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James Shin Hoo
Madame Sun Lin Hoo is the 28-year-old second wife of James Shin Hoo and stepmother of Doug Hoo. She’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. A recent immigrant from Hong Kong, she is isolated by the language barrier that keeps her from communicating in English. None of her neighbors will even try conversing with her or helping her to learn English, and some—like Grace Wexler—even go so far as to stereotype her “doll-like” appearance and quiet nature. Madame Hoo turns to burglary in order to get to know her neighbors, stealing objects beloved by them in order learn more about them, feel more connected to them, and understand their lives. Jake Wexler, Madame Hoo’s partner in the Westing game, is the only person who treats her as an individual rather than a stereotype. As Jake helps Madame Hoo learn English, she comes out of her shell a bit and begins feeling more connected to her new neighbors. Fiercely protective and proud of Doug, Madame Hoo is a young but devoted stepmother and, ultimately, a beloved member of her new community. When the other heirs learn that Madame Hoo is the burglar, they forgive her immediately—they have come to understand just how complicated and trying her journey has been.
Madame Sun Lin Hoo Quotes in The Westing Game
The The Westing Game quotes below are all either spoken by Madame Sun Lin Hoo or refer to Madame Sun Lin Hoo. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 1 Quotes
Who were these people, these specially selected tenants? They were mothers and fathers and children. A dressmaker, a secretary, an inventor, a doctor, a judge. And, oh yes, one was a bookie, one was a burglar, one was a bomber, and one was a mistake.
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Chapter 2 Quotes
Jake turned to Madame Hoo. "Hi there, partner."
"She doesn't speak English, Dad," Angela said flatly.
'And she never will, Angela, if no one talks to her."
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Chapter 15 Quotes
The coffee shop was full of diners.
Shin Hoo's restaurant had reopened. too, but no one came.
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Chapter 16 Quotes
Madame Hoo served in a tight-fitting silk gown slit high up her thigh, a costume as old-fashioned and impractical as bound feet. Women in China wore blouses and pants and jackets. That's what she would wear when she got home.
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Get the entire The Westing Game LitChart as a printable PDF.
"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
Madame Sun Lin Hoo Character Timeline in The Westing Game
The timeline below shows where the character Madame Sun Lin Hoo appears in The Westing Game. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
...has only two reservations for tonight. Mr. Hoo looks over at his young new wife, Sun Lin Hoo , who is gazing out the window longingly. Mr. Hoo wonders if she misses China—she...
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Chapter 7
...up to the other players to discover who you really are,” the will states cryptically. Madame Sun Lin Hoo , Mr. Hoo’s wife and the cook at Shin Hoo’s, is paired with Jake Wexler—but...
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Chapter 8
...at five dollars each. Jake, disappointed at having forfeited his $10,000, retreats to his office; Madame Hoo , who has no clue about the game, stands alone in the restaurant. Sandy is...
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Upstairs at the restaurant, Grace and Mr. Hoo puzzle over their clues. Grace compliments Madame Hoo ’s “doll-like” demeanor and asks why she cannot speak English. Mr. Hoo defensively states that...
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Chapter 10
...have no way of finding out who might be a twin. Jake starts talking to Madame Hoo , who is standing nearby. Angela points out that the woman does not speak English....
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...and tells her she’s arranged for Mr. Hoo to cater her upcoming bridal shower—and for Madame Hoo , in a “slinky Chinese gown,” to serve the food. Angela rushes away, fearing she’s...
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Chapter 16
At Angela’s bridal shower, Madame Hoo serves food, embarrassed by her ridiculous and uncomfortable “traditional” Chinese gown. She cannot wait to...
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Chapter 17
...continues bouncing up and down. Jake visits Hoo’s to eat lunch and to converse with Madame Hoo , who is learning English quickly. Grace and Hoo show their clues to Jake, who...
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Chapter 19
As Jake Wexler enjoys lunch, Crow shows up to Hoo’s restaurant. Grace seats her; Madame Hoo is serving a special tea lunch. As Madame Hoo serves Jake, Grace feels jealous and...
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Chapter 22
...apologizes for being “dumb”—but she insists she is not a thief or a murderer. As Madame Hoo and Mr. Hoo get into the elevator on their way to Doug’s track meet, Hoo...
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...the beaming Doug, Doug insists he owes everything to his father. After the reporters dissipate, Madame Hoo uses a combination of Chinese and English to insist that Doug wear his medals to...
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Chapter 23
Plum goes around to each pair and collects their answers. Jake and Madame Hoo offer “boom” as their answer. Turtle and Flora, having won over a thousand dollars in...
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Chapter 26
Madame Hoo , who slipped from the room earlier in all the confusion, returns with a scarf-tied...
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Chapter 29
...Doug’s Olympic success, as Doug has set a new record for the 1500-meter run. Sunny—as Madame Hoo now likes to be called—welcomes Jake, the chairman of the State Gambling Commission, to her...
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