Kevin Ye

Mrs. Arnold

Independent reading

I choose Everything I Never Told You for my independent reading. This book is written by Celeste NG, and she is a Chinese American. This book is talking about a Chinese American family living in a small town in Ohio in  the 1970s. When I read the background of this book, it was highly attractive to me.

The book starts with Lydia’s body, which was found in the middle of a lake nearby her house. Lydia is the middle daughter of Marilyn and James Lee. James Lee is a Chinese American; his parents came to the U.S. with the Chinese immigrations of 1840, when many Chinese came to the US for the Gold Rush. James felt self-abasement and he could not fit in America’s society although he grew up in the U.S. He rejected to learn Chinese because he worried once he learns, Chinese will influence his English accent. Marilyn is an American woman who really wanted to be a doctor , but she fell in love with James and realized she pregnant with Nath ( Her first son). She became a homemaker. At that time period, a mixed family was not accepted in the whole country so they live in a suburb. James wanted Lydia to fit in with native students and be the center of every party. But Marilyn wants her to pursue Marilyn’s original dream--- be a doctor. Both James and Marilyn ignored Lydia’s feeling. Nathan and Hannah, the younger daughter,  are struggling to distinguish themselves, but Lydia will always be the most important child.  Lydia’s death is a catalyst that make the whole family in chaos and pulled them apart. Even their neighbor Jack who is not accepted in their community is involved in Lydia’s death.

From this story, I like Hannah best, because she is the most smart in this family. But I also feel frustrated James and Marilyn ignored her. She is the youngest child in this family, but she lives in the attic. Even Marilyn didn’t set a seat for her at the table. Hannah is the most poor child in her family.

This whole book represents some problems in that time period, 1960-1970. This book narrates some stories about how native Americans discriminate against James’s family. These stories stand for part of the Chinese American community who lived in a very low level in society during that time period. Another big problem is the different cultures and the different opinions on mixed family. There is a gigantic difference between James and Marilyn; James forces Lydia to make more friends but Marilyn forces Lydia to be a doctor. They never ask what Lydia really wants to do.  I highly recommend this book. As an international student I have the same feelings with this book in some special situations. This book is not only attractive to me to know about the relationship in this family, but also can make me realize more information about American culture during that time period. This book is worth reading.