Frank Li is a Korean American high school senior living in California, navigating the strict expectations of his traditional immigrant parents. His parents insist that he date only Korean girls, but Frank falls for Brit Means, who is white. To hide this relationship, he enters a fake-dating pact with Joy Song, a family friend in a similar predicament. While managing this double life, Frank grapples with his parents’ overt racism, his sister’s estrangement from the family, and the pressure of the upcoming college admissions cycle.
High school students and children of immigrants read this book to see the tension between heritage and personal identity. It appeals to those interested in the logistical and emotional strain of code-switching between different cultural worlds. Readers finish the story with an understanding of how systemic prejudice impacts family dynamics and the difficulty of reconciled love when parental values conflict with modern social realities. It provides a specific look at the Korean American experience without simplifying the friction of assimilation.
Inward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2019
- Language
- EN
