55 pages • 1-hour read
Paper Wishes
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Chapters 6-8Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 6 Summary: “August”
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism.
The weather grows very hot. School is paused while several new school buildings are constructed. Miss Rosalie, who is getting ready to leave for a vacation, asks to see Manami. Manami brings three drawings to give Miss Rosalie. Miss Rosalie looks at each drawing carefully. Looking at a picture of herself reading a poem to the class, she asks Manami whether she really twirls her hair around her finger that way, and Manami nods yes. Miss Rosalie tells Manami that she will treasure the drawing of Manami, Ron, and Grandfather in Mother’s garden most of all, because she can look at it and think of Manami every day.
Manami is sad, knowing she will miss Miss Rosalie. Miss Rosalie gives Manami a stack of fresh paper and four new pencils. On her way home, Manami sees Kimmi’s dog sleeping outside, and then she sees a large white dog she has not seen before. She believes that her letters to Yujiin brought these dogs to the camp by mistake, and she runs home. Grandfather sees that she is crying and asks what is wrong. Finally, she takes a piece of paper and writes “Dogs” (93). Grandfather tells her to go to bed and get some rest.
Manami sleeps all afternoon and into the evening. When she finally awakes, her mother gently brushes her hair and washes her face and hands with a cloth, telling her that she is sorry the dogs upset Manami today. Mother gives Manami some rice and cucumber, and the family comments on how attached Miss Rosalie is to Manami and what a good student Manami is. Manami blushes at the praise. Ron and Father argue about whether Ron should join the building crew until school begins again, as he wants to do, or whether he should stay home and study, as his father wants him to do. Finally, Mother interrupts to talk about how well the garden is doing now and to praise Ron and Manami for their efforts to keep the garden going. Ron and Father calm down, and Mother ends the evening with a song.
Since school is out, the group of “wild boys” (96) from Ron’s class has free time. Instead of using it to work, they gather in the shadows and smoke cigarettes. Manami wonders why these boys seem to need so much more supervision than she does in order to behave themselves. Ron uses his own money to buy supplies so that the boys can play baseball. Manami does not like to see Ron spending so much time with these boys.
Manami begins to suffer from the intense heat of August. In the middle of the day, it is so hot that Mother tells Manami to lie down in bed and be still. She sleeps, or she entertains herself by drawing. Sometimes Grandfather sits by her and tells her stories about her grandmother or about his childhood in Japan.
August is the time of year when the Japanese people light lanterns to honor their ancestors. Manami wonders how they will celebrate without their drums, their ceremonial clothing, or a creek to float the lanterns on. Father surprises her by making her a fan for the ceremony; on it, he has painted a boat and a view of Bainbridge Island near their home. Manami is both happy and sad. Grandfather points out how much Father loves Manami and says that Father is also missing home. They will, Grandfather says, make a drum and some lanterns and go ahead with their usual celebration as best they can.
Manami and Grandfather go to where the work crews are building some barns for cows and chickens and gather some scrap wood. He and Manami use the wood and some of Manami’s paper to construct lanterns. Grandfather tells Manami to paint the lanterns, because her art will make their family’s lanterns the most beautiful. Manami paints a plum tree to honor her grandmother on the first lantern. Then, she paints a lantern for Yujiin and several more for other ancestors. When she and Grandfather get hungry, they go to the mess hall to get some food from Mother. As a special treat, Mother gives them some of the tea that has been laid aside for the lantern ceremony. Despite the heat, Manami carries cups of tea to her father and Ron, wanting to share with them.
The ceremony begins at night. People gather in the mess hall to eat specially prepared foods, dance, and drum. This is repeated on the second night of the ceremony, and then, on the third night, the Tanakas shower and dress in ceremonial clothing. They sit down across from their family altar to think of their ancestors. Manami remembers the many things she loved about her grandmother. Then, they join the community at the mess hall to eat.
Afterward, there is dancing and drumming outside. Kimmi finds Manami and they dance together, then run back inside for more treats. Kimmi tries to get Manami to play with some other girls, but Manami does not like the way the others look at her. She returns to Grandfather, who is setting their family’s lanterns outside on the steps of their barracks. When it is fully dark, Mother puts candles in the lanterns and distributes them to the family members. They take them to an open space where other families are setting down their lit lanterns. Manami puts down her lantern for Yujiin. When a sudden rush of wind blows out Yujiin’s candle, Manami’s heart drops.
Chapter 7 Summary: “September”
When Miss Rosalie returns, Manami hurries to give her a painting of the lanterns she has made. Not seeing her teacher at the school, she leaves the painting in Miss Rosalie’s classroom. When she gets home, the family has received a letter from Keiko saying that Ron’s professor has held his place at college and can get him a pass to return. Ron and Father argue, because Ron does not want to abandon the family. Father storms out. Mother tells Ron that, while she agreed with his choice not to join the army, he should think about going back to college. He quietly tells Mother that he understands that children grow up and leave their parents—but he does not want to leave Manami.
The next day, Manami goes back to the school to bring Miss Rosalie a paper flower she has made. Miss Rosalie praises it and thanks Manami for the painting. She and Manami clean the classroom together, and Miss Rosalie says that if Manami comes back tomorrow, they can clean Ron’s classroom together too, and put up the curtain she has made for his classroom. When it is time for Manami to leave to help Miss Rosalie with Ron’s classroom, Mother suggests that she take Miss Rosalie some tea. She helps Manami prepare it, and Manami carries the teapot to the school on a tray. She and Rosalie share a cup of tea and then get to work. Miss Rosalie chatters happily to Manami, and when they are done, Manami is proud of the work she has done. She hopes it will make Ron happy.
Manami goes to the mess hall for lunch, and then Mother sends her home to rest. That evening, Ron does not appear at dinner, so Mother puts together something for him to eat and sends Manami to the school to give it to him. When Manami enters Ron’s classroom, she finds him and Rosalie in a romantic embrace. She flushes with embarrassment, sets down the tray of food, and flees the classroom. Back at home, she wonders what other secrets her loved ones are keeping from her.
Just before school is supposed to start, Manami falls ill—too ill to start school with the other children. She believes that her sickness is one of the heart, and that it started when she saw Ron and Rosalie embracing. She feels her throat grow tighter and tighter, and she struggles to eat. Mother takes Manami to the doctor. They ride in a truck with a soldier all the way to Block 29, on the other side of Manzanar.
The doctor tells Mother that he does not know what is wrong with Manami, but he wonders if the harsh climate is to blame. He suggests that Mother leave Manami in the hospital to be cared for, so that Mother can work. She takes Manami home. Mother and Grandfather now know that Manami’s illness is “heartsickness” (124), but they do not know how to help her. Manami refuses to tell them what she saw in Ron’s classroom, because it is Ron’s secret, not her own.
Kimmi visits. She brushes Manami’s hair and tells her that she is saving the seat next to her in Miss Rosalie’s class for Manami. Kimmi fills Manami in on what is happening in camp and in Kimmi’s life. When Mother brings them slices of apple, Manami feels that her throat has opened enough to eat some.
Manami notices that her illness seems to bring the family together. Father does not stay late at work, and even though he and Ron rarely speak to one another, they are at least spending time in the same room now. One evening, Ron brings Miss Rosalie home with him, saying that she wants to see Manami. The family is nervous about having Miss Rosalie in the house, and they apologize for Manami’s absence. They bring her cookies and pour her a glass of water. When Grandfather explains that Manami’s sickness is not the same illness many others are suffering from in the camp, Rosalie seems to understand. Ron moves to stand behind her chair. He confesses to his family that “Rosalie is more than just Manami’s teacher” (127). Father angrily leaves the room. Mother and Grandfather are clearly taken aback.
Rosalie speaks to Manami, telling her that she misses her and the classroom feels empty without her in it. She asks Manami to come back, and Manami nods. Manami returns to school the next day. She understands why Ron loves Rosalie, because she loves Rosalie, too—but she also knows that Ron’s relationship with Rosalie is very upsetting to her parents. They believe it is dangerous and wrong. Grandfather, however, believes that it is “Beautiful” (129).
Chapter 8 Summary: “October”
The wild boys from Ron’s class begin to miss school. Manami is upset that Ron goes looking for them—she does not like Ron being around these boys. One afternoon, she finds Ron talking to two of the boys. Ron scolds them for taking the risk of carrying messages for some of the men in camp. The boys protest, “They spy! […] Even on you! Then they tell the camp police” (135). Ron tells them that they need to stay in school so that they can get out of the camp someday. When he sees Manami listening, he sounds angry and frightened, telling her to go home immediately.
Manami helps her mother prepare the garden for winter. Manami is surprised when Mother says that this garden is better than the one at home. Mother explains that this garden has to fight harder and grow stronger to survive the hard conditions. She thanks Manami for her role in helping the garden survive.
One morning, the warden appears at school to observe the students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. He is angry that the wild boys do not speak. Ron speaks up and says that they will practice and be sure to say it on the following day. The warden holds up a piece of paper and accuses the boys of passing messages critical of the camp and the government that runs it, suggesting that the prisoners protest or rebel. Ron protests that they are very young, and the warden accuses Ron of leading them into their “subversive” behavior (138). Ron admits that he knows about the messages and says that he has tried to stop the boys.
The warden orders the camp police to bring Ron in for questioning. As they lead him away, he calls back over his shoulder “Take care of her!” (139). Manami is confused, wondering if he means she should take care of their mother or Miss Rosalie. She feels the dust clogging her throat. She sways, and Miss Rosalie wraps her arms around her. Miss Rosalie asks the boys what they have done and begins to cry. School is canceled for the day.
Rumors fly around the camp. Some believe Ron is an honorable man who tried to help his students. Others believe he is a traitor who will give up the names of the boys and men involved in passing the messages. In the days following Ron’s arrest, the family grows silent, and Manami notices that the camp seems quiet, too, as if everyone is worried and waiting.
Chapters 6-8 Analysis
In the rising action of Chapters 6-8, Manami continues to struggle to find her voice, her hope, and her happiness at Manzanar. These chapters make it clearer than ever how closely Manami’s health and happiness are bound up with her love for her family and their cultural identity, and how negatively she has been impacted by The Emotional and Psychological Effects of Imprisonment on Children.
Despite how much Manami is suffering from the intense heat at Manzanar in Chapter 6, she finds the strength to help Grandfather get ready for the lantern festival and to carry tea to both her father and her brother so that they can share in this special moment of connection to family and culture. As she herself drinks the tea, she feels the dust in her throat begin to wash away again. However, it is very upsetting to Manami when the wind snuffs out the candle in Yujiin’s lantern, as it implies that her connection to him may be permanently severed. The turmoil she feels over Ron’s secret relationship with Rosalie—combined with her own subsequent need to keep this secret from her parents—causes her to fall physically ill.
As usual, her family shows real compassion for her during this illness. They do not blame Manami for her health problems, aware that these problems are more emotional than physical. This is what Grandfather alludes to when he says that Manami is not sick like the other people in camp: “With Manami, it is something different” (127). Instead of chastising Manami for her way of coping with adversity, the family offers her tenderness and understanding. Mother makes a difficult trip to the hospital with Manami, makes broth when Manami cannot eat solid foods, and Grandfather spoons the broth into Manami’s mouth. Father spends less time at work, and he and Ron are careful not to argue in front of Manami. Ron shows his love for his little sister by confessing his secret to his parents to relieve Manami of the burden of carrying the secret alone.
Two characters from outside Manami’s family also play key roles in her recovery by modeling The Importance of Resilience and Adaptation: Kimmi and Miss Rosalie. During Kimmi’s visit, Kimmi shows Manami love and understanding by chatting brightly about what is happening in camp and at school. She brushes Manami’s hair and recites a poem to her. Her example is a powerful one for Manami: Manami’s heart lifts enough for her to eat a little solid food for the first time in days. Similarly, Miss Rosalie’s love and understanding is also critical in Manami’s recovery. When Ron brings Rosalie to the house, Rosalie speaks gently to Manami, reminding her of how much she cares about Manami and misses her at school. Manami does return to school after this, and her illness recedes.
Mother explains to Manami that their garden at Manzanar is more impressive than their garden at home—not because it produces more, but because the adverse conditions it is growing in force it to adapt, to develop deep roots and grow strong. This once more reinforces the garden as a key symbol of resilience in the novel. Manami understands that this is a message about her, her family, and her community. They all may be suffering in adverse conditions, but they are also becoming stronger and more capable.
Ron’s arrest is another example of The Problem of Unjust Persecution in the text. He has consistently sacrificed himself on behalf of his family and his community and has done nothing wrong, and yet he is targeted by the warden and arrested. Ron’s arrest and the divided reaction of the community convey again how complex and high-stakes the situation at Manzanar is: As the people held prisoner there struggle to find the balance between the duties they owe to themselves and to others, it seems there are no clearly correct answers.
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