Picture Us in the Light

Kelly Loy Gilbert

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Danny Cheng, a gifted artist, is navigating the challenges of school, college aspirations, race issues, and unearthing family secrets while dealing with his feelings for his best friend, Harry. As the story unfolds, the book delves into themes of friendship, family, immigration, secrets, and the complexities of teenage life. With a mix of mystery, emotional depth, and well-defined characters, "Picture Us in the Light" follows Danny's journey of self-discovery and confronting the past to shape his future.

The narrative of the book is intricately woven, touching on themes of love, loss, identity, and the struggles faced by Asian American teens. Through Danny's exploration of his family's past, his relationships with friends, and his artistic pursuits, the story captures the essence of coming-of-age, cultural clashes, and the search for belonging in a world filled with uncertainties and hidden truths.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, reflecting the complexities of adolescence, family dynamics, and cultural identity.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is described as beautiful and poetic, effectively conveying deep emotional experiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on a young artist uncovering family secrets, navigating friendships, and confronting mental health issues.

Setting:

The setting includes a modern suburban backdrop, highlighting the challenges faced by immigrant families in America.

Pacing:

Pacing is gradual at first but accelerates as the story unfolds, especially in the latter chapters.

I got a scholarship beyond what I let myself hope for, so even if my parents can’t pay a dime, I’m going. Inside, I text Harry a picture of the letter. He doesn’t answer right away, and even though I ...

Notes:

The story follows Danny Cheng, a talented artist and Chinese American high school student.

Danny's parents are immigrants struggling with financial and cultural adaptation issues.

A significant plot point is the discovery of secrets related to Danny's family history, particularly about a sister he never knew existed.

The narrative explores themes like friendship, mental health, suicide, and the pressures of academic success.

Danny has feelings for his best friend Harry, who is dating another friend, Regina, resulting in a complex love triangle.

The book uses a first-person narrative primarily from Danny's perspective, with other voices introduced later for added depth.

It touches on the immigrant experience and the challenges faced by Asian Americans in particular.

Danny's acceptance to the Rhode Island School of Design adds to his family’s pressure as they face financial difficulties due to his father's job loss.

The story includes a tragic backstory involving the suicide of a close friend, impacting Danny and his circle of friends.

The writing style has been compared to poetry, praised for its emotional depth and complexity.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes substantial triggers/content warnings related to suicide, mental health issues, and themes involving family secrets and identity struggles.

From The Publisher:

"Picture me madly in love with this moving, tender, unapologetically honest book."-Becky Albertalli, #1 best-selling author of Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Danny Cheng has always known his parents have secrets. But when he discovers a taped-up box in his father's closet filled with old letters and a file on a powerful Bay Area family, he realizes there's much more to his family's past than he ever imagined.

Danny has been an artist for as long as he can remember and it seems his path is set, with a scholarship to RISD and his family's blessing to pursue the career he's always dreamed of. Still, contemplating a future without his best friend, Harry Wong, by his side makes Danny feel a panic he can barely put into words. Harry's and Danny's lives are deeply intertwined and as they approach the one-year anniversary of a tragedy that shook their friend group to its core, Danny can't stop asking himself if Harry is truly in love with his girlfriend, Regina Chan.

When Danny digs deeper into his parents' past, he uncovers a secret that disturbs the foundations of his family history and the carefully constructed facade his parents have maintained begins to crumble. With everything he loves in danger of being stripped away, Danny must face the ghosts of the past in order to build a future that belongs to him in this complex, lyrical novel.

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