What Is The Theme Of No Boy By John Okada

After reading the first couple of chapters of NO-NO BOY by John Okada it seems like it is recurring theme of people trying to find out who they are. The main character named Ichiro had just got out of jail and he is confused on who he is. When he returns home, some of the Japanese people around him see him as a hero, especially his mother. Yet, he does not see himself as a hero, he sees himself as a weak man. Instead of being like all of the other men and choosing a side he did neither. He decided to take his chance in prison. One of the reason why he could feel the way he does is because in the beginning he was somewhat living the American dream. He was going to a great college, living in America and his family was together, but after the
bombing America looked at all Japanese people different. He might of not of understood the harsh reality of the situation. He does not know if he is Japanese, American or both.