Foreigners

What happens when the history a family passes down is not the whole truth? In Foreigners, E. L. Shen presents an intergenerational story about identity, belonging, and the secrets that can shape a family long after the original events have passed. The novel follows three connected timelines. In 1878, Duanfang is determined to preserve the status and legacy of his Manchu family, even when protecting that reputation means concealing parts of his past. In 1965, Zheng Yi leaves Taiwan for New York City, hoping to pursue an American education. As she encounters prejudice, unfamiliar social expectations, and an intense romance, her future begins to take an unexpected turn. In the present day, Dawn Chin is struggling with her family's emotional distance and the expectations placed upon her. A school assignment requiring her to interview her grandmother leads her to question the family history she has always accepted. As she uncovers inconsistencies in her grandmother's account, Dawn begins piecing together a much older story of migration, silence, and deception. Moving between generations and places, the novel examines how cultural identity, immigration, family loyalty, romantic relationships, and personal choices influence the way people understand themselves and one another. Its alternating perspectives gradually connect individual experiences to a broader family legacy. Readers can expect a character-driven narrative that combines historical detail, romantic tension, and the suspense of uncovering hidden truths. The book is particularly suited to young adult readers interested in multigenerational family stories, Asian American experiences, historical fiction, and contemporary questions of identity and belonging. Foreigners invites readers to consider how inherited stories shape relationships—and how confronting uncomfortable truths can become the first step toward understanding a family's past.