Sun Is Also A Star By Nicola Yoon

Family relationships have an impact on one’s identity, often leading to a conflict between personal and traditional desires. In the novel, Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, Yoon delves into the dynamics of family relationships and their impact on one’s identity. By challenging the theory of universal parental love, and by exploring the differences between the United States and Korea. Yoon demonstrates how the influence of family relationships on the formation of identity results in a conflict between personal and traditional desires.

To begin, by creating a sense of disappointment in Natasha towards her father, Yoon successfully integrates introspection within the reader, by challenging the idea of universal parental love. To start, Yoon addresses

I used to believe that all it took to make him happy was us, his family. There are pictures of me from when I was three wearing a ‘my dad is the coolest’ T-shirt. On it there was a father penguin and a daughter penguin holding hands, surrounded by icy blue hearts. I wish I still felt that way. Growing up and seeing your parents' flaws is like losing your religion. I don't believe in God anymore. I don't believe in my father either” (215). By portraying Natasha’s evolving perspectives, Yoon can display the complex family dynamics of family relationships and their impact on personal identity. Through Natasha’s viewpoint, the reader can observe the impact of her broken relationship with her father. The loss of the bond that Natasha once had with Sameul, forms a void in Natasha’s life, leaving Natasha wanting the connection she once had with her father. The longing for the bond Natasha once had with her father, brings a focus on the conflict between her desires, and the traditionally strained relationship that Natasha is accustomed to. The void created by the emotional loss of her father results in her adopting a pragmatic mindset, shifting her emotions,

Yoon highlights the disagreement between individual aspirations and traditional norms through this exploration. Yoon also illustrates the opposing views on the importance of family names between the United States and Korea. The importance of cultural differences is demonstrated in the novel, influencing the formation of personal identity that contributes to the ongoing conflict between personal and traditional expectations. As the narrator is explaining the history of Min Soo’s thought process to name her children, the narrator briefly mentions, “In Korea, the family name came first and told the entire history of your ancestry. In America, the family name is called the last name. Dae Hyun said it showed that Americans think the individual is more important than the family” (15). The differences in the cultural significance of family names in Korea and the United States are displayed. In Korea, family names come first, and hold ancestral meaning; the family name first, connecting one's identity to their family lineage and traditions instead of their identity. In contrast, in the United States, family names are “last” names and appear after a first name. This emphasizes individuality and personal autonomy. The difference between the United States and Korea in terms