Mother Figures

    The title of  "Mothers, Lock Up Your Daughters Because They Are Terrifying" has bothered me since I read it. This title is nine words long, yet fails to accurately describe the content of the story. In this story, the three main characters struggle to reconcile their adopted families with their identities as Korean-American. They practice dark magic in search of a mother, but none of them are actually terrifying or much else other than lonely and disconnected. Mini's adoptive parents have neglected her since their divorce, Caroline's family is overprotective and strict, and Ronnie struggles with her feelings for her adoptive brother. Their feelings of alienation drive some pretty messed-up actions, but the girls are nowhere near as sinister as the title implies.

    I would suggest a new title "Mother Figures", since the main characters' search for a mother figure is their major shared motivation, and also the driving force of the story's plot. It's also more concise than the original title, making it easier to say and write about. Mini, Caroline, and Ronnie are unsatisfied with their adoptive families, knowing that there is a "dotted outline of parents" missing from their lives. When the character "Mom" enters the story, the girls flock to her as a parental figure to tell them what to do. Even despite the growing evidence that their "mother" is likely some sinister supernatural being, they cling to her for guidance. I think naming this story "mother figures" would accurately represent its main themes, without being overly long or giving too much away. 

    Since most of the girls' issues stem from both their biological and adoptive parents, as a presence or absence in their lives, mother figures shape their characters deeply. Alice Sola Kim writes, "every so often we cannot help but feel that we have to earn our places in our homes", setting the girls up for a lot of resentment against their families. Mini spends her nights alone and never asks for anything, so she wishes for a mother to help her make food and spend time with her. Caroline wants to be perfect, so Mom corrects and criticizes her. Ronnie wants to stop feeling guilty about her relationship with her stepbrother, so she calls in Mom to take over her life entirely. A mother figure is both a blessing and all of their downfall.