The Many Meanings of Meilan

The Many Meanings of Meilan follows Meilan Hua, a Chinese American girl who is uprooted from her beloved Chinatown home in Boston after a family feud and transplanted to small-town Ohio just before seventh grade — where her new principal decides it's easier for everyone if she goes by 'Melanie.' Rather than erase herself, Meilan discovers that she contains multitudes, each version of herself inspired by a different Chinese character that shares her name's sound, and she must bring her many selves together when an injustice at school demands she speak out. Andrea Wang's lyrical, stunning debut novel is an outstanding choice for students because it explores Chinese American identity, the weight of names and language, family grief, and the courage to stand up against discrimination — with prose so precise and beautiful it reads like poetry.

Publishing Details

Author : Andrea Wang

Author Nationality : United States

Physical Details

Type of Book: Chapter

Cover: Softcover

Pages: 368

Size: 7.9 x 5.1 inches

Year Published: 2022

Instructional Details

Reading Grade Level: 4th

Genre: Fiction

Sub-Genre: Realistic Fiction

Theme: Asian American, Identity, Family, Immigration, About POC, Social Issues