In Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family, Rachel Phan reflects on her childhood as the daughter of hardworking immigrant parents who poured their time and energy into running their family’s Chinese restaurant. Throughout the memoir, Rachel describes the emotional distance she felt from her parents, noting that the restaurant often seemed to compete with her for their attention. As a young child and later as a teenager, this left her feeling confused, frustrated, and sometimes deeply hurt. Her older sister acted as her main guide through the challenges of growing up, but when her sister eventually left for university, Rachel suddenly found herself without that support. She struggled to navigate friendships, shifting social dynamics, and the changes happening in her own body. Asking her parents felt impossible, so she was left to figure things out alone.
Being a teenager is already a turbulent experience. Everything feels like it’s changing at once, and many teens wrestle with questions that feel too embarrassing or too personal to bring to a parent or guardian. While some young people have adults they feel comfortable turning to, others—like Rachel, may not know where to go for reliable information.
One valuable resource for teens is the Teen Health & Wellness website, available through MPL. It offers trustworthy answers to sensitive questions, expert guidance, and personal stories from other teens who have faced similar challenges. Growing up may never be easy, but we can make the journey less overwhelming by ensuring teens have access to supportive, judgment‑free spaces where they can learn, ask questions, and feel understood.
For further reading, here is a list of books that explore family life and growing up:
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