Listen, Slowly Summary
Thanhha Lai

Listen, Slowly Overview

Thanhha Lai's novel Listen, Slowly is the story of 12-year-old Mai who is forced into a trip to Vietnam with her father Mua and maternal grandmother Ba. While Mua is manning a surgical clinic in a remote area, Mai waits impatiently for Ba to get answers about her husband who apparently died during a war when Mua was very young. Initially, Mai just wants to get the answers and return to her life and friends in California. However, she comes to realize that she feels a connection with the Vietnamese people, including those who are "maybe-relatives." Mai is willing to extend her stay to give Ba more time to say good-bye to her past. The main themes of this novel are the importance of closure, communication, changes, listening for understanding, and culture.