Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying and racism.

“She was eager to turn ten, because the number 9 looked like a sprout coming out of the ground, small and easily stomped. Ten was a strong, two-digit number that looked like a sword and a shield that belonged to someone who was about to conquer the world.”

The novel’s introduction of Magnolia spotlights her thoughts about her upcoming birthday to characterize her as both a creative thinker and someone in need of Developing Confidence and Finding One’s Voice. She worries about being vulnerable and weak—like the number 9—and looks forward to growing into someone stronger and more confident—like the number 10.

“Magnolia hesitated before blowing it out, knowing that as soon as she did, her parents’ attention would be pulled back into work, so she took a long inhale, then blew out the candle with her nose to amuse her dad.”

Because they work long hours to support the family, even on her birthday, Magnolia cannot have her parents’ full attention. Her internal thoughts and her choice to blow the candle out in a way that amuses her father highlight her sense of humor, her loving heart, and her deep desire for connection.

“The subway is too crowded, the air smells like baked diapers.”

Iris’s comically vivid olfactory image—characteristic of the text’s sense of humor—depicts the negative side of New York City. Her opinion contrasts sharply with Magnolia’s at this point, and Magnolia feels challenged to show Iris the positive side of the city she loves, pushing her from passivity to action.