Chapter Seventeen: Linh – Lies, Art, and an Aunt’s Visit

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

After the food‑beat outing with Bảo, Linh sits alone at home feeling exposed. Bảo called her a liar, and she knows he’s right—she lies to keep peace with her parents, just as Bảo does to pursue their shared project. Jealousy rises when she contrasts Bảo’s parents, who let him find his own path, with her own family’s pressure. She sketches Bảo’s portrait unconsciously, then lies to her mother about having eaten ramen with Ali. A video call with her aunt Dì Vàng reveals that the aunt plans to visit for Tết for the first time in over a decade. Linh is thrilled at the prospect of sharing her artwork with someone who understands, but her mother resists celebrating, recalling how Dì Vàng struggled as an artist in post‑war Vietnam. Mẹ shares her own painful refugee history and the sacrifices she made to help her sister. Later, Linh texts Evie the good news, and Evie jokes that now there will be two of them.

Key Events

Linh reflects on being called a liar by Bảo and admits to herself that she lies to avoid burdening her parents.
She feels jealous because Bảo’s parents support his freedom while hers demand a stable career.
Linh draws Bảo’s portrait without realizing it, then smudges the lines in embarrassment.
She lies to her mother, saying she ate ramen with Ali, and hides the sketchbook under her pillow.
A Viber call with Aunt Dì Vàng begins; the aunt is still in pajamas and joking about dieting.
Dì Vàng announces she will visit the U.S. around Tết—her first trip in twelve or thirteen years.
Mẹ immediately worries about money and travel logistics, but Dì Vàng insists her sculpture business is successful.
Mẹ recounts the family’s past: after the war, the government watched artists; the aunt often sold nothing.
Mẹ shares that she was only twelve when she left the camps, promised to work hard, and sent money home.
Linh texts Evie, who replies with a lighthearted jab about having “two of you” (aunt and Linh).

Character Development

Linh – For the first time, Linh acknowledges her pattern of lying (even if she justifies it as protecting her parents). She also feels jealousy toward Bảo’s family freedom, a new emotional layer in her perception of him. Her love for art deepens as she immerses herself in drawing; she loses track of time and place, calling it “a type of forgetting.”

Mẹ – This chapter reveals Mẹ’s traumatic past: she was a refugee at twelve, worked odd jobs to send money to her sister, and still sees art as an unstable path. Her worry about Dì Vàng’s visit masks a deeper fear of repeating the family’s hardship. Linh observes that Mẹ cannot see the good in her aunt’s success because memories of struggle overshadow it.

Dì Vàng – Though only heard via video call, the aunt is portrayed as lively, international, and confident. She refutes her sister’s image of a “struggling artist” and insists her business is thriving. Her visit promises to bring a fresh perspective into the household.

Bảo – Not physically present, but Bảo’s words (“liar”) linger in Linh’s mind, and she imagines his voice as her conscience. His hair and mannerisms remain a focus of her attraction.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Lying as a survival strategy – Linh and Bảo both lie to their families to pursue what they love. The chapter questions whether such deception is sustainable.

Art vs. stability – Mẹ’s narrative contrasts the freedom of art (personified by Dì Vàng) with the security of practical work. Linh fears her parents will never approve of her drawing.

Refugee legacy – Mẹ’s story of leaving Vietnam at twelve, working multiple jobs, and sending money home underscores the sacrifices of the first generation. This memory prevents her from trusting that art can be a viable career.

Family bonds across distance – The video call with Dì Vàng highlights how the Vietnamese diaspora maintains connections through food chat (every call begins with “what did you eat?”) and humor.

Sketching as emotional outlet – Linh unconsciously draws Bảo; the act of creating art allows her to escape her worries, much as her aunt finds solace in sculpting.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 17 deepens the novel’s conflict between parental expectations and personal passion. Linh is caught between her mother’s painful history and her own artistic drive. Aunt Dì Vàng’s upcoming visit introduces a new plot element—a character who bridges the two worlds—and offers hope that Linh might find a way to be an artist without losing her family. The chapter also solidifies Linh’s feelings for Bảo, even as she hides them.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Linh feel jealous of Bảo after their conversation about lying?
Linh realizes that Bảo’s parents do not force him into a predetermined career; they want him to find his own path. In contrast, Linh feels immense pressure from her parents to choose something “stable.” This difference makes her envious, because Bảo can write openly while she must hide her art.

2. What does Mẹ’s memory of the post‑war years reveal about her attitude toward art?
Mẹ watched her sister struggle to sell sculptures during a time of rationing and government surveillance. She herself worked odd jobs and sent money back to Vietnam, so she associates art with poverty and insecurity. Even though Dì Vàng is now successful, Mẹ cannot shake the fear that art is a luxury they cannot afford.

3. How does the video call with Dì Vàng move the plot forward?
The call introduces a major future event: the aunt will travel from Vietnam to the U.S. for Tết. This excites Linh because she will finally have a family member who understands her artistic ambitions. It also foreshadows potential conflict, as Mẹ starts worrying immediately about cleaning and logistics, hinting that her anxiety may complicate the reunion.