“But diaspora was this, too: two cultures that could both be his, history that was waiting to be made.”

this contemporary chinese-american diaspora art heist from li was an enjoyable debut, getting its themes of effects of colonization in taking back what belongs to one's country and assimilation yet still connecting to one's roots, across. following a group of immigrant kids in their 20's with each distinct characterizations and problems with the weight on their shoulders on living up to either what their parents or in supporting the family. particularly will and irene's sibling dynamic was the one that i was most focused on, seeing both of them going through their memories of their lives shared with the other and the internal constant comparing both didn't think the other had. though li's writing is strong with writing an atmosphere of what it feels to be in your twenties and still trying to figure things out, there was just something lacking in the story overall personally. regardless loving to see each character's individual perspectives but it just felt like every chapter always ends abruptly with a hopeful feeling when there was definitely more depth that could've been given to each individual along with the heists themselves devoid of a feeling of thrill though i understand there's more of the realistic feel to it as the group has so much to lose with daniel's fbi dad and all of their college/work futures. nonetheless, this was still a pleasant debut from li that's rarely seen in the ya contemporary genre with its aspect of heists with the deeper meaning behind it of struggles of belonging to either america or one's home or parent's home country and doing what one feels like needs to be done in order to belong.

huge thanks to penguin group dutton for sending me an arc via netgalley!

“All parents leave their own scars. We're the ones who have to heal from them.”