The American Dream. Full of hope and dreams, millions of immigrants flock to the U.S. for a better opportunity, escape from war, or interest in the culture, but how many truly reach unreal expectations? Contrary to what is advertised, the majority struggle with
racism, disregard for language barriers, and traditions. Author Maxine Hong Kingston creates her own memoir to share her
perspective as a first-generation Asian American immigrant. This book’s genre can be generically explained as a memoir, but it is so much more than a simple life story. You read through the lives of her relatives, herself, and traditional Chinese folktales that envelopes you with what Maxine herself immerses herself in.

Composed of five key chapters, Kingston wraps around themes of identity, oppression of women (in rigid tradition), Chinese culture,
and silenced voices. All of these complex themes string into her purpose to use her “voice” as a writer to shed light on minorities who have been silenced, are silenced, and can be silenced. Target audience start from a wide grouping of women, immigrants, to a transition of her own life living in the U.S. Even if you believe you are not included in the target audience, I recommend this to anyone who wants to understand where some immigrants come from or someone eager to challenge themselves with a complex book seeded with depth, meaning, symbolism, and full circles. Raw description of childhood and student life through uses of unusual diction that blooms imagery in our minds skillfully depicts the confusion that digs through our innocence and ignorance surrounding us.