“Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.”
Chapter 1
The Lee family awakens to the realization that Lydia, their middle child, is missing. Marilyn and James Lee, along with their children Nath and Hannah, initially assume she is at school. When Lydia doesn’t return, they report her disappearance to the police. The chapter ends with the devastating revelation that Lydia’s body has been found in a nearby lake.
Chapter 2
The narrative shifts to the past, revealing the early relationship between Marilyn and James. Marilyn, a white woman, defies societal expectations by pursuing medicine, while James, a Chinese American, struggles with feelings of alienation. Their marriage is marked by love but also by unspoken tensions about race and identity.
Chapter 3
The Lees’ grief begins to fracture the family. Marilyn becomes obsessed with uncovering what happened to Lydia, while James seeks solace in an affair with a colleague. Nath, Lydia’s older brother, suspects foul play, and young Hannah, often overlooked, quietly observes the family’s unraveling.
Chapter 4
Flashbacks reveal Lydia’s life—her role as the favored child, burdened by her parents’ unfulfilled dreams. Marilyn pushes her toward science, while James pressures her to be socially accepted. Lydia’s struggles with isolation and the weight of expectations culminate in her secret friendship with Jack, a neighborhood boy.
Chapter 5
The police investigation rules Lydia’s death an accident, but the family remains unconvinced. Nath confronts Jack, believing he knows more than he admits. Meanwhile, Marilyn discovers Lydia’s hidden belongings, including a letter from Harvard accepting Nath—something Lydia had kept from him out of jealousy.
Chapter 6
The truth about Lydia’s final night unfolds. Feeling trapped by her family’s expectations and her own failures, she sneaks out to the lake, intending to prove she can change. In a moment of despair, she steps into the water, unable to swim, and drowns.
Chapter 7
The family grapples with the aftermath of Lydia’s death. Marilyn and James confront their failures as parents, while Nath and Hannah begin to heal. The novel closes with a fragile sense of reconciliation as the Lees slowly learn to communicate their love and grief.
Key Ideas
- The destructive weight of parental expectations and unspoken pressures.
- The intersection of race, identity, and belonging in 1970s America.
- The fragility of family bonds under grief and miscommunication.
- The search for self amid societal and familial constraints.
- The consequences of silence and the power of truth.
Who should read this book?
- Readers who enjoy emotionally layered family dramas.
- Those interested in themes of identity, race, and societal expectations.
- Fans of literary fiction with slow-burning, character-driven narratives.