Journey to Topaz: A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation

How do the characters in Journey to Topaz demonstrate resistance and resilience in the face of the adversity and discrimination that they experience during incarceration? Focus on at least three specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

Examine the theme of displacement in Journey to Topaz. Compare and contrast how certain characters react and adapt to the forced relocation. What do their experiences suggest about the function of community in such a trying environment?

Yuki writes letters to friends throughout the novel, and Mrs. Sakane writes poetry. Examine the importance of writing to these two characters. What does it suggest about them as people and, more broadly, about the importance of writing, especially in times of crisis?

Although Yuki is the novel’s protagonist, Journey to Topaz is as much about Ken’s coming-of-age journey as it is about Yuki’s. Examine Ken’s character arc. How does he change throughout the novel, and how do his experiences influence his decision to enlist in the army?

How does Mr. Toda’s character development exemplify the specific challenges faced by the Issei who were imprisoned in the concentration camps? How does his attitude change throughout the novel, and what causes the final shift in his outlook?

Journey to Topaz is set in three main locations: Berkely, Tanforan Assembly Center, and the Topaz War Relocation Center. Examine these settings, paying careful attention to how each one influences the characters’ attitudes, personal development, and sense of community.

How do the characters in Journey to Topaz cope with incarceration on both a personal and communal level?

Explore the role of family in Journey to Topaz. How do the Sakane family’s dynamics change throughout the novel? How does Yuki’s idea of family grow during her time in Tanforan and Topaz?