Genre
Short stories
Setting and Context
The book is set in an unnamed hotel and Michigan.
Narrator and Point of View
First-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Disturbing, apprehensive, chary
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist of ‘Every Little Thing’ is Brianne. The protagonist of ‘How to be Chinese’ is Mackenzie.
Major Conflict
Brianne gets pregnant at the age of sixteen and gets dumped by her boyfriend. Therefore, she has to raise her child single-handedly.
Climax
The climax is when Brianne gets home someday and finds her daughter crying over some boy in school. Brianne remembered she advised a pretty girl against dating older men because she had a bad experience while young. She was used and dumped. However, Celeste is now crying for her fellow schoolboys.
Foreshadowing
Mackenzie’s adoption foreshadowed her fluency in Chinese culture despite being an adopted child.
Understatement
The statement that Mackenzie knew nothing about Chinese culture is underrated. For instance, the reader learns that Chinese students surround her, and her chances of learning the culture and becoming fluent are very high.
Allusions
The short stories allude to early romantic relationships and cultural transition. For instance, Brianne, her daughter and the pretty girl were involved in early sexual relationships.
Imagery
The description of the photographic memory and images in 'Every Little Thing' depicts sight imagery to readers.
Paradox
The main paradox is when Brianna advised Lolita about dating boys and men early, forgetting that her daughter is crying to date boys in school. It is entirely satirical that Brianna is not focused on cautioning her daughter about early dating.
Parallelism
Lolita's story and dealings parallel Caitlin's affection for men.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
N/A
