Dandelion Body is a collection of poetry that focuses on the exploration of self and how identity as a third culture kid is affected by the digital world. The author, Mia Cheung, is a senior at Shanghai American School, who recently got accepted into Harvard University. Her passion for writing poetry and exploring her identity drove her to write this book.
Although the title Dandelion Body does not seem to be related to what the book is about, Cheung states that Dandelion Body entails the fact that people’s identities are ever-changing and evolving, just like a dandelion. As stated in the book, “you will always be you, and I will always be me, and knowing that is beautiful”. The title Dandelion Body tells readers that people are constantly changing, and no one should try to copy another.
Many cryptic messages are hidden within this book. For example, one poem has a diagram of a suit and ties, as well as a combination of Mandarin and English characters. In fact, many of these poems are also abstract. Cheung uses diagrams, spaces in the poem, and all sorts of clever play with the pages to create a wonderful book. When we first read the book, everything looked very hard to understand, and perhaps some of the poems seemed too free and unrestricted. Upon deeper look, however, we realized they were a masterpiece, each poem interlocked with one another to create a stunning exhibition of Mia’s identity.
According to Cheung, Dandelion Body explores topics ranging from loss of innocence and confusion to a struggle to find belonging, while, at the same time, utilizing the tools of sarcasm and satire. It pokes fun at ideas such as fake news and the incompetence of the former US president. Many of the abstract poems show the struggle Mia feels when being tugged by two nations; or the hopelessness of being unable to find her true identity. The format and ways Cheung uses to convey her ideas are absolutely ingenious. She extends the boundaries of poetry and opens up a whole new way to express her thoughts. As opposed to ink on paper, she plays with the shape and design of the poem.
What’s particularly enticing about Dandelion Body is not just the exploration of identity, but Cheung’s identity is also unique in the sense that it comes from the aspect of a third culture student. This is very relatable and something many at SAS can connect with, because we all come from similar backgrounds. For instance, the struggle Cheung faces of not knowing where to call home is one that is a personal struggle for both us, and many in the SAS community. A poem, “Bilingual”, intertwined the Mandarin and English language to show how Cheung struggles to find belonging as a bilingual student. It is quite shocking how much the poem resonated with us and how similar Cheung’s experience is to ours.
Dandelion Body not only expands the scope of the many ways poetry can twist and turn, but also expresses the struggles of a third culture student. Cheung not only uses abstract yet creative methods to share her own experiences, but also tells the readers to be themselves through the title of the book. It addresses the deepest problems through the simplest drawings.
Written by Ariel Qi and Annabella Zhang.