Violet Miniturn Danner Fang

Violet is the central character in the novel. She narrates most of the novel. Violet is the daughter of Lucia and Lu Shing. She is the mother of Flora. Although she believed that she was a full-blooded American for most of her childhood, she is devastated to learn she is actually half-Chinese. She believes this makes her unlovable in her mother’s eyes as she sees how much her father, who she does not know, seems to be so hated by her mother. As an older child and young teen, Lucia tries to hide the Chinese parts of herself by speaking only in English and trying to learn to smile so that the corners of her eyes do not turn up.

When Violet is 14, her biological father gets back in touch with her mother. He says that she can finally see her son again. Violet...