Throughout the memoir, Lee cites works by Black and Latinx critical race theorists, diasporic literary scholars, Indigenous activists and writers of color, as well as the urgent inquiries raised by the undergraduates she now teaches. I love that a memoir about Asian American identity formation does not rely only on the authority of Asian American thinkers and critics ... It is a beautiful incantation for the ongoing project of Asian American identity, a matter of infinite becoming, ever in transformation.
Brimful with stories about being mocked for one’s heritage ... Confronted with such racist stereotypes, there are usually three answering moods: rage, despair, or humor. Lee channels all three: Her prose is, by turns, incendiary, scabrously funny, and melancholic, without ever stooping to self-pity.
Seamlessly blends her own experiences with piercing discussions of identity and racial stratification, serving up conclusions likely to challenge readers across the ideological spectrum ... An exceptional account of an evolving understanding of power and privilege, offering readers insightful new ways to examine their world.
Incisive ... Lee assiduously identifies what constitutes white and Asian America, but her analysis somewhat falters outside of these two spaces ... Still, Lee’s self-reflective voice and sharp assessment of societal failures yield a revealing and righteously infuriating work.
Lee’s honest, compassionate analysis of her past mistakes leaves readers plenty of space to address their own. A lively, wise, and immensely insightful memoir about Asian America's relationship with Whiteness.
