American Indian Biographies, Revised Edition Book

Trenka's enigmatic story is reminiscent of Shirley Geok-Lin Lim and Maxine Hong Kingston but moves far beyond the post-colonial experiences of those two writers. Her unique story does not even compare to the ethnic lit of second generation ________(fill in the blank)-Americans.

"The Language of Blood," instead, is a well told story about a woman who was adopted as a young age from Korea and raised in rural Minnesota. There are throwbacks to the post-colonial and second generation experience, but, really, Trenka's story is one of exile, displacement, and juxtaposition. It is a story of feeling both a sense of belonging and a sense of not belonging.

Other reviewers say she plays the victim (white-speak for "Not all white people are racist") too much. I never felt that she sees herself as or plays up the role of victim, rather she more so identifies with the refugee: Adrift, or, in a word she likes to frequently use, "suspended" and at the mercy of the world's whims.

Maybe it's just me, though. I really enjoyed it. Others might not, but all readers should judge it as her experience -- and everyone's experience can be different, as evidenced by both her siblings who remained in Korea and the sister who came with her. Maybe the story was interesting to me because, as the brother of trans-racial adoptee from Korea raised in rural Kentucky, I remember much of the scenarios she describes and satirizes. Through that lens, I could very much relate with Trenka's story.