Super Short Summary

Bento Box in the Heartland by Linda Furiya is a memoir detailing her upbringing in Versailles, Indiana, where she navigates her Japanese heritage and American assimilation, particularly through food. She describes her struggles with cultural identity, relationships with her family, and encounters with racism, balancing her pride in her unique background with the desire for acceptance in a predominantly white community. Each chapter concludes with a traditional Japanese recipe that signifies her journey. The book includes instances of racism and reference to wartime experiences.