Necessary Roughness (book)
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| Author | Marie G. Lee |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject(s) | Discrimination, football, family relationships, culture clashing |
| Genre(s) | Drama |
| Publisher | Harpercollins |
| Released | November 20, 1996 |
| Media type | Hardcover, Mass-Market Paperback |
| Pages | 240 |
| Size and weight | 1.2 x 5.8 x 8.8 inches, 14.4 oz. |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-06-025124-7 |
Necessary Roughness (1996) is a drama novel by Asian-American author Marie G. Lee. It features a discussion about discrimination and a clash of cultures between Korean parents and their children's American ways. Set around the fictional town of Iron City, Minnesota, it is the story of a young boy's transplantation from the city of Los Angeles to a rural town in Minnesota and his use of football to escape the bigotry that has confronted his move and the clash between his ways and his parents.
Chan lives with his twin sister, Young, and their parents who immigrated to the United States when the children were still very young. While attending high school, Chan and his family suddenly move to the small town of Iron City, Minnesota. Both Chan and Young face numerous obstacles in their way once the move is complete. One thing they face is being the only Asian family in the town and the racism and bigotry that certain people in the town put upon them. The burden of their parents is also something they must face as their parents practice many of the customs they did in Korea and this clashes with Chan and Young's Americanized views on subjects.
The siblings finally begin to settle down and adjust to the new setting. They help each other with their problems and try to deal with their strict and rigid father. Chan finds refuge in the local high school's football team as he becomes a kicker for the team as they are on their way to the state championships. Soon, Chan's sister Young is killed in an automobile accident and this brings a period of grief over Chan. Chan eventually resolves his issues and is able to become closer to his father. Ultimately Chan and his team win the state championship.
