Mimi Yoshiko Oliver is the daughter of a Japanese mother and an African American father who met during World War II in Tokyo. Given the social context of New England shortly after both World War II and the Civil Rights Movement, how do societal sentiments impact how others perceive and treat her? How does the way she is treated impact how Mimi regards and navigates her own identity?

A critical theme in the novel is the challenging of gender norms. How do various characters challenge gender norms? Do they do so with “raindrops” or “hammers”? In what ways are they successful, and how much more do they have to achieve?

How does the author’s decision to write short poems instead of chapters impact the way the reader experiences the story? What poetic elements are used to emphasize important parts of the story’s thematic elements?