The Latehomecomer

by

Kao Kalia Yang

Sheelue is Kao’s younger sister; she’s born four years after the family emigrates to the United States. Kao’s grandmother Youa is living across the country when Sheelue is born, and she feels disconnected from Sheelue, which shows how living separately from extended family (like many immigrants do) weakens family bonds.
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Sheelue Character Timeline in The Latehomecomer

The timeline below shows where the character Sheelue appears in The Latehomecomer. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 9: Coming of the Son
The Immigrant Experience Theme Icon
Love and Family Theme Icon
Gender Theme Icon
...she’s unemotional about meeting Xue. A year later, Chue gives birth to a girl named Sheelue, a name that nobody in Laos or Thailand would give to their child. Youa is... (full context)
The Immigrant Experience Theme Icon
...Kao try hard to help around the house. Kao likes cooking, but she hates bathing Sheelue—she’s always afraid that she’ll drop her. The adults struggle with factory work, especially because many... (full context)