RIBBONS, by Laurence Yep, is the story of Robin, a young Chinese American girl whose first and only passion is for ballet.  When she has to stop dance lessons in order to save money to bring her grandmother over from China, resentment builds.  Robin continues to practice on her own and finds her relationships with her family members deteriorating quickly.  When Grandmother arrives, Robin is shocked that she will not be allowed to practice at home anymore.

Robin’s family lives in an apartment in San Francisco.  She comes from a biracial family in which her mother is Chinese American.  Her mother is a public interest lawyer who came to America when she was small.  She feels that she owes her mother (Robin’s grandmother) a great deal because she sacrificed so much for her family.  Robin calls it “The Debt” and knows that there is just no way to argue with it.  When Grandmother arrives, she immediately takes to Robin’s little brother.  Robin feels left out and tries to ask for her grandmother’s help putting the ribbons on her toe shoes.  When Grandmother sees Robins injured feet, she orders Robin’s mother to take away her shoes.  Robin has been practicing on concrete floor in too tight shoes, and her toes have started to curl.  Robin is outraged.  She is furious at her grandmother and at her parents for going along with whatever she says.  Later, Robin accidentally finds out that Grandmother had her feet bound when she was little.  She begins to understand what her grandmother must have thought when she saw her feet.  Robin works very hard to show everyone in her family what dancing means to her.  Her grandmother understands, even though dancing is not something she can do anymore.

As the reader begins this book, they may feel as if some stereotypes are actually being upheld in this book.  Robin’s mother is a penny-pincher and is very subservient to her own mother’s wishes.  Her uncles, though well off, continually let the financial burdens fall on her family.  Her grandmother dotes on her brother and gives him permission to do whatever he likes.  He only allies seem to be her friends and her non-Chinese father.  However, as the story progresses, more information is revealed.  When Robin’s friends don’t understand why she has to quit, her Chinese American friend understands and tells them, “It’s family stuff.”  Robin’s mother treats her mother in the respectful way that she was raised.  She explains to Robin that in China, boys are treated differently.  This doesn’t seem like much of an explanation to Robin, but when she and her grandmother come to an understanding, their relationship changes.

The one thing that is mentioned repeatedly, but not fully addressed, is Robin’s and her friend’s obsession with weight.  They severely restrict their food and Robin even comments on how sickly her friend looks.  After one or two days without practicing, they talk about feeling “flabby” and “porking out.”  The terms are used in fun, but anorexia is a real problem among dancers and should be dealt with in a serious manner.

RIBBONS presents the family values of a family as the generations make the transition from China to America.  The reader is along for the emotional ride as the characters learn about what drives one other.