Guterson, David: *1956

Snow Falling on Cedars, 1994 - Thematic Parallels: Prejudice

Guterson, David: Snow Falling on Cedars, 1994
This novel blends a murder mystery with themes of love, prejudice, memory, and justice.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Achebe, Chinua.: Things Fall Apart, 1958, ~200pp
  Much like "Snow Falling on Cedars," this novel portrays a society fractured by external oppression and prejudice.
  - Both novels are about marginalized communities navigating forces beyond their control — colonialism in Nigeria and racism in America — and both use individual struggles (Okonkwo’s downfall, Kabuo’s trial) to reflect larger questions of justice, belonging, and cultural survival.
- Neufeld, John: Edgar Allan, 1968, ~120pp
  A young-adult novel tackling racial prejudice through the story of a white family that adopts a Black child.
  - Both works explore alienation, prejudice, and memory within dark, atmospheric settings. They show individuals struggling against misunderstanding and societal judgment, while tone and setting reinforce feelings of isolation and injustice.
- Ng, Celeste: Everything I Never Told You, 2014, ~290pp
  This novel Involves family secrets, racial identity, and the consequences of prejudice.
  - Both novels weave together a death mystery, racial prejudice, silences within relationships, and the heavy weight of unspoken truths. They highlight how identity, belonging, and history shape human connections—and how easily miscommunication can lead to tragedy.
- Thomas, Angie: The Hate U Give, 2017, ~440pp
  This novel deals with racial injustice and prejudice in contemporary society.
  - Both works show how racism infiltrates justice systems, fractures communities, and challenges individuals’ identities. Theys converge on the idea that prejudice—whether systemic or personal—has devastating consequences for truth, love, and justice.
List of general discussion questions on Prejudice (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Prejudice (pdf)