Maturity In Almost American Girl By Robin Ha

An autobiography and graphic novel by Robin Ha titled Almost American Girl uses dialogue and anecdotes to explore the themes of identity, racism, and the passage from childhood to adulthood. The narrative follows the main character, "Robin," as she is compelled to relocate from South Korea to the United States in the 1990s, leaving behind all feelings of comfort and familiarity.

Through narration and dialogue, Ha shows how Robin's character develops and matures throughout the course of the book from her early years through her adolescence. Ultimately, this allows the author to communicate Robin’s emotional immaturity as a teenager and her progression to self-acceptance. Through the diction Robin uses to describe events, dialogue and narration

In this case, Robin knew that they were taunting her, as all the other students in the cafeteria started laughing at her, causing her to cry. Thus, Robin compares her past and present lives once again through thought bubbles, where she wishes to be eating kimchi and rice with her friends rather than eating the greasy food on her tray. These examples help the author communicate the message that constant negative moments faced by a child with an immature mindset will only enhance their biased viewpoints, and further cause them to reject the idea of resilience. All of these instances push Robin to fight against the acceptance of change, as no good experiences were made in Huntsville until much later in the

She is judged not only by her family but also by her friends, neighbors, and the society she is a part of. In a flashback, Robin describes how stereotypes of single mothers have always been unfavorable, portraying them as either helpless victims or depraved mistresses. Her experiences are the same whether she is in a personal or professional setting—she is frequently judged and stereotyped. In chapter 7, during an argument with Robin, she is overwhelmed by her anger towards her mother, and she screams, "Why the hell did you bring me here?" I hate you! "You are the worst mother ever!" This circumstance demonstrates that, in addition to the countless judgments she endures from others, Robin's mother is also misunderstood by her own daughter. As a result, the use of the flashbacks emphasizes Robin's self-centeredness even more since they only occur before or after an instance in which Robin and her mother misinterpret one another. Through the use of this type of structure, the author makes it possible for readers to understand both points of view and demonstrates that neither Robin nor her mother are to blame. This is done by using flashbacks to give both characters reasonable justification for their choices and actions. This structure, along with the dialogue and narration used, encapsulates the concepts of perseverance and self-acceptance, illuminating to readers the