Finally Seen

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

Mrs. Ortiz recommends this graphic novel by Catherine Wang to Lina. Lina loves the book so much that she then recommends it to Finn and Mrs. Carter. In Finally Seen, Flea Shop symbolizes effective communication. Lina can better understand the text through the help of the images, and she easily can see how the main character Cat’s challenges are like her own. Later, her classmates prove that Jessica’s opinion about Cat’s classmate is unfounded because the text and pictures communicate that classmate’s behavior. At the emergency school board meeting, Lina speaks clearly and effectively about the novel, explaining how Cat’s plight helped Lina to better understand situations in the US—and to know she is not alone in conflicts as an immigrant.

Flea Shop also represents how sometimes people silence or oppress communication of messages, as in the case of book bans or book challenges. Mrs. Carter relays the inherent lesson to students after the meeting: “You’ve seen how easily books can be challenged. But you’ve also seen what happens when you speak up” (171). The fight to read Flea Shop demonstrates the characters’ courage and shows the power of speaking out.