American Panda

Content Warning: This section discusses anti-Asian racism and cultural stereotypes, familial pressure and conflict, and identity struggles.

Mei is the 17-year-old protagonist of the novel. She is a freshman biology student at MIT despite her age since her parents forced her to skip a grade. Mei is Taiwanese American and struggles with reconciling her own desires with the wishes of her traditional parents. They demand that she become a doctor because they believe that the career guarantees stability, success, and prestige. Having witnessed the disownment of her brother, Xing, Mei fearfully abides by their rules even though she has a serious fear of germs. She repeatedly attempts to overcome her fear by exposing herself to sick patients and cadavers, but she ultimately is overwhelmed by the idea of being a doctor. Mei is also skilled at math and enjoys calculus but has trouble staying interested in biology classes. Her true passion is dance, which her parents forced her to take up as a supplement to her college applications but later forced her to quit. She has secretly dreamed of owning her own dance studio ever since and fulfills her passion by teaching classes and dancing alone in