Snow Falling On Cedars is the story of a Japanese American man who has been charged with the murder of a local fisherman. The novel describes the trial of Kabuo Miyamoto of Amity Harbor, San Piedro Island, north of Washington State, in 1954. Kabuo is being charged with the murder of local fisherman Carl Heine, who was found dead at sea after a night of fishing. During the course of the trial, many memories find their ways back to the residents of San Piedro. Amidst all the memories: the strawberry fields, the fairness and trust of friendships, the love between Ishmael Chambers, a white boy, and Hatsue Imada, Kabuo's future wife, and the terrible acts taken against the Japanese citizens during World War II.
             Amity Harbor has never seen such a violent snow storm, and the residents of San Piedro are to take into this trial and be fare about it. Although Kabuo is of Japanese decent, they are not to take his heritage into consideration when they penalize him. He fought for the United States in WWII, he did not fight with the Japanese, but against them. The Pearl Harbor attack has nothing to do with the prejudice against a local resident, the jury is to treat Kabuo as a person, not a group of enemies.
             The trial is watched closely by Hatsue's lost love, Ishmael Chambers, who is the editor of the local newspaper "The Island Review." While searching for information about the biggest snow storm in Amity Harbor history, he uncovers the clue to having an innocent man be let out of custody and, thus, changing the outcome of the trial.
             The message sent by this book, clearly is "don't judge a book by it's cover." Nor should anyone let prejudice get in the way of a fair trial. Just because someone looks like your enemy, doesn't mean they have anything to do with what your enemy has done.
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