Asian Americans are a wide and diverse group, making up 7% of the American population. The majority of Asian Americans are Chinese, followed by Indian and Filipino. More than half of Asian Americans are immigrants like Christine’s parents (Ruiz, Neil G; Noe-Bustamante, Luis; Shah, Sono. “Appendix: Demographic profile of Asian American adults.” Pew Research).

Christine and Moon’s families live in an Asian American suburb among people from similar backgrounds. The suburb forms a sort of cultural community. This is demonstrated by everyone’s attendance at church, by the way rumors spread, in the Hongs’ decision to take in Moon and her mother, and in the Chinese lessons that Mrs. Hong teaches at her home. Food is an important aspect of culture and brings the community and families together, with traditional dishes like dan dan noodles and shaved ice being featured in the story. Moon’s family is different from most in the community. Unlike other families, Moon has a single mother, and they are both Buddhist and vegetarian. This makes Moon stand out from the crowd and draws Christine, a curious person, into her world. Moon and Christine become friends and come to understand each other’s differences, Bridging the Cultural Divide.

Historically and in present times, Asian Americans are frequently left out and featured less than other ethnic groups in movies, media, and literature. When Asian Americans are depicted through these outlets, it is often from a stereotyped, racist, or one-dimensional perspective. Authors like Wang hope to enrich the world of literature by adding their own points of view and stories. Not only does this give Asian American children something to relate to; it enhances other groups’ understanding of diverse Asian American cultures. Many immigrants and their children face challenges when it comes to maintaining their traditions while adapting to American life, and it is common for works of literature written by Asian Americans to contain this theme. Christine admires Moon because she finds it so effortless to be herself while Christine struggles to reconcile her family obligations with the person she wants to be.