Character Analysis
Although The Spirit Catches You is all about Lia, there's not much actually about Lia within its pages. Of course, this might be due to the fact the Lia's condition hinders her development so severely, essentially preventing her from developing her own identity. Regardless, our brief glimpses of Lia help us better appreciate her family's love for her.
To put it mildly, Lia is a handful—and we mean that in the most adorable way possible. For example, it's really easy to tell when Lia's at the hospital because she's always running "up and down the corridor in the pediatric unit, banging on doors" (5.14). Aw.
So, when she's not mid-seizure, she's pretty rambunctious. But she's also a total sweety. Her foster mother Dee Korda even describes her as one of the most affectionate kids she's ever cared for, albeit a tad spoiled.
Okay, so maybe she's super spoiled. Nao Kao and Foua treat her like their "anointed one, a princess," giving her whatever she wants whenever she wants it (15.20). Part of this is because of her condition: Nao Kao and Foua believe that her seizures are a divine gift.
Still, it's mostly just because they love their daughter more than anything. Although it's a bummer that Lia never gets to live the life she deserves, at least she's had a loving family to ease the pain while she was still running all over wreaking her adorable little havoc.