rssenglishworld, The English Literature and Grammar Digest

The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu Summary – The Paper Menagerie The story is narrated by Jack, a Chinese-American boy who grows up in Connecticut. His mother is a Chinese immigrant who barely speaks English, while his father is American. Jack’s earliest memory is of crying uncontrollably as a baby. His mother distracts him by making paper animals—a tiger, goat, shark, and other creatures—using colorful wrapping paper saved from Christmas gifts. She breathes life into them, and magically, they begin to move and behave like real animals. This becomes Jack’s first experience of wonder and love. Jack grows very attached to these paper animals, especially the paper tiger named Laohu, who becomes his closest companion. His mother tells him stories in Chinese, teaching him about her village in China, her childhood, and her family. Through these stories, Jack unknowingly connects to his mother’s culture and past. As Jack grows older and starts school, he becomes aware that his mother is different...