How we cite our quotes: (Page number)
Quote #1
"My parents are immigrants. They moved to this country for a better life. They work all the time so my brother and I can have the American Dream. Nowhere in the American Dream does it say you can skip college and become a starving artist."
"It says whatever you want it to."
I snort. "Not in my family it doesn't." (291)
Daniel knows his family’s version of the American Dream means financial stability and success, not actually pursuing your dreams. He’s a good kid and he wants to make his parents proud, so he was on board with their plan, even if he wasn’t that excited about it. Then he met Natasha.
Quote #2
Sometimes, though, he still catches a glimpse of the old Natasha. She'll give him a look like she used to when she was younger. It's a look that wants something from him. A look that wants him to be more, do more, and love more. He resents it. Sometimes he resents her. Hasn't he done enough already? She's his first child. He's already given up all his dreams for her. (210)
Add “Father of the Year” to the list of awards Samuel Kingsley won’t be winning any time soon. Seriously though, it can be a tough transition for some parents to realize having kids means putting their needs before yours―but he’s had 17 years to get used to the idea, so our sympathies are limited.
Quote #3
In Korea, the family name came first and told the entire history of your ancestry. In America, the family name is called the last name. Dae Hyun said it showed that Americans think the individual is more important than the family. (15)
This quote juxtaposes the way two cultures view the role of a family. Some modern parents take pride in giving their children individual names that stand out from the crowd, like this lady who named her kid Abcde (yes, really). Korean parents are more proud to pass on their family’s legacy.