Kay's Lucky Coin Variety

In this book set in 1980s Toronto, Mary's family's life revolves around their small convenience store. In her final year of high school, Mary tracks the comings and goings of the prostitutes on the corner who buy cigarettes and condoms, harbors a crush on her English teacher, and spends time with her friends. When university starts, Mary balances extra part-time work with her studies and relationships. But when she tries to juggle romantic relationships with her former English teacher and a nice Korean boy her family adores, things spiral out of control and turn violent. Mary tries to balance her Korean and Canadian cultures. Her parents have high expectations, but they are not nearly as strict and demanding as those often depicted in narratives about bicultural families. Mary's descriptions of her life tend toward the matter-of-fact, downplaying some of the novel's darker elements. Her family's resilience keeps the story ultimately hopeful despite several tragic elements. The pace and plotting pick up in the second half as Mary enters university and starts striking out on her own and making mistakes. The drama of her two relationships is particularly gripping as it grows creepier.