Chapter 2 Summary and Analysis

Jean was unhappy with her name and wished she had been named Marjorie, as it sounded more American to her, and she dreamed of doing things in America she couldn't do in China. Jean asked her mother to give her a new name as a Christmas present, but Mom dismissed the idea as ridiculous. Jean felt that "goodness" (as in, being a good girl) did not come naturally to her. In letters to her Grandma, Jean confessed that sometimes she didn't even try to be good.

One day, Jean went to Andrea Hulls house. Like Jean's family, they were in China because of the YMCA. But unlike Jean's family, the Hulls stressed being "free and natural". This meant often walking around in their home entirely nude. The Hulls were also very frank to their children on "taboo" topics like sex. Jean...