Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Olivia Carr
p.3
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Jamie Ford
Historical Fiction
Challenge
I'm on page 35

1. Date Line 1968 Henry Lee a grown man has just lost his wife and is struggling to get his only son through college. Then the time frame switches to 1940 during World War II. Right now in the book the main character Henry is having some hard times. Living in China Town he lives with his two parents. His parents are very strict and they were very happy that he was able to get accepted to a white American school. What he did not know is that he would have to serve lunch to be able to get his classes. One day when Henry is getting ready to serve lunches he sees this Asian girl named Keiko, who joins him behind the counter. She lives in Seattle's Japan town, and also has to work for her classes. When Henry finds out she is Japanese, he learns that not all of Japan is out to get everyone, and when Henry starts to fall for her it means he is in for some trouble.

2. Even though I am only on page 35 I really have a good feel with this book. It is historical, with a little bit of romantic flair. I also had a really hard time putting it down, I just kept wanting to read it over and over again. I love how even though Henry's and Keiko's home countries are at war they don't take that into consideration, and become friends. I also like how they have a special bond like they are protecting each other, like they have no one else which is kinda how it is.

3. The theme in this book is forbidden friendship, because Keiko, and Henry are not aloud to be talking to each other, because of Henry's parents. Henry's parents would die if they knew he was hanging out with a Japanese girl. They would be very mad, and forbid Henry to ever see her again, which is how forbidden friendship is the theme. You see this theme in the book when Henry is narrating during 1940,because he knows he should not be hanging out with her, but he does anyway.

4. My favorite character is Keiko, because even though she knows she is not welcome in the school and they make her feel bad she just keeps her head high up in the air. Also she is proud of her nationality, and does not let anyone make her feel different. She is a modern, self confident woman who has a great attitude on the aspects of life.

5. I really don't like Henry's father, because he is mean and un-exceping. He also hits his son, and does not really talk to him. Which makes it so Henry does not have a fatherly statue in his life, which I think makes Henry loose a piece of himself, and it is his father's fault. He is also un-caring and selfish toward Henry's mother and Henry himself.

6. I think that Henry, and Keiko are going to find the Panama Hotel, which is between China town and Japan town. I think that will be their meeting place when their not in school.