A review by scheskie
Real Americans by Rachel Khong

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I liked this book a lot more than I was expecting to!  The character development was really fanstastic - I especially liked the authenticity of the way that Nick found his identity.  He was especially endearing to read about - I don't know if that was because we meet him when he is younger or what. 

I'm not competely sure if I understand what the point of the stopping time was - I guess I saw it as a symbol of inherited cultural trauma that went beyond the way anyone looked.  I'm just glad that the big secret the mom was keeping wasn't that she married her half brother and Nick's uncle was his dad.  I was so sure that was where the book was headed when  Mei was having trouble getting pregnant.  Whew!  I don't know if that was where I wanted the book to go.

But I really loved how the book examined cultural history and priviledge, both with money and family status, as well as the way someone looks.  It was a lovely book to read!