Necessary Roughness (book)

Necessary Roughness (1996) is a drama novel by Asian-American author Marie G. Lee which explores themes of discrimination and a clash of cultures between Korean parents and their children's American ways. It is the story of a young Korean-American boy's transplantation from the city of Los Angeles to the fictional rural town of Iron River, Minnesota and his use of football to escape the bigotry that he faces and the conflict he experiences with his parents.[1][2]

Necessary Roughness
Necessary Roughness paperback cover
AuthorMarie G. Lee
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectDiscrimination, football, family relationships, culture clashing
GenreDrama
PublisherHarpercollins
Publication date
November 20, 1996
Media typeHardcover, mass market paperback
Pages240
ISBN0-06-025124-7
OCLC35235249
LC ClassPZ7.L5138 Ne 1996

The Kim family is forced to move from their hometown of L.A. to Iron River, Minnesota. Abogee's (Chan's father) brother, Bong, left abruptly without paying any of his debts. The Kims had to pay his bills, and run the store he left behind. Chan had a twin sister, Young. Back in L.A., Chan was on a soccer team, and Young was in an orchestra. When they moved to Minnesota, however, Chan joined the football team, and a family tragedy decides his career.

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