The War between the classes
Chapter I


In the first Chapter the readers learns some important facts about the different protagonists of the novel:


Amy:

First person narrator

  • Her friend Adam says she is always at peace with herself.
  • She is different from other girls and that intrigues (fasziniert) Adam.
  • Amy is a kind of puzzle for Adam
  • She has a crush on Adam(verschossen sein) and ist head over heals in love with him.
  • She belongs to a Japanese traditional family
Hideo:

Amy´s brother

  • His father wanted him to marry a Japanese but he preferred to get married with Sue, an American girl.
  • He married Sue without his father´s permission in secret.

Amy´s and Hideo´s father:

Amy´s brother

  • He is a traditional Japanese
  • He is opposed to Hideo´s marriage with Sue.
  • He is afraid of losing "control" over his family.
  • He is afraid of his daughter Amy marrying an American boyfriend like Adam instead of a Japanese.


Later, at night, Adam and Amy go to the school dance.
  • The atmosphere is great and Amy enjoys the rhythm of the music. Adam is very proud to have a Japanese girlfriend that belongs to a different culture.
  • Amy is going to teach Adam and his friends the "HULA" Dance.
  • Justin and Juan have almost a fight with each other for the first dance with Amy.

Juan is a Mexican-American whereas Justin seems to be a white rich American. As they call each other names, fighting for a dance with Amy, the reader can assume that the quarrel is also about cultural differendes and prejudices.