The story alternates between modern day Margot, and the story of her mother Mina. Both characters are interesting and it was good to learn more about their experiences. I found it interesting that Mina, living in Koreatown, never has incentive to learn to speak English, because everyone she knows speaks Spanish or Korean. The same could be true where I live in Virginia. Both women's stories are deeply sad, and very familiar, stories not about the American dream but about the disappointment. It's a somewhat bleak read, and the mystery aspect of it is not very believable. But it's interesting anyway.