I cannot imagine leaving what is known and familiar to me and traveling half way around the world to try to make a new life.  Throughout this novel, thoughts of whether I could do that circled around in my head.  In A Shattered Dream, A New Immigrant’s Life Story, Dan Liu takes such a journey in his quest for a better education, for better prosperity, for a better life.  Frank Guo’s novel gives the reader an interesting insight into the minds of immigrants and into the type of life that is here in America waiting for them.  Through sheer determination, Liu plans to make the United States, a place of wealth and opportunity, his home.  However, that sheer determination and resilience towards just that one goal come at a cost, as he sacrifices much to make this achievement.  How much is too much to sacrifice?

First and foremost, this book made me thankful to have been born in the United States and helped me to gain a newfound respect for immigrants to this country.  To leave behind family, tradition, and financial stability and come to the unknown is a very courageous thing to do.  This heart-wrenching tale truly shows the dreadful weight that waiting to see if you can stay in this new country can have on an individual.  To sacrifice and risk so much with the hope of a better future is an overwhelming concept for me, yet it is many peoples’ reality.

Much of this book focuses on goals.  Dan Liu is steadfast in his goal to get a master’s in engineering and citizenship into this country.  While remaining true to a goal is something that is to be admired, the book delves into the consequences of having one single-minded goal.  Liu loses pieces of himself as he inches closer to achieve what he has worked so hard for.  It raises the question of “Is it worth it?”   It is a thought-provoking book that makes the reader stop and take stock of their own life, goals, and decisions.

While the novel is a long read, it is impossible to not finish since the reader wants to know if Liu finds happiness in the end.  As a reader, you want him to accomplish what he set out to do but also feel a little bit sorry for him in what he has lost.  The writing had a very formal structure; while I typically enjoy a more relaxed writing style, it actually helps to add some authenticity to the book as that is more typical of English as a Second Language writer.    Overall, the book is an interesting read and a window into the world and journey of immigrants.

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