Summary

Chapter 1 opens in early May and is narrated by Amy Lee, a 26-year-old who is the daughter of two Chinese immigrants. Amy currently lives with her parents in their apartment in Queens, New York. Due to anxiety and the return of a chronic stutter, Amy was unable to complete her credential tests to become a teacher, but she hopes to complete them in the near future. Recently, Amy’s student loan payments have been paid Amy’s sister Sylvie, and Sylvie’s husband Jim. Amy’s sister Sylvie is 33 years old and is a successful business management consultant. Sylvie has gone on a trip to the Netherlands, where Amy and Sylvie’s grandmother lived with their extended family, the Tan family. The Tans consist of Helena (Amy’s mother’s cousin), Helena’s husband Willem, and their son Lukas. Sylvie wanted to visit Grandma...