"I feel bad you're walking
home with me when you have
a bike.
I am happy to walk and talk
to you.
Talk with you.
Ah, with you.
Yes, yes.
I hope I'm not being
annoying?
No, no.
You help me.
I thank you.
I don't know how you
do it, Jessie. It must be
so hard, being in a new
country!
And without your parents!
It is hard."
When the Lin family touches down in Los Angeles in 1981, they explain to Customs and Immigration authorities they are on vacation. They soon discover that their visas are not in order. They are allowed entry anyway, meet with friends, and enjoy time together visiting iconic tourist spots.
It isn't until Baba is packing his suitcase that the three children learn they will not be going home. Ba will return to Taiwan, while Mama and the children stay in America. This will be their new home. The parents are convinced that life will be much better for them. It is a huge, and unwelcome, change to have Ba return for work and the family separated. Mama enrols the three children in local schools. Then, comes the next blow. Mama's visa extension is denied, and she must go back. The children are left to live on their own, with help from family friends.
At 10, 14, and 16, in a new country where they do not know the language or the customs, it is a harrowing experience. It obviously has real repercussions for the family and changes how they feel about life. They must learn to speak English, deal with inherent racism, and meet many other challenges. It does not go well. They, too, are undocumented and must be very careful that no one knows their living arrangement for fear of being deported. A scam, an accident, and being influenced by others has consequences that are too much for most children to negotiate. The Lin children show tremendous ingenuity and persistence in dealing with every situation they face.
When Baba and Mama finally are able to be with them, they offer a delicious meal and money saved from summer jobs. The story works well at every level, although it certainly instilled angst for the reader. The characters are credible and their circumstances, though devastating, are understandable to those who face some of the same immigration issues.
This is Ms. Tang's first graphic novel, and is inspired by the fact that she, too, was a 'parachute kid". That is explained in an author's note. The colorful artwork is emotional and compelling. The author uses red text in yellow speech bubbles whenever Chinese is spoken. That is a real plus for readers.
This fine novel is filled with humorous moments and a tremendous amount of character. What a difficult journey it must have proved to be for so many.
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