Butterfly Yellow

One of the first things the reader learns about Hằng is that she has freshly arrived in the United States, traveling alone in search of her brother, in a country whose language she barely understands. Not long into the story, she is forced to team up with LeeRoy, who diametrically opposes Hằng’s natural reticence with his constant chatter. Through this seemingly unlikely pairing, the book explores language and communication.

Despite how different Hằng and LeeRoy are from each other, there are hints early on that their connection is independent of language. From the get-go, LeeRoy faces no difficulty in deciphering Hằng’s heavily accented English, even translating on her behalf for others they meet along the way. LeeRoy and Hằng share no common language, culture, or history but are still able to communicate relatively effortlessly, even if sometimes unwillingly or resentfully.

In sharp contrast to her relationship with LeeRoy, Hằng faces major barriers in communication with her own brother, Linh, now David. Although David and Hằng share a bloodline, David barely understands Hằng. Further, David isn’t interested in developing even a surface-level relationship with Hằng; he views his sister as a disruption and a threat and keeps his distance.