Date of Award
2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in English
Department
English
First Advisor
Derek Nikitas
Abstract
Angeleno is a novella featuring Emma Song, an Asian American undocumented immigrant and graduate student living in Los Angeles. As the primary breadwinner of her household, a Ph.D. student, and a college consultant, Emma wears numerous hats. The novella centers on Emma’s personal life and the multiple individuals vying for her attention, including her best friend Olive, Olive’s twin brother Aubergine - named after their celebrity chef father’s two favorite vegetables - and Miles, a teenage student she tutors.
Although Angeleno is a work of fiction, it is based on field research conducted in Los Angeles, which includes in-depth interviews with undocumented immigrants living in Southern California and extensive site visits. The novella imagines the diverse lives of undocumented immigrants, aiming to give voice to a silenced, marginalized community that accounts for a quarter of the U.S. immigrant population.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Kim, Sue Yon, "ANGELENO: A NOVELLA" (2024). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 1683.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/1683