Setting: In 1937 Shanghai, Paris of Asia, where Pearl and May was born, and also the time where Japanese bombed China. Including Shanghai.Those people who are fortunate enough manage to escape to America for a better life. Although even the land of opportunities won't mean you are able to escape from miseries. Pearl and May must hide their identities before being assume as a communist who worked for the Japanese. As they lived in America, China is slowly being consumed by the Japanese. And many Chinese are living in hiding fearing that the war would never end, so they could go back to their hometown. Main Characters: Pearl Chin(Zhen Long) Pearl Chin, also known as Zhen Long, is a twenty one years old girl that pose for artist with her sister, May. Pearl is born in the Year of a Dragon, very furious and strong like Pearl, but despite the fact she was born a Dragon, her Baba hates many things about her. Pearl is taller than her Baba and have cheeks that blushes easily. Although Pearl is more educated than May, their Baba consider educated women as useless or worthless. The sisters are very carefree about the world thinking nothing would ever happen until the Japanese bombed Shanghai leading them into a new world of sorrow, disaster, and horror. May Chin May Chin, an eighteen years old girl, like her sister consider herself a beautiful girl. May was born in the Year of a Sheep that needs to be protected and taken care of. Although May isn't quite as educated as Pearl, May's beauty outshines her. After the unfortunate events between the Japanese and her beloved country, May and her sister have to move to America. May rapidly adopted to the American culture, but having to deal with many more unfortunate events. With May being so easily influence, she unexpectedly ended the life of Sam and telling the truth about Z.G. Joy Louie Joy Louie, known to be the daughter of Pearl and Sam, was expose to the horror of the world, whom her mother was trying to hide from her. Joy was rejected by many American school because of the fact that she is a Chinese. Joy have faced many criticism until she reached the University of Chicago. After Joy came home she faced the conflict of whose her real mother, May. Who got pregnant from Z.G., Pearl's first lover before Sam. That's why it explains Joy's beauty, just like her real mother May. Later Joy set out to seek for her real father just like what a tiger would do, following their instincts. Although tigers could be aggressive and furious.
Yen-yen Yen-yen is Old man Louie's wife and the mother of Vern. She was blame for Vern's weak bones. Yen-yen and Pearl slowly grew closer as the days pass. Since Pearl mainly spend most of her time doing house chores while the other find jobs. Yen-yen taught Pearl many things of being a wife and a mother. But Yen-yen despises May for her foolishness, and the ways she adopted the American's ways. Yen-yen soon grew to acknowledge May, but right after Old Man Louie's death, Yen-yen right after unexpectedly. Leaving Sam, Vern, Pearl, May, and Joy behind to take care of themselves.
Events: 1.) Pearl's father lost all his money in gambling, which lead to Pearl and May's arrange marriage to Sam and Vern Louie. 2.) After their arrange marriage, the Japanese, known as the monkey people, bombed China leading them in great despair. 3.)Pearl and May must find their way to survive, and their only choice is America, the land of opportunities. 4.)During their stay at Angels Island, May told Pearl she was pregnant, but she didn't tell her that it was with Z.G., Pearl's first lover. 5.)After encountering Old Man Louie's disastrous greeting, May and Pearl are force to support themselves. 6.) As Pearl slowly manage to convince Sam to tell the truth behind why he isn't able to speak proper English, she also learns that she has married to a poor rickshaw puller. 7.)After knowing that Sam have grown more trust into her, she decided to trust him as a husband and Pearl decided that she is able to truly be a family. 8.)Unfortunately the lo fan has became more suspicious about the Japanese invading America, so they decided to investigate about anyone who acts or looks like a Japanese.
Author's Biography: Lisa See Lisa See was born in February 18, 1955, in Paris but grew up in Los Angeles. Lisa See's great-grandfather, Fong See, became a 100 years old godfather of Los Angeles Chinatown. Lisa See writes her novel base of her Chinese-American family, and the Chinese histories and cultures. She also have no intentions of having any children or getting married, but in the end Lisa See married Richard Kendall. Now she lives with two grown up sons, Alexander and Christopher. |
Quote: " For every awful that's been said or done, she is my sister...parents die, daughters grow up and marry out, but sisters are for life." (pg. 309)
Vern Louie Vern Louie, Sam's brother, is known to suffer from a bone disease that causes him to shrink. Vern is married to May because of her father's debt. Because of Vern's mother having him in an old age, lead to Vern to have weak bones. Where he have to stay in bed because he might have a chance of fracturing his bones. Vern was the only son who is a true American born. Which prove that May and Vern are legally here. Vern has a kind heart and always thinking about others first, but he is known to always to be quiet. Sam Louie, a rickshaw puller, was intended to marry Pearl because of Pearl's father's debt he own to Old Man Louie. Sam doesn't have pure black hair except with a little light tint of red. His skin tone is darker than most people in Shanghai which Pearl assume because of how the Americans bath in sunlight. After all Pearl did not know that she have married to a poor rickshaw puller. Like an Ox who buries the family burden and is very loyal to the owner, Sam is very loyal to Joy and Pearl. He buries a burden of being a paper son, who is came over to America illegally. Later he ended his life, for he doesn't want Pearl and her daughter to suffer anymore. Old Man Louie Old Man Louie is the father of Vern and the husband of Yen-yen. Yen-yen and Old Man Louie both suffer from the loss of their first born child, so they decided to buy Sam, who is in debt. Similar to Pearl's father who is in debt to him, and was told to sell his daughter so he could at least manage to have a roof to live on. Old Man Louie is known to be stingy and aggressive towards May and Pearl. He never show any sign of affections towards any other than Vern. Old Man Louie slowly warms up to Pearl proving that she may have her freedom, but before Pearl knows it he died unexpectedly of old age.   9.) Pearl's family is under investigation assuming that they might be a communist and now they must live behind lies to protect their family. 10.)After being pressure by the INS agent, Old Man Louie died unexpectedly leaving Pearl to ponder what has this mess turn too. 11.) Few days has pass and Yen-yen has died leaving Vern, Sam, May, joy, and Pearl to take care of them self. After that Sam has became the main target for the INS agent. 12.)Sam, as an ox, carries the families burden to himself and believe he is the cause of all this, decided to end his life. So Pearl and Joy could leave a life of freedom. 13.)After Pearl found out about May's betrayal of exposing all their information to the INS agent, Pearl decided to kick may out of the house. 14.) Just when Pearl thought it was enough betrayal, May told her what she did with Z.G. And at that moment Joy was eavesdropping. 15.)Pearl was totally destroy by what May did and the truth of Joy not being her real daughter. So Joy set out to find her real father, Z.G. 16.) After all that has happened Pearl and May came to realize that their sister bonds are strong no matter how much mistakes each of them made because they are sister. And they are the only family they would have until they die.  |
