Digging to America

by Anne Tyler

Sometimes little children are said to be "digging to China." But what do you say about little children digging in China? Are they digging to America? Tyler's latest offering highlights the questions of one's origins and culture.

When two baby girls are adopted from Korea, the questions of culture and assimilation are immediately apparent. The Donaldsons and the Yazdans meet their infants at the same time, in the same airport. Their approaches, however, are very different. The Donaldsons focus on their daughter's Korean heritage; the Yazdans encourage their daughter to be American.

Both girls become friends, as their families celebrate their "arrival day." This is how the families grow closer, as well as observe their differences.

I really enjoyed the characters, particularly the Yazdan family. And I was fascinated by the concept of cultural identity and what happens when someone leaves his/her country.

6/1/06