What Happened This Summer

Emily Walters Gregor is a graduate student in 20th-century American
literature and an ESL writing tutor at the University of Minnesota.

Each chapter in What Happened This Summer provides a glimpse into the
experiences of young urban Chinese immigrants whose lives are shaped by
expectations: that they will make their parents’ sacrifices worthwhile
by learning English and going to university; that they will ignore the
pull back to Hong Kong; that they will accept the teachings of their
church no matter what; that they will meet the expectations of white
Canadians.

As it turns out, the characters often fulfill and defy Canadian
expectations simultaneously. In settings ranging from Vancouver to
Toronto, from Hong Kong to Beijing, and from Chinatown to Richmond, they
wrestle with school, friends, family, jealousy, pregnancy, ambition,
drinking, and isolation.

Yee’s complex and thought-provoking novel challenges young-adult
readers but also rewards them as it delves into the multi-faceted lives
and experiences of its immigrant protagonists. Highly recommended.