How To Be An American Housewife is a 2010 novel by Margaret Dilloway. It is based on the experiences of Dilloway's mother, who was a Japanese war bride. Synopsis The book tells the story of Shoko Morgan, a mother of two and wife to American GI Charlie. Shoko decided to contact her brother Taro, whom she last saw when she married Charlie at the end of World War II. However, she is too ill to return her country. Shoko asked her daughter Sue and granddaughter to go to Japan to find her uncle to discover her mother's life secret. Characters Shoko Morgan - A Japanese Woman who married American GI, with whom she had 2 children Suiko (Sue) Morgan - Shoko's and Charlie's daughter and sister to Mike and niece to Taro Charlie Morgan - Shoko's husband and Mike's and Sue's father is an Irish-American GI who is kindhearted yet shy Mike Morgan - Shoko's and Charlie's son and older brother of Sue Taro - Shoko's younger brother and uncle to Sue and Mike, who hates Americans, retired from being a school principal Mille Morgan - Charlie's mother, who become Shoko's mother in law and grandmother to Mike and Sue Nanny - a babysitter whom Shoko disliked as a child Craig - Sue's ex-husband and Helena's father, who married her at age of 20 Suki - Taro's and Shoko's sister. Ronin - an Eta whom Shoko fell in love with, born to an English father and Japanese mother. He and Shoko were lovers. He was killed by Testuo Testuo - Taro's childhood friend, who was engaged to Shoko until he cheated on her with her friend Yuki. Toyoko - Japanese wife of black soldier Jim - Toyoko's husband Kyle Leonard - An American general who met Shoko Lorraine- A neighbor of Charlie and Shoko Dr Cunningham - Shoko's doctor Helena - Sue's and Craig's 13-year-old daughter Dr Su : Shoko's doctor is a Chinese-American Toshiro : A Japanese traveler who met Sue and Helena Yasuo Takana - Suki's son is a teacher at Ukei High School who met his cousin Sue Hiroshi - Yasuo's lover Sumiko - Taro's granddaughter, who met Sue and Helena Taro-chan- Sumiko's four-year-old son, who shared his name with his great-grandfather Awards The book was a John Gardner Fiction Award Finalist in 2011. References External links Goodreads http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_h/how_to_be_an_american_housewife1.asp 2010 American novels Novels set in Japan Novels