Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of emotional abuse, bullying, and racism.

The theme of identity and belonging is central to The Secret Battle of Evan Pao, as the novel explores the struggles of a young boy attempting to find his place in a new and unwelcoming community. Through Evan’s experiences and the perspectives of supporting characters like Brady and Max, the novel delves into questions of self-definition, cultural heritage, and how belonging is often contingent upon conformity or exclusion.

Evan Pao’s journey highlights the tension between individual identity and societal expectations. As a Chinese American boy moving to a predominantly white town in the South, others immediately mark Evan as different. Instead of being celebrated, his heritage becomes a source of isolation and ridicule. Brady mocks Evan by asking if he has the “Chinese virus,” a comment rooted in xenophobia that emphasizes Evan’s outsider status. The heirloom project further amplifies Evan’s struggles with identity and belonging. While his classmates present Civil War heirlooms tied to long-standing family histories in the area, Evan has nothing to contribute. This moment encapsulates the broader challenge of reconciling his personal identity with the collective narrative of a town that excludes him.