How much is the American Dream worth if you can’t actually share it with those you love? Simon Han’s debut novel follows the Chengs, a family of four who arrive in Texas at different moments in time and in differing states of mind. The matriarch, Patty, is consumed by her career, while her husband, Liang, is haunted by his past life in China. Their son, Jack, who grew up with his grandparents, hardly knows either of them. His little sister Annabel was born in Texas, and, at five years old, has started acting out in alarming ways. Her actions and the ensuing fallout decimate the family’s fragile unity and its already tenuous societal standing. Throughout the book, Han etches the four characters with empathy, personality and a whole lot of suspense.
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