What is the overall message in Snow Falling on Cedars?

The "overall message" of any novel could also be
considered its theme and most novels of length have more than one
theme.  One of the most prominent themes of this book is the idea of prejudice and how
war stimulates immediate bias and hatred between two groups of people.  In this case, it
is the Americans versus the Japanese and, more specifically, Japanese
living in America.  Historically, this theme is not specific to the
novel alone but is a realistic reminder of authentic attitudes and authentic events in
America's past.

Another message of this book is the idea of
interracial love during a time in history when it would have been considered socially
inappropriate on several levels.  The crumbling of Ishmael and Hatsue's young romance
and the future feelings of bitterness and confusion are both evidence of societal
influence that was far more negative in our culture during WWII than it is
today.

Arguably, it could be said that the author's
main purpose and overall message in writing this novel was to show
real human needs, emotions, and
reactions to circumstances very much beyond their control.  Setting
his novel around the difficulties of the Japanese Americans during and after WWII was
his lens for heightening the legal, romantic, and historical tones of their needs,
emotions, and reactions.