This book is sarcastically funny with tons of heart. The smart humor cuts the tension of some of the deeper issues that the book dives into.
Frank Li is a second-generation Korean-American, struggling to deal with his strict Korean parents' views of the world and their racism. They no longer speak to his older sister Hanna because she started dating a black boy. When Frank falls for an American girl, Britt, he decides to set up a fake dating relationship with his parent-approved Korean friend Joy, who struggles to find time to see her boyfriend, too. Telling the parents they're out together then splitting off to their separate dates may buy them some time, but the lies take a toll on their respective relationships. Then Frank finds himself falling for Joy, too, and has to decide what he really wants.
Frank is an adorable confused nerd, who aces AP classes and plays video games with his friend Q and wants to argue with his parents, but can't quite work up the courage to make a big stand. He says things like, "Mom-n-Dad are like this big ice wall of ignorance, and I'm just a lone soldier with a sword." Frank is sweet to his dad who never really learned English and devoted his life to his store so his son could have a better life, even if this meant that Frank, who only speaks English, never really knew him despite their living side by side. Frank's confused in love, too, falling for multiple people for multiple good reasons - both girls are awesome, smart and have good hearts. All three of them - Frank, Joy and Britt - are the kind of people who score over 1400 on their SATs and can get into almost any college they want.
In the end, Frank will have to confront what it means to be both Korean and American, and what it means to live his life and love his parents.
Frank Li is a second-generation Korean-American, struggling to deal with his strict Korean parents' views of the world and their racism. They no longer speak to his older sister Hanna because she started dating a black boy. When Frank falls for an American girl, Britt, he decides to set up a fake dating relationship with his parent-approved Korean friend Joy, who struggles to find time to see her boyfriend, too. Telling the parents they're out together then splitting off to their separate dates may buy them some time, but the lies take a toll on their respective relationships. Then Frank finds himself falling for Joy, too, and has to decide what he really wants.
Frank is an adorable confused nerd, who aces AP classes and plays video games with his friend Q and wants to argue with his parents, but can't quite work up the courage to make a big stand. He says things like, "Mom-n-Dad are like this big ice wall of ignorance, and I'm just a lone soldier with a sword." Frank is sweet to his dad who never really learned English and devoted his life to his store so his son could have a better life, even if this meant that Frank, who only speaks English, never really knew him despite their living side by side. Frank's confused in love, too, falling for multiple people for multiple good reasons - both girls are awesome, smart and have good hearts. All three of them - Frank, Joy and Britt - are the kind of people who score over 1400 on their SATs and can get into almost any college they want.
In the end, Frank will have to confront what it means to be both Korean and American, and what it means to live his life and love his parents.