Other issues dealt with in this novel include the sense of belonging to a nation, and how young children of immigrants felt at this time, trying to find their identity when they were alien residents in Canada, but were not born in the same country as their parents were.

The Jade Peony is divided into three sections, with a different child of the Chen family narrating his or her experience growing up in Vancouver's Chinatown in the early 1930–40s.

She wishes to be a performer like Shirley Temple and forms an unlikely friendship with Wong Suk, an elderly man who is a family friend to the Chens.

Furthermore, he struggles with his sexuality and feelings for Frank, an older boy who has lost his parents, in a way that is somewhat similar to Jung-Sum's situation.

It tells the story of the three siblings' eldest brother, Kiam-Kim, with a number of events running concurrent to The Jade Peony.

[1] The book was selected for the 2010 edition of Canada Reads, where it was championed by academic and activist Samantha Nutt, but did not win.