The Year of the Dog
Little Brown, 2006
Pacy, as she is known to her family, also has an American name, Grace; and the dual names emblematize the theme of identity, which percolates throughout The Year of the Dog. Grace, both the character and author Grace Lin, is uneasy but still gracious in fielding that oh-so-vexing question, "What are you?" Grace is Chinese, but also Taiwanese and, as her mother helpfully insists, American. What alternatives are at hand to that question? I am reminded of geographer and humanist Yifu Tuan's response to the sister question, "Where are you from?" He honestly and willfully replies, "Earth." Is there another way around questions such as these? How about replacing them with a more personal and interesting, "What is your name, and what do you like to do?" Will that day come?
But I digress. The Year of the Dog takes us from one Lunar New Year to the next, during which time Pacy/Grace tries to find her calling. Loyal readers will not be surprised when a story about ugly vegetables crops up. But, there are satisfying surprises, particularly in the short stories told by Pacy/Grace's mother. They speak to the time and distance that the family has traveled, and to the integrity and ingenuity of individuals within the family.
Much of the book is satisfying, and I would agree that Lin has achieved her goal of writing a book that she wishes was around when she was growing up (I wish it were, too). She even tackles the difficult issues of cultural authenticity when Pacy/Grace is confronted by Taiwanese speaking peers at a Chinese/Taiwanese/American family camp. My one lingering question concerns Pacy/Grace's friend, Becky Williams, who seemed to be left somewhat thoughtlessly by the wayside as Pacy/Grace pursues a new friendship with Melody Ling, whose similarities make the two girls "almost twins." Is there an unintended message here?
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