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12/03/2026 1:31 pm
In “Grammar, Identity, and the Dark Side of the Subjunctive” Phuc Tran has been raised differently than his father after they become refugees from Vietnam. His father was accomplished and a lawyer, but when they move to the US ends up running a cement mixer. As Phuc gets older, he realizes the differences between his father and himself. Eventually it leads to his dad being very concerned when Phuc takes a year off from teaching. His father is worried he is losing his job permanently, “Even though I assured my dad that it was just a leave of absence, he was unable to comprehend what was for him the sheer uncertainty of not having a job” (Tran).
In “The Tyrant’s Daughter” by J. C. Carleson, Laila’s father wasn’t a good man in public and he got killed, but had a great relationship with his family. His death caused the family to have to move to the United States. Ever since that, they’ve had to deal with the image of their father and the entire family is trying to separate themselves from him. Unfortunately, everyone is giving them a really hard time about it and are still bringing up the past. Laila is forced to deal with her father’s mistakes over and over again, “As I said, Laila, you seem like an intelligent girl,” he speaks quietly as if he doesn't want anyone to hear, "So, I'm sure you understand just how important it is that your family remain here in the U.S. Obviously I can't guarantee your safety if you go back home. No one can. I'd hate to see that happen" (Carleson 70).
In both these it shows just because a family member does something, doesn’t mean that the rest of the family has to follow them or will have the same experience.
Where in your novel does your character experience either a disconnect with their family or a difficulty because of a family member?
For participants:
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To exceed: Incorporate a quote from a different Ted Talk or a different CommonLit text that has not yet been discussed in your group
This topic was modified 1 month ago by jennifer.chick@rsu4.org
16/03/2026 9:16 am
In my book, Americanized, by Sara Saedi my character doesn't have much of a disconnect with her family. She loves her parents and mentions many times that they are cool parents, and not like other Persian parents. From my book, "My mom and dad defied (most of) the stereotypes regularly associated with Persian parents" (Saedi 55)
16/03/2026 11:44 am
In my book Black Enough edited by Ibi Zoboi the story Half A Moon by Renee Watson. Raven’s father left at a young age leaving her and her mother in poor conditions Raven helps her mother and gets a job at a camp her fathers daughter goes to this camp and is put in the same cabin as her causing an uncomfortable situation “I was relieved that she wasn’t in my group, but having her this close to me, is just awkward.” (Watson 7) This shows a difficult situation my character is in because of a family member.
18/03/2026 11:42 am
alemont27, sense you don't have any speration of parents what is the main problem in your book
18/03/2026 11:47 am
lgallagher27, I have seen that most books have parent problems, but how do you think your book is going to end.
02/04/2026 1:22 pm
The main character Jende is an immigrant from Cameroon , he and his family moved to Harlem NY hoping for a better life. Jende gets a job as a chauffeur for the Lehman Brothers owned by Clark Edwards. His wife Neni is a college student and is in college to become a pharmacist. Jende works through the hardships of being an immigrant family hoping to find the “American Dream” in New York. The book mentions the financial hardship a lot too. The book slightly switches focus to the owner of Lehman Brothers. We read that Clark faces massive debt and falls into a hole of always working and becomes very absent from his family and wife. Neni ends up getting offered a job in the Hampton by the Edwards family as a housekeeper. Clark's wife Cindy turns to alcohol and painkillers due to her husband's absence, Neni ends up finding Cindy in that state and realizes she needs help. Jende is currently facing an ongoing immigration case that he seems to be struggling with since his lawyer keeps charging him little fees and sending him into more financial downfall. Clark's Business the Lehman Brothers ends up going bankrupt despite his efforts. Clark experiences a disconnect to his family when he has to drown himself in work to hopefully keep his failing business too get steady again, which makes his wife turn too addiction and Clark still ends up losing the Lehman Brothers, and goes bankrupt. A quote that shows this disconnect to Clark and his family is, "Clark sighing and hammering on his laptop as if the keys were obstinate. He seemed to have gotten older by ten years in seven days--a deep crease suddenly evident on his forehead--and Jende couldn't stop wondering why the man was doing this too himself, why, with all the money he'd made, he couldn't pick up and go live a quote stress-free life somewhere far away from New York City."(Mbue 176) This quote shows that Clark falls into a workaholic down spiral and Jende doesn't understand why, it causes him to become distant and not apart of his family.
