Stealing Buddha's Dinner

Bich enters third grade and is taught by an “imperious woman who [wears] plaid skirts held together with giant safety pins” (73) named Mrs. Andersen. Mrs. Andersen gives out star stickers in different colors depending on performance, and Bich becomes an “insufferably good student” (73) in pursuit of gold stars. Chrissy and Anh take the brunt of Rosa and their father’s strictness when it came to grades; Bich sees herself as just a “natural-born nerd” (74). Bich discovers that if she is quiet and gets good grades, teachers leave her alone: “Being good meant freedom from watchfulness” (74).

When other kids hurl racist insults at the girls or pull their eyelids back, Bich doesn’t understand. She doesn’t know what “chop suey” means; later, when she sees a can of La Choy at the grocery store, she understands, and wonders “at being called a mix of noodles and vegetables” (75).

At school, kids are judged by their peers on the quality of their packed lunches. Bich revels in the extra snacks sometimes placed in hers, like Hostess Cupcakes and Little Debbie products. When Rosa occasionally grows tired of buying lunch items, she signs the girls up for school lunch.