One of the best American novelists to teach us about diversity and the second-generation immigrant experience is Amy Tan. In her short story, “Fish Cheeks,“ the narrator is ashamed and embarrassed of her family’s authentic Chinese menu on Christmas Eve. By the end of the story, the narrator’s perspective changes and she learns a valuable lesson about the strength of her family’s diversity. I would pair this lesson with the Stephen Covey conversation about diversity and ask students to discuss the narrator’s thinking from the beginning to the end of the story to identify the point at which the narrator uncovers the truth of Covey’s words.
Level: Secondary English/Language Arts
Subject Area: American Literature
Author: Tiffany Heitman
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