250 Years of Us Book Club: Real Americans by Rachel Khong

During the year of America’s 250th anniversary, this book club explores history through both fiction and non-fiction that challenge familiar narratives and invite fresh perspectives on the American past. Each selection encourages readers to look beyond the textbook version of history and consider the people, choices, and hidden stories that shaped the nation.

December’s Selection: Real Americans by Rachel Khong

In December’s selection, we explore the question of what it means to be American through the story of three generations of a Chinese American family. Rachel Khong’s Real Americans moves across decades and continents as Lily, her son Nick, and her mother confront questions of identity, belonging, family and the forces that shape who we become. Blending family history with questions about class, immigration, race and scientific progress, Khong challenges the idea that the American story—or the American identity—is a single, straightforward one.

Excerpts from Ken Burns’ THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION will be shown in the book discussion group. These clips have been made possible through a library grant from PBS.