Summary

In the Prologue, an unnamed narrator points out Carl Sagan’s observation that, in order to make an apple pie, one must first invent the universe.

The first section is titled “Daniel,” and is related from Daniel’s first-person perspective. Korean-American teen Daniel’s older brother, Charlie, has been required to withdraw from Harvard for two semesters, which has caused their parents great embarrassment among the Korean-American community, as Charlie is supposed to become a doctor. Daniel almost feels bad for him.

In the next section, “Natasha,” which is related from her first-person perspective, Natasha’s mom and dad are preparing for the family to be deported to Jamaica, even though their youngest son, Peter, has been born in New York. Only Peter, who has never been to Jamaica, looks forward to going, assuming things will be better there. The family lives in a...