Finally Seen

Kelly Yang’s Finally Seen is a realistic contemporary middle grade novel first published in 2023. A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Finally Seen describes 10-year-old Lina Gao’s adjustment to American culture after growing up in Beijing, China. After arriving in California, Lina faces challenges with learning English, attending public school, and making friends. The novel highlights themes of The Benefits of a Strong Support System, Finding the Courage to Raise One’s Voice, and Using Imagination to Bolster Positivity and Progress.

This guide references the 2023 edition from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Content Warning: This guide includes discussion of anti-Chinese xenophobia, anti-immigrant biases, bullying, abuse, child loss, and racism.

Plot Summary

Ten-year-old Lina Gao flies to Los Angeles from Beijing. When her parents and seven-year-old sister, Millie, emigrated from China to California five years ago, Lina stayed behind with her grandparents, Lao Lao and Lao Ye. Lao Ye subsequently passed away, and Lina helped care for Lao Lao as she got older. Now that Lina is joining her family in California, Lao Lao must live in a nursing home. Though Lina feels guilty for leaving Lao Lao behind, she is eager to see her parents and sister. Lina, who loves drawing in her sketchbook, is excited to live in a place where creativity and art are encouraged and where one’s ideas and opinions can be spoken freely.

Lina studied English but does not speak it fluently; on arriving in California, she realizes that everyday conversations are daunting. Her parents’ letters over the years mentioned a nice house and good jobs, so Lina is surprised that they live in a tiny apartment, that Dad works on a sustainable farm, and that Mom sells homemade bath bombs on Etsy. Lina also discovers that her parents owe rent, having fallen behind on payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. They believe they cannot apply for federal rent relief because Dad’s green card has not come through, though his employer, Pete Burton, filed for it months before.

Soon after Lina’s arrival, two girls laugh at Lina when she tries to order ice cream; though Mom tells her immigrants must demonstrate strength, Lina begins to fear social situations. When classmates laugh at her English reading skills, Lina decides to not speak English at school anymore. Mom comforts Lina with an imagination game, prompting Lina and Millie to dream big and see better circumstances in the future.

At school, Mrs. Hollins, the librarian, introduces Lina to graphic novels. Lina reads Flea Shop, which features an Asian girl living in the US. The pictures help Lina to understand the story. She and classmate Finn discover their mutual love of books and become friends. Mrs. Ortiz, an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher, works daily with Lina on her skills. These interactions boost Lina’s spirits, but she is upset to discover graffiti on a bathroom stall from classmate Jessica Scott disparaging Lina’s English and artwork.

Lina contributes to the bath bomb business by painting images on the bombs. She suggests putting a big order in the freezer to hasten the drying process, but they crumble. She also drafts an email to customers inviting their personalized orders, but Millie must edit it for grammar. Lina starts to understand that one learns through their mistakes.

Lina continues to struggle with guilt over leaving Lao Lao. Mrs. Ortiz says immigrants must never forget the “i” in guilt; each person is important enough to warrant tough choices, even leaving behind family. Finn suggests Lina start a graphic novel to share with Lao Lao. Lina decides to tell the story of her experiences so far in the US.

The landlord tells the family they cannot use the security deposit on which they were relying to pay the back rent; Mom is ready to give up because starting her business is too hard. When Lina reminds Mom that it was very hard being left in China, Mom rallies and seeks a business partner, planning to use their investment for the back rent.

When Mrs. Carter reads Flea Shop aloud at school, Jessica’s mother challenges the book, claiming the appropriate place for discussions about immigration is the home, not the school. An emergency school board meeting will decide the book’s fate. Mrs. Hollins encourages Lina to speak at the meeting. Lina is fearful of speaking English in public but decides she must try.

In front of the crowd, Lina discusses her many questions about living in the US: She wonders if her family will make rent, if she see will her grandmother again, and if the other girls will stop commenting about her on the bathroom wall. She explains that the protagonist in Flea Shop has questions too; consequently, Lina does not feel alone. She says the book shows what her experience is like being new to the US, and that it has value in showing others someone’s experiences unlike their own. Everyone cheers. The book is allowed back in the classroom.

The family discovers that Pete never applied for Dad’s green card. Dad quits the farm and starts a new job search. Lina forgives herself for leaving Lao Lao. After Mom expresses guilt for leaving Lina in China, Lina tells Mom about the “i” in guilt. Mom gets a business partner and pays the back rent. Lao Lao loves the graphic novel. Though Dad’s job search is ongoing and they must work toward a green card based on Mom’s new business, the novel ends with pride in the family’s successes and hope for the future.