Mia Tang

Mia Tang is the heroine and narrator of this novel. She is a ten-year-old Chinese immigrant struggling to understand why her parents decided to move to America. Since they arrived, they have lived in their car. Also, employers have lied to them, cheated them out of pay, and fired them. Mia’s mother tells her that America is “freer,” (4) but in Mia’s experience it is more expensive. Mia’s parents later explain to her that America is free in regard to its justice system. Even though people can be suspected of a crime, there must be proof that they committed that crime before they are put in prison.

Mia also learns that in America, it is possible to achieve one’s dreams, especially if people work together instead of against each other. Mia imagined being able to seal her parents’ success when she won a hotel...