59 pages • 1 hour read
The Secret Battle of Evan Pao
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Themes
The Struggle to Find Identity and Belonging When You’re Different
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of emotional abuse, bullying, and racism.
The theme of identity and belonging is central to The Secret Battle of Evan Pao, as the novel explores the struggles of a young boy attempting to find his place in a new and unwelcoming community. Through Evan’s experiences and the perspectives of supporting characters like Brady and Max, the novel delves into questions of self-definition, cultural heritage, and how belonging is often contingent upon conformity or exclusion.
Evan Pao’s journey highlights the tension between individual identity and societal expectations. As a Chinese American boy moving to a predominantly white town in the South, others immediately mark Evan as different. Instead of being celebrated, his heritage becomes a source of isolation and ridicule. Brady mocks Evan by asking if he has the “Chinese virus,” a comment rooted in xenophobia that emphasizes Evan’s outsider status. The heirloom project further amplifies Evan’s struggles with identity and belonging. While his classmates present Civil War heirlooms tied to long-standing family histories in the area, Evan has nothing to contribute. This moment encapsulates the broader challenge of reconciling his personal identity with the collective narrative of a town that excludes him.
The Confederate statue in Haddington mirrors Evan’s internal conflict. The statue symbolizes the town’s pride in its history, yet that history excludes and marginalizes those who do not conform to its narrow definition of belonging. When Evan researches Asian soldiers who fought in the Civil War, he challenges the town’s selective memory, asserting his own connection to the past while simultaneously forcing the community to confront its exclusionary practices. This act redefines Evan’s sense of self. It creates a space for him to belong on his own terms—not by conforming, but by broadening the community’s understanding of history and identity.
Brady Griggs’s arc provides another lens through which the novel explores identity and belonging. Initially, Brady embodies the town’s hostility, mocking and alienating Evan to assert his own belonging. However, Brady’s behavior is rooted in his own insecurities. As the son of a family with a poor reputation, Brady struggles against the legacy of his last name. Brady bullies Evan to deflect attention from his own feelings of inadequacy and align himself with the dominant group. However, as the novel progresses, Brady confronts his actions and their consequences. His eventual efforts to help Evan reflect his desire to redefine himself and find a sense of belonging not through exclusion but through understanding and connection.
Max Baldwin, in contrast, represents a model of secure belonging that allows for inclusivity. Max is confident in his place within the town’s social fabric, a privilege afforded by his parents’ prominent roles in the community. This security enables Max to see value in Evan’s differences rather than perceiving them as a threat. Max’s friendship with Evan illustrates the importance of allyship in creating spaces where marginalized individuals can feel a sense of belonging. However, even Max’s journey is not without struggle. His initial hesitation to stand up to Brady reveals the pressures of conformity and the fear of losing his own secure place within the social hierarchy. By eventually advocating for Evan, Max demonstrates the power of choosing integrity over acceptance by the majority.
The Secret Battle of Evan Pao argues that belonging should not require the erasure or suppression of an individual’s differences. Evan’s ability to embrace his heritage and challenge the town’s exclusionary traditions represents a triumph of self-definition over societal conformity. The novel’s resolution, which sees Evan forging meaningful connections without compromising who he is, offers a hopeful vision of belonging that celebrates diversity rather than demanding uniformity.
How Prejudice Hurts People and Communities
The Secret Battle of Evan Pao explores prejudice’s profound and far-reaching negative impact on individuals and communities. Prejudice operates as a divisive force in the novel, creating barriers to understanding, fostering hostility, and shaping the characters’ behaviors and perceptions. The novel examines this theme through the experiences of Evan, his classmates, and even the perpetrators of prejudice, demonstrating how bias inflicts harm on all parties involved.
Evan’s arrival in a predominantly white town immediately puts him under scrutiny. As the only Asian American student in his school, Evan becomes a target of racist comments and exclusionary behavior. Brady Griggs, a classmate, mocks Evan by associating him with the “Chinese virus,” a hurtful reference that highlights how prejudice often emerges from ignorance and societal narratives. Brady’s actions create an environment where Evan feels isolated and unwelcome, forcing him to grapple with the weight of being “othered” in his new community. This exclusion underscores how prejudice alienates individuals, denying them a sense of belonging and forcing them to navigate social spaces with caution and uncertainty.
Beyond Evan’s personal experiences, the novel reveals how prejudice entrenches itself in institutions and traditions. The Confederate statue in the town square becomes a symbol of this systemic bias. For some, like Charlie Griggs, the statue represents heritage and history. For others, including Evan, it serves as a painful reminder of oppression and exclusion. The town’s reluctance to confront the problematic aspects of its past reflects how prejudice often persists through a refusal to acknowledge uncomfortable truths. This resistance to change perpetuates harm, as marginalized individuals bear the burden of living in a community that prioritizes tradition over inclusivity.
The novel also explores how prejudice affects those perpetuating it, complicating the narrative around antagonism. Brady’s bullying of Evan stems from his own insecurities and the toxic environment in which he grew up. Brady’s family, particularly his abusive brother Charlie and neglectful father Randall, exerts pressure on him to conform to certain expectations of masculinity and dominance. To assert his place in the social hierarchy, Brady targets Evan, using prejudice as a tool to deflect attention from his vulnerabilities. However, this behavior isolates Brady as well, leaving him with few meaningful connections and a growing awareness of the harm he causes. By showing the toll that prejudice takes on its perpetrators, the novel illustrates how bias and hate damage everyone involved, not just the victims.
Charlie Griggs embodies the destructive power of unchecked prejudice. As an adult who clings to the Confederate statue as a symbol of identity, Charlie channels his frustrations and failures into anger and aggression. His decision to shoot at the Paos’ house after Evan challenges his views demonstrates how prejudice can escalate into violence when individuals feel their beliefs are threatened. Charlie’s actions illustrate how prejudice, when left unexamined, festers and manifests in harmful ways that further divide communities. However, the narrative also humanizes Charlie, revealing his struggles and the cyclical nature of hate, which often stems from deeply rooted fears and insecurities.
Despite the prevalence of prejudice in Haddington, the novel also highlights moments of resistance and growth. Max Baldwin, Evan’s first friend in the town, stands up for Evan and challenges Brady’s behavior, even though he initially falters under peer pressure. Max’s eventual support shows that individuals can unlearn prejudice and choose empathy over conformity. Similarly, Evan’s courage in sharing the contributions of Asian soldiers in the Civil War forces the community to confront an overlooked history. Through these moments, the novel emphasizes the importance of education and allyship in dismantling prejudice and creating a more inclusive society.
The Secret Battle of Evan Pao reveals the insidious nature of prejudice and its ability to shape identities, relationships, and communities. By showing both the harm caused by prejudice and the potential for growth and understanding, the novel illustrates the need for empathy, self-reflection, and the courage to confront injustice.
How Family Dynamics and Legacy Affect Relationships
Family dynamics and legacy are central to The Secret Battle of Evan Pao, shaping the characters’ motivations, conflicts, and growth throughout the novel. The novel uses the Pao family and Haddington’s broader community to explore how familial bonds, inherited expectations, and cultural legacies impact identity and relationships.
At the heart of the novel lies the Pao family’s struggle to adapt to life in Haddington, Virginia, after Michael Pao’s betrayal. Michael’s abandonment creates a fracture in the family, leaving Elaine, Evan, and Celeste to navigate the fallout. Michael’s absence looms large, serving as both a source of pain and a catalyst for growth. Elaine’s attempts to hold the family together reveal her unwavering commitment to her children. Her protective nature—expressed through her overinvolvement in Evan and Celeste’s school lives—highlights her struggle to provide stability in the wake of Michael’s actions. However, her growth is evident as she learns to trust her children’s ability to navigate challenges on their own. Her eventual forgiveness of Brady, whom she believes shot out their window, also reflects her capacity to move beyond anger, offering her children an example of resilience and grace.
Evan’s relationship with his father is particularly complex and underscores the theme of legacy. Evan clings to memories of his father’s affection despite Michael’s betrayal. Evan’s sensitivity to lies and his forgiving nature compel him to reconcile his feelings of love and disappointment. His internal conflict—“Can’t you be mad at someone and miss them?”—captures the emotional complexity of familial bonds (85). Evan’s journey is not just about coping with his father’s abandonment but also about defining his own identity apart from Michael’s shadow. His decision to seek understanding rather than bitterness reflects his desire to break free from the cycle of anger and hurt.
Celeste, on the other hand, responds to Michael’s actions with anger and defiance. Her sarcastic remarks and insistence on moving forward without dwelling on the past contrast sharply with Evan’s introspection. However, her anger masks her deep-seated pain. Celeste’s admission that it is “easier to just be mad” (85) than to confront her feelings about Michael reveals her emotional vulnerability. While Evan seeks closure by reaching out to Michael, Celeste channels her energy into asserting her independence. Her struggle illustrates how siblings can process shared trauma in different ways, further emphasizing the complexities of family dynamics.
Uncle Joe’s role in the family provides another layer to the theme of legacy. As Elaine’s brother, Joe becomes a stabilizing presence for the Paos after their move to Haddington. His pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to life contrasts with Elaine’s protective instincts and Evan’s emotional sensitivity. Joe’s old-fashioned advice, such as suggesting that Evan fight Brady, reflects his belief in self-reliance and resilience. While his methods differ from those of Elaine or Evan, Joe’s unwavering honesty and support demonstrate how different ideologies can coexist within a family. His presence reminds the Paos that family can extend beyond immediate bonds, offering alternative perspectives and forms of guidance.
The theme of legacy also manifests in the broader context of Haddington’s community. The town’s preoccupation with its Civil War history is a backdrop for the Pao family’s story, highlighting how historical legacies shape collective and individual identities. The annual Battlefield Day, with its reenactments and glorification of Confederate soldiers, excludes Evan and others who do not fit Haddington’s narrow definition of belonging. Evan’s discovery of Chinese soldiers who fought in the Civil War becomes pivotal, allowing him to reclaim a sense of pride and connection. This discovery challenges the town’s singular narrative and underscores the importance of acknowledging diverse contributions to history.
The Secret Battle of Evan Pao portrays family dynamics and legacy as interconnected forces influencing identity and relationships. The Pao family’s journey reflects the challenges of navigating cultural expectations, personal growth, and forgiveness. Elaine’s resilience, Evan’s empathy, Celeste’s independence, and Joe’s pragmatism offer unique insights into how families can adapt and thrive in adversity.
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