America has been called a nation of immigrants. In what ways do the families of Keiko and Henry illustrate different aspects of the American immigrant experience.

I think that the American immigrant experience underscores a sense of isolation and separation, in this story, rather than a melting pot.

The neighborhoods and the many physical barriers are reflective of the invisible, yet strong, cultural barriers that separate many cultures form interacting. While at Rainer Elementary, Henry and Keiko encounter mass discrimination due to the fact that many at Rainer have never encountered a Chinese or a Japanese student.

These barriers prevent harmony. Other barriers, like the fence that separates Keiko and Henry at the internment camp, represent the separation that culture imposes on groups that seek harmony.