The Fold by An Na (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2008 )
The Fold is the story of Joyce who is plagued by the beauty of her older sister Helen, and her own false sense of plainness. With her best friend Gina, she explores how she would look with an extra “western” fold of skin above her eye. She tries a makeup session and is pleased with the results and even goes to a plastic surgeon, with the money from her Aunt Gomo “Michael”’s (as in too much plastic surgery) lottery winning and has her eyes taped temporarily as well.
But the boy she likes, John Ford Kang, AKA JFK, doesn’t notice her until one night when she is working at the family’s Korean restaurant, he mistakes her for beautiful Helen. It is only when JFK decides to explore his Korean heritage that they become friends.
Helen has a secret struggle herself, and only openly comes out as gay. Joyce decides to give her portion of the lottery money to her friend Gina so she can get see-through braces, instead of the ugly metal ones. And Gomo approves of her generosity, and her big heart. (Nancy, The Loft)
