Canadian author and immigration lawyer Jamie Chai Yun Liew explores themes of identity, culture, mental health and belonging in her emotional debut novel Dandelion, released on April 26.
The story follows Lily, the daughter of immigrants, through childhood, adulthood and motherhood. In particular, through the lens of the trauma she endures from her mother abandoning her family without a trace.
The title, Dandelion, references the freeness of dandelions and their ability to thrive anywhere. This concept of freeness is also tied to other novel themes such as belonging and home, which are seen in how Lily wrestles with figuring out where she belongs in terms of identity and culture.
Similar to Lily, Liew is the daughter of a “stateless” immigrant and an immigration lawyer advocating for immigration reform. The issue of the stateless, people that don’t have citizenship within their country, is one that Liew hopes to draw attention to in Dandelion. She won the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award from the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop for the book.
The first part of the novel, titled “Before,” details Lily’s experience at age 11 leading up to her mother’s disappearance. Set in Spring 1987, Liew describes Lily’s childhood in the small mining town of Sparwood, B.C. Young Lily’s naive perspective is contrasted with older Lily’s maturity, as she narrates the majority of the novel beyond the first part. As an adult, Lily is an immigration lawyer whose new role in motherhood opens old wounds and inspires a search for her mother that leads her to Asia.
While the setup in the first few chapters feels stilted, Liew eventually finds her narrative style, gradually building the tension between characters and allowing them to develop complex identities. Liew has a strong sense of pace as an author, taking her time to build to the climax in a manner that never feels rushed, allowing the tension to mount in a satisfying way.
After part one, the story shifts focus to adult Lily, now a new mother. While somewhat jolting, the shift in perspective pays off nicely, allowing the reader to see Lily’s contrasting attitudes and differing perceptions of events before and after her mother left. This narrative choice shows the lasting effects of trauma and pushes the boundaries of the novel in a welcome pacing shift.
Liew is skilled at utilizing vivid imagery to depict the story’s themes—the scenery of Sparwood is a metaphor that represents Lily’s parent’s conflicting attitudes toward Canada. Lily’s father views Canada’s landscape as an opportunity for a fresh start, while her mother longs for her homeland and sees Canada as a prison. Meanwhile, Canadian-born Lily and her sister Bea view it as a playground. The significance of this setting also plays a role in the unfolding of the plot.
Lily’s journey to her homeland drives the novel’s themes as her journey to find her mother unfolds. She feels at home and at peace in a land she never before considered home. At other moments, she sees ghosts from the past that haunt her. The scenery conveys Lily’s emotions and the restlessness she encounters within her competing ideas of “home.”
Overall, Dandelion is a thought-provoking story that compassionately addresses the complex nature of immigration and identity—showing the lasting implications of trauma and emotional scars, while still managing a hopeful tone.
The novel builds into a satisfying healing journey as Liew does not shy away from depicting harsh realities, making the gradual processes of healing so rewarding and her debut novel that much more important.
Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.
