At its core, “How to Pronounce Knife” explores the process of Assimilation and Belonging for a Laotian immigrant family. While this short story is unique to first-grader Joy’s family, the theme of belonging can resonate with many readers. The family attempts to balance assimilating to a new country and maintaining their own identities. For example, Joy dismisses her classmates’ formal clothing for picture day. Rather than feel embarrassed by her casual clothing—a sweatsuit and dirty sneakers—she assures her parents that all is well at school. This self-assurance is consistent throughout the story, indicating her strength in the face of challenges and that her family is not to be pitied. Often balancing different languages and traditions, immigrant families straddle different worlds. Thammavongsa suggests Joy’s family’s journey toward belonging should involve striking this balance in a symbiotic way—learning and teaching, while not forsaking one’s pride ad heritage.

While experiencing life changes, Joy’s family is also dictated by routine, the ways in which they communicate on a daily basis. Miscommunication and Silence inform character dynamics, with Joy’s father telling her to refrain from speaking of their Laotian heritage: “He said, in Lao, ‘Don’t speak Lao and don’t tell anyone you are Lao.