An intricately beautiful and compelling novel, Obasan begins with the death of the narrator Naomi Nakane’s Uncle. As an adult, Naomi had tried hard to separate herself from her childhood experience in Canada during World War II which she lived through, but didn’t necessarily understand as a child. Drawn back to her old family home to help put her Uncle to rest, Naomi is pushed by her Aunt Emily towards a deeper understanding of her family’s and the country’s history.