This Place Is Still Beautiful

This Place Is Still Beautiful is about two Chinese American sisters, Margaret and Annalie, who view the world in very different ways. Margaret is bolder and focused on fighting injustice. She hopes to escape the racism and pressure she grew up with, while Annalie is younger and more focused on fitting in and living a normal life. Soon, when a racist slur is spray-painted on their garage, their differences show even more. Margaret rushes home and wants to take action immediately, while Annalie wants to stay quiet and avoid attention. The tensions between them rise, and it becomes a problem. Both girls begin to think more deeply about the harsh truths surrounding identity, family, and how they cope with pain. The story is about love and conflict, and how healing isn’t always easy.

I really like the book because it felt really real and relatable for many people. The way the sisters reacted to racism was very interesting because one wanted to speak up about the conflicts they were facing, and the other wanted to remain quiet and avoid causing trouble. What was relatable for me was that the family looked perfect on the outside, but deep down, they were struggling with relationships and personal conflicts. The book showed that even though it may be hard sometimes, there’s still love and relationships that can guide you. It taught me that you should keep going and try to make something good out of something painful.