Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Characters

Henry Lee

Pretty much the whole world might be stacked against him, but Henry Lee, a Chinese American boy...

Keiko Okabe

Even though everyone else sees Keiko as a Japanese girl and the enemy, she's insistent on the...

Marty Lee

Marty Lee is Henry's college-aged son and the only family Henry has left now that his wife has...

Samantha

When Henry meets his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, he's surprised to see that she isn't Chinese....

Sheldon

Sheldon—an African American street musician whom Henry passes on his way to and from...

Mr. Lee

Henry's father is definitely a strong traditionalist and a tough guy. He expects his wife and son...

Mrs. Lee

There are ways in which Henry's mother is traditional—for instance, she only speaks Chinese...

Mr. and Mrs. Okabe

Henry is super nervous when he first meets Keiko's parents, but over time he gets to know them...

Mrs. Beatty

At first, Mrs. Beatty, the no-nonsense lunch lady, doesn't seem to care what happens to Henry....

Chaz and Friends

Henry and Keiko are the only Asian kids at an otherwise all-white school, and they're harassed...

Ethel Lee

When the book opens up, Henry Lee's wife, Ethel, is already dead. Still, she definitely leaves an...