43 pages • 1 hour read
Linda Sue ParkA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
The protagonist of the novel, Julia is a Korean American in a mostly white, small Illinois town. She is close with her middle-class family, though she has a tumultuous relationship with her brother, Kenny. She is best friends with Patrick. She struggles with her Korean American identity and has experienced slurs and discriminatory treatment in the past, making her hesitant to take on the silkworm project for Wiggle Club.
Inclined to assimilate into white society rather than embrace her heritage, she also dislikes kimchi because of its spiciness and strong scent; because of this, her family teases her about the authenticity of her Korean genetics. She dislikes reading, preferring hands-on activities like construction and embroidery. This ultimately connects her to her heritage, as her mother teaches her traditional Korean embroidery techniques. Julia’s attachment to the silkworms also bridges her two identities, creating a balance between her Korean heritage and her American citizenship.
By Linda Sue Park