Characters
She is a a 17 year old Jamaican-American bold girl who is trying to prevent her family from being deported back to Jamaica. She is logical and rational person who believes in science and facts who doesn't get swayed with emotion and listens to her head rather than her heart.
Who is Natasha Kingsley?
Despite what people say and the hardships they face, characters are seen to show this trait over what they are obligated to do. For example, Daniel embraces his love for poetry instead of becoming a doctor and abiding to his parents' wish. Samuel was extremely passionate in acting to where despite his career falling apart, he went for it.
What is Passion?
When Daniel sees Natasha in the record store, he is initially physically attracted to her and stares at her lips and legs.
Where did Natasha and Daniel first meet?
Natasha, who has lived most of her life in America, is devastated and determined to find a way to stay in the country. The family is originally from Jamaica and has been living in the United States on a visa that has expired. Samuel's drunk behavior causes his arrest and detention which then shows how they are illegal in the country.
What is deportation?
This item of Natasha's symbolizes her desire to shut herself out from the rest of the world. When it breaks after meeting Daniel, it symbolizes the breaking of the wall that she has set up all this time and forces her to connect with Daniel.
What are Natasha's hot pink headphones?
Natasha's mother is a hardworking and practical woman. Natasha is frustrated with her mother's lack of support for her dreams of becoming an astrophysicist. Later on, she realizes that her mother has made many sacrifices for the family and Natasha is able to forgive her mother for her past mistakes. Her mother begins to understand and appreciate Natasha's dreams.
How does Natasha's relationship with her mom change?
In the novel, we are able to see how this happens so unexpectedly between Natasha and Daniel and how fate plays a role in them meeting and running into one another. Also because of this, Natasha chose to leave the life she had in America to go back to her country with her parents.
What is Love?
Daniel's dad's shop which is a black haircare store which is a place where Daniel can express himself creatively, as he writes poetry in his spare time while working there.
What is "Bae's Hair and Beauty"?
Daniel wants to be a poet but his Asian parents force him to go the medical route and become a doctor. Daniel's mom hopes he can get into Yale.
What does Daniel want to be?
Because of this, Daniel picks it up and tries to return it to Natasha, leading to a conversation between them. Also, it is used to pay for a coffee that leads to a chance for Daniel to find Natasha and convince her to give him a chance.
What is a coin?
He is a man of good intentions and is a dreamer who fails to face reality and lives in his vast imagination ideas. Because of his lack for practicality, he accidently gives away his legal status causing his family to be deported and puts their future in the United States at risk.
Who is Samuel Kingsley and what impact did he have?
Natasha faces discrimination and prejudice because of her race and Daniel struggles to balance his Korean heritage with his American identity. This common problem faced by 1st generation immigrant kids helps build one's sense of belonging and their story in a new country.
What is racism and sense of identity?
In this room, Natasha and Daniel are able to let loose and have fun together, which helps to deepen their connection and bond. The room represents a temporary escape from the outside world.
What is the karaoke room?
Daniel's a good singer and Natasha is the opposite, but soon they start making out. This makes Daniel convinced that they are meant to be, but Natasha tells him it's not possible since she's getting deported that very day. This causes Daniel to get mad, so he heads to the family store and beats his brother in the face.
What happens at and because of the karaoke room?
Natasha's phone case symbolizes human loneliness and unexpected consequences in ones life because of someone else's action. This phone case is looked at by Irene each time at the USCIS since she is also facing a battle within herself.
What is Nirvana?
Natasha learns to take risks and embrace herself. She begins to embrace her interest in astronomy and her dreams despite her parents' disapproval. As she learns more about Daniel's family and their struggles, she becomes more understanding and empathetic towards them. She also learns to forgive her father for his mistakes and to appreciate the sacrifices her parents have made for the family.
What is the impact Daniel has on Natasha?
Both the families of the main characters are seen to have left their country and be in America. The readers can see the immigrant experience and their struggles to what it takes to have a settled life. On one side, we see Daniel's family being successful and having a business whereas in Natasha's family, they are being deported since they failed to catch up to the expectations of the new country.
What is the American Dream?
The first day that Daniel and Natasha meet, he invites her to lunch and she goes with him. At the restaurant, the waitress rudely refuses to bring Natasha a fork since she doesn't know how to eat with chopsticks.
How does going to the Korean restaurant show a sense of cultural difference?
Natasha and Daniel take a cab to the airport together and they stare into each other's eyes tell each other they love each other before Natasha gets on the plane. Daniel and Natasha try to keep in touch but they grow apart since Natasha tries to assimilate into Jamaican culture.
How do Natasha and Daniel depart from one another?
Throughout the book, the characters struggle with the tension between their own desires and expectations. This symbolism highlights the complex identities of immigrant families in America. It also shows the ways in which traditions can cause friction for one to balance their own desires and aspirations with those of their communities.
What is Culture?
Jeremy Fitzgerald is a Yale admissions officer who is initially dismissive of Natasha's interest in astronomy but then becomes an advocate for her admission. His belief in her abilities and potential helps Natasha to see that she is capable of achieving her dreams.
How does a minor character help a major character?
One example of this could be seen at the INS office where a minor character, Attorney Fitzgerald, is connected to both Daniel and Natasha because of their backgrounds. This shows how it is a part of life in how the characters end up together while being so different yet having common values which they share. This is a main theme seen in the book since the whole book revolves around this idea and the cultural backgrounds of people while finding love.
What is destiny and interconnectedness?
Natasha and her family are required to report to this office since they are undocumented immigrants who are being deported. Here, Natasha meets Daniel, who is at the office to get a travel visa for a trip to visit his grandparents in Korea. This office shows the legal system that can be stressful for immigrants, but also shows a background for the characters' individual journeys.
What is the INS Office?
Ten years go by and Natasha is a waitress to help her family in Jamaica and Daniel writes sad poems about Natasha. They are seated a row apart on a flight one day. A flight attendant who used to work at the INS facility starts talking to Natasha and says how her life was saved because of Natasha. As the attendant is talking to Natasha, Natasha introduces herself and Daniel hears her name.
How are Daniel and Natasha reunited?
The play A Raisin in the Sun symbolizes Samuel’s battles he faces in life. The play deals with many of the same things that Samuel deals with in his life such as racism, dreams, and hopelessness. Coincidentally, he plays the lead character of that play.
What is A Raisin in the Sun?