Frankly in Love

David Yoon’s Frankly in Love delves into the complexities of cultural identity and belonging. Through the story of Frank Li, a Korean American teenager, Yoon explores the challenges of straddling two cultures and the diverse ways in which individuals can find belonging without conforming to homogeneity. Overall, the novel emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s unique identity and fostering inclusive communities. Frank finds himself torn between his Korean heritage and American upbringing. Growing up in a Korean immigrant family, Frank grapples with the pressures of cultural expectations and the desire for personal autonomy. Yoon depicts the complexities of navigating a dual identity through Frank’s desire to pursue a relationship with a white classmate, despite his parents’ wishes that he only date Korean girls.

In addition to Frank’s brief romance with Brit (who, in some ways, embodies “American” culture to Frank), he and his friends embody American youth culture, enjoying Western pastimes such as Dungeons & Dragons. The tension between Frank’s “Westernization” and his parents’ traditional Korean values prompts Frank to question his sense of self. Although Frank initially feels disconnected from his cultural heritage, he gradually comes to accept it by engaging in Korean spaces. During his time at a Korean festival with Joy, he sees himself reflected in other Korean faces: “There is something happening here inside me.