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In the summer of 2008, 13-year-old Chris Wang lives in Fremont, California with his mother Chungsing, Chungsing’s demanding mother-in-law Nai Nai, and his sister Vivian. Chris’s father supports the family from Taiwan. Chris constantly bickers with Vivian, who is soon heading off to UC San Diego. He makes silly YouTube videos with best friends Fahad and Soup.

Chris becomes acquainted with his crush, Madi, and they begin corresponding on AIM and Facebook. When they go on a date, she tells Chris he is good-looking “for an Asian” and initiates a flirting game, which ends when he admits he is nervous. He is embarrassed and blocks her on AIM. During a group hangout with Fahad, Chris commits a series of social faux pas by describing how he and his friends played with a dead squirrel, driving a wedge in their friendship.

Chungsing and Nai Nai have an intense dispute regarding Nai Nai criticizing Chungsing’s parenting and her husband’s absence. Chungsing and Chris have dinner with one of her peers and her academically successful son, Max. Chris’s behavior and feelings of inadequacy begin to strain his relationships. Chris is brought on as a filmer by a trio of older skateboarders. They take him to a party where he tries alcohol and marijuana; when he gets sick, Vivian covers for him. Before Vivian leaves for college, the siblings reconcile. The skateboarders visit Chris’s home and find his footage unusable. Chris berates Chungsing in front of them, causing the group to leave in disapproval.

Max and his friend Josh approach Chris. Josh mocks Chris for his failed date with Madi, and Chris strikes him using his skateboard. Chungsing and Chris have an argument which culminates in him running away for a night. Chris returns home and Chungsing recounts how Vivian ran away from home when she was 14. Chungsing describes to Chris her dream life as a successful painter. However, she states that her children are her true dream.

On the first day of high school, Chris attempts to reconcile with Madi, but is unsuccessful. He greets Fahad and Soup and joins a club for visual arts. Chungsing picks up Chris from school and he tells her about his day.

Last Updated: October 24, 2024 at 07:54