Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

Ng, Celeste. Everything I Never Told You. Leicester: Thorpe, 2014. Print.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

Lydia, a mixed race Chinese American teenager in 1977, is dead. The story weaves around the past and the present to uncover the secrets of her death.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The first line of text sets the tone for the entire book, "Lydia is dead." The question of the reader is - Why? The journey to the secret of sixteen year old Lydia's drowning is captivating. The morning after I read the book, I told my mother to only read the first paragraph. I received a call THAT NIGHT from my mother to talk about the book because she had finished. Once you begin, you will not be able to put the book down until you uncover the mystery.
The story acts as a window into the sad past where racism is an acting force in the decisions of the characters. Despite her death, Lydia is a constant image in the book. Her voice carries through the pages. Young adults will sympathize with the Lydia's struggles to maintain the expectations of her parents. The racial tones of the book mirror societal issues of today. Ng created characters that breathe life within the story. The people were so real that I questioned if any of the book was connected to struggles that the author may have faced in her youth. Lydia's father, James, struggles to lose all of his Chinese heritage to fit in with. Young adults will connect with James in the desire to conform while also connecting with Nathan and Lydia in the need to be independent.
Athough the thriller is mature in some of the sections of the parents, there are no explicit scenes that would be inappropriate for a high school student.


4. CREATIVE ACTIVITY

The historical setting of the book highlights the racial issues that were prevalent, even within a family. The Institute of Humane Education offers activities that explore prejudice and discrimination. Some of the activities described include Dare to Be Different, Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged, More Than a Label, Racism Alphabet, and Where are People Like Me.

• "6 Activities Exploring Prejudice and Discrimination." Institute for Humane Education. N.p., 08 June 2017. Web. 03 July 2017. <https://humaneeducation.org/blog/2014/6-activities-exploring-prejudice-discrimination/>.

5. RELATED RESOURCES

There is a video with the author, Celeste Ng, that youtube.com describes as "Celeste Ng speaks at the First-Year Experience® 2016 Conference in Orlando, FL. She reflects on how her own childhood experiences inspired the major themes featured in her book." Do not miss this video about reflecting on cultural identity, racism, and family.

• Ng, Celeste. "Reflecting on Cultural Identity, Race, and Family | Author Celeste Ng." YouTube. YouTube, 16 May 2016. Web. 03 July 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVuEL_0YGkE>.

This interview talks about how she created the story. Don't miss this in-depth interview with the author.

• Eikenburg, Jocelyn. ""Write What Terrifies You": An Interview with Celeste Ng." Hippo Reads. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 July 2017.

6. PUBLISHED REVIEW

This is a Kirkus Review over Everything I Never Told You. It was originally published on June 24, 2014. It was put online May 21, 2014. Find it here.

• "EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU by Celeste Ng." Kirkus Reviews. N.p., 21 May 2014. Web. 30 June 2017. <https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/celeste-ng/everything-i-never-told-you/>.