Project Mulberry

The protagonist of the novel, Julia is a Korean American in a mostly white, small Illinois town. She is close with her middle-class family, though she has a tumultuous relationship with her brother, Kenny. She is best friends with Patrick. She struggles with her Korean American identity and has experienced slurs and discriminatory treatment in the past, making her hesitant to take on the silkworm project for Wiggle Club.

Inclined to assimilate into white society rather than embrace her heritage, she also dislikes kimchi because of its spiciness and strong scent; because of this, her family teases her about the authenticity of her Korean genetics. She dislikes reading, preferring hands-on activities like construction and embroidery. This ultimately connects her to her heritage, as her mother teaches her traditional Korean embroidery techniques. Julia’s attachment to the silkworms also bridges her two identities, creating a balance between her Korean heritage and her American citizenship.

Julia’s friendship with Mr. Dixon opens her eyes to the complexities of racism—not just between white people and people of color, but also among people of color. Though she has been raised in diverse settings, she must still contend with negative or at least misguided