Shaker Heights, Ohio (1996-1997)

The suburb of Shaker Heights, Ohio is more than just the novel's setting, and the time period in which the story takes place is more than just a year in the past. Shaker Heights from 1996-1997 symbolizes a culture. Shaker Heights represents affluence and American society's materialistic standards. The "Nineties" was a decade marked by heightened racial conflict and rapid capitalistic gain. Therefore, the setting of Little Fires Everywhere is the medium upon which Celeste Ng paints a picture of the American ethos and its impact on American identity.

The story is based in the author's hometown, and although the story takes place a mere two decades ago, the setting feels timeless, and thus, its messages, relevant. Celeste Ng uses the setting of where she was grew up to tell a story of being raised in America, a place where race and class influence one's...