Yellowface

There are many instances in which June uses similes to explain her feelings and the events occurring around her. Choose two such instances and explain how the similes impact both the mood and tone of the narrative.

White privilege in publishing is one of the major themes of Yellowface. Explain the ways white privilege impacts the process of The Last Front’s publication. In what ways does June exert her privilege over others?

Athena Liu is only alive for the first chapter of Yellowface and yet her presence is felt throughout the novel. June even believes that she is being haunted by Athena. In what ways does Athena’s “ghost” and legacy influence June’s actions throughout the novel?

While editing The Last Front, June and Daniella shift much of the narrative focus from the Chinese laborers to white characters. How does this new focus fundamentally change the purpose of The Last Front, and how do their justifications for doing so reflect on the publishing industry?

Yellowface makes a point of portraying publishing as an industry that treats otherness as a commodity, being selective with their publication of marginalized narratives to maximize profits. How does June’s publication of The Last Front fit into this narrative, and how does it present the publishing industry’s priorities?

Apart from The Last Front, the two other novels published by June are Over the Sycamore and Mother Witch, both of which carry a personal family connection. Compare and contrast the narratives of these two novels and discuss how June’s real-life conflicts with her mother and sister may contribute to her writing.

Both Athena and June have complicated relationships with their mothers due to their careers as authors. Discuss the ways both women withhold the details of their writing processes from their mothers and the differing reasons why.

Geoffrey Carlino and June are two of the only characters with personal relationships with Athena. Both of them hold resentment over how Athena used their experiences in her writing. Compare and contrast their relationships with Athena and discuss how Athena’s writing influenced their actions after her death.