Having an identity crisis may be a day-to-day struggle for most teenage girls, but when you're a high school student, the family chef, and the chief organizer of your household all rolled into one like our friend Lily, things get a little more complicated.
She's definitely not the only one struggling with discovering who she is, though—One Whole and Perfect Day is largely about the characters, both young and old, discovering or reframing their identities within their families and communities. Along the way, they learn a lot about social roles, love, letting go of children, and a lot of other stuff that causes serious shifts in their self-conceptions.
Questions About Identity
- How does the concept of family relate to the identity issues the characters struggle with?
- What does the Daniel Steadman Affair teach Lily about individualism and fitting in?
- Based on the brief glimpses we get into Daniel's head, how are he and Lily similar?
- Which character in One Whole and Perfect Day can you most relate to? Why?
Chew on This
The fact that Lily is a more advanced learner than Lonnie enables others to heavily rely on her, which in turn shapes a large part of her identity for her.
Many of the younger characters' actions are motivated by their desire to not end up like one of their family members.