This young adult book is about Francis, a Chinese American young woman. Bitter Melon tells of Francis’ struggle to try please her mother.  You see her mother was never pleased by anything Francis did.  Finally, Francis decides that if nothing she does pleases her mother, she will please herself.  Her mother expected Francis to excell, and she did, but never quite well enough.  When Francis accidentally ends up in Speech instead of Calculus, Francis chooses to stay.  Here Francis finds something she loves and is extremely well at.  Only, her mother must never find out.