who wanted to prove their loyalty after being interned it meant a rejection of both Japanese and American identities.