The Storm We Made: A Novel

Published in 2024, The Storm We Made is a historical novel by Malaysian author Vanessa Chan. Drawing from wartime stories told to her by her grandparents, Chan initially wrote one of the chapters as a class assignment before she was encouraged by a writing teacher to expand it into a full-length work. The novel revolves around the Alcantaras, a Malayan family living under Japanese occupation at the end of the Second World War. It recounts how the family matron, Cecily, helped ensure Japanese victory over the British colonial government while also presenting the consequences of her actions for each of her three children, Jujube, Abel, and Jasmin. Through their perspectives, Chan examines The Illusion of the Benevolent Colonizer, Solidarity as a Postcolonial Value, and Overcoming Trauma With Memory.

This study guide refers to the first hardcover edition of the novel, published by Marysue Rucci Books in 2024.

Content Warning: The source material for this guide includes depictions of war atrocities involving sexual abuse and violence, as well as child abuse and death. The novel also presents scenes of domestic abuse, alcohol addiction, and anti-Asian language.

Plot Summary

The novel begins in early 1945 with the disappearance of Abel Alcantara, the son of Cecily Alcantara, who worries that his kidnapping is retribution for actions she committed in the past.

Flashbacks from 1934 to 1938 show Cecily working as an informant for Shigeru Fujiwara, a Japanese general who plans to liberate Malaya from the British colonial government. Cecily shares Fujiwara’s ideal of an Asia for Asians and collaborates to break from her dissatisfaction with domestic life. However, she is also attracted to Fujiwara, and she feels betrayed when he marries Lina, the widow of a local gang leader who has changed her identity: Cecily knows her as “Mrs. Yap.” She nevertheless continues to dream of a free Malaya and begins an affair with Fujiwara. Meanwhile, she and Lina become close friends, and both become pregnant at the same time. Cecily gives Fujiwara the idea to invade Malaya terrestrially from the north, rather than facing the British naval forces. He soon abandons Lina, who dies during childbirth. Cecily ultimately decides to give Lina’s baby up for adoption.

In 1945, each of Cecily’s children—Jujube, Abel, and Jasmin—experiences the indirect consequences of her actions. Abel is revealed to have been conscripted to work at a labor camp on the Thai/Burma border, building a railway that will strengthen Japanese supply lines. He is sexually abused by the camp supervisor, Master Akiro, and develops an addiction to alcohol to cope with the trauma. However, when the Americans destroy the city of Nagasaki with a nuclear bomb, the young camp workers slowly usurp control over the camp from the deserting soldiers. Freddie, a boy whom Abel befriends at the camp, gives Abel the opportunity to kill Master Akiro. Abel is haunted by the direction his life has taken, which worsens his addiction.

Meanwhile, Jujube befriends a Japanese teacher named Mr. Takahashi, who extends various forms of assistance to Jujube’s family. Takahashi becomes worried about the fate of his daughter, Ichika, whom he believes was in Nagasaki on the day of the bombing. When Takahashi learns that this is not the case, his attention becomes focused on reaching out to Ichika, which Jujube resents.

Finally, Jasmin is hidden under the floorboards of the Alcantara household to prevent her from being recruited for the comfort stations maintained by the Japanese. Unbeknownst to her family, she has befriended another young girl named Yuki, who lives in the comfort station near town. Jujube discovers that Jasmin has been sneaking out at night, forcing her to lock Jasmin under the house as punishment. When Cecily releases Jasmin, Jasmin runs away until she bumps into Fujiwara, who takes her into his home. Jasmin remains with the general for two weeks, occasionally leaving to see Yuki. When Jasmin finds Yuki badly beaten one day, she takes her back to the general’s house, hoping to appeal to Fujiwara to let her stay.

Distressed over the disappearance of her two children, as well as the death of her husband, Gordon, Cecily decides to ask Fujiwara for help in locating Jasmin. She is surprised to discover that Jasmin has been staying at the general’s house and confronts him as soon as he arrives. When Cecily sees Yuki there as well, she recognizes her as Lina and Fujiwara’s lost daughter. Yuki asks to stay with the general, but he pushes her away, prompting Jasmin and Yuki to retreat back to the comfort station. As the two girls fall asleep in a wheelbarrow, the comfort station catches fire. Meanwhile, Jujube plots to kill Takahashi out of resentment for his and Ichika’s good fortune. She ultimately reconsiders when she realizes that such violence will bring her no satisfaction. Over at the labor camp, Freddie mobilizes the young workers to leave when they are suddenly attacked by British bombers. Freddie dies in the destruction, and Abel runs away carrying the sketches that Freddie had drawn of their life in the camp.

Jujube is returning home when she sees Cecily and Fujiwara running toward the burning comfort station. They are unsuccessful in rescuing Jasmin and Yuki, who die that night. Months later, the British colonial government is restored in Malaya. Abel finds his way back home and learns of the loss of his sister and his father. The novel ends with the Alcantaras receiving a calendar from Takahashi and his daughter, who have founded a new printing press.