The author has written several tales detailing the experiences of Chinese immigrants in America. Some of the immigrants have been in the US for years whereas others are newly arrived. "The Beauty" is a story about a couple who has a homely baby. Fearing that the child is not his, the husband questions his wife only to discover that she, too, was once homely but had had plastic surgery to improve her appearance. "Children as Enemies" focuses on grandparents who cherish their heritage and find it difficult to accept that their grandchildren want American names because their friends have trouble pronouncing their Chinese names. "An English Professor" is the tale of a man who is seeking tenure and carefully prepares his papers for that decision. After submitting them he discovers that he has used an incorrect word that he believes will disqualify him. Other interesting tales are "The House Behind a Weeping Cherry," "Temporary Love." and "A Composer and His Parakeets."

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