The autobiographical account by Alice Pung describes her family’s life from China to Australia. Alice’s parents move to Australia, where she is born and raised. Life in Australia is not easy because they are compelled to adjust to a new culture. Kuan, her father, gets a job at a local factory while Kien, her mother, stays at home taking care of them. Huyen Thai, her grandmother, also stays with them.
Alice hears her grandmother narrating stories about China. Huyen Thai and Alice develop a strong relationship after Kien starts selling jewelry. Soon after, Huyen Thai moves to Que’s place. Alice becomes bored because her parents expect her to take care of her siblings and, at the same time, concentrate on her studies. Later, her grandmother suffers from a stroke. Alice becomes worried due to her grandma’s illness. Afterward, Huyen Thai dies, and Alice becomes depressed, prompting her parents to seek medical help for her condition. The final exams are near, and Alice has not studied well. She becomes apprehensive and wonders whether she will score well.
Nonetheless, Alice is over the moon after discovering that she has scored well in her exams. She is admitted to the University of Melbourne. The memoir describes the setbacks, alienation, annoyance, and elation of being raised between two cultures. The account discloses a naïve girl with an intense love for her family, who finally excels in studies. The narrative also shows how immigrants struggle to learn a foreign language. For instance, Kien is struggling with the language despite her ambition in business. Immigrants should be determined and indomitable regardless of the challenges they face in a new country.
