Study Tools

Overview

Snow Falling on Cedars is a 1994 novel by David Guterson that explores the lingering effects of World War II on a small island community in the Pacific Northwest. The novel opens in 1954, when a local fisherman is found dead in his net. The ensuing murder trial reveals the deep-seated racism and prejudice that has festered in the community since the war, when Japanese-Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in internment camps. The novel explores themes of prejudice, justice, and the enduring impact of wartime trauma. 

Explore a plot summary, an in-depth analysis of Ishmael Chambers, and important quotes.

Upgrade to PLUS and get instant access to all the study tools

Upgrade to PLUS and get instant access to all the study tools