Fadiman is the narrator and writer of the book. She investigates the medical case of Lia Lee, a Hmong girl who has a severe epilepsy disorder. Fadiman focuses on Lia’s case to understand the different worldviews of American doctors and Hmong patients. Presenting both sides, Fadiman shows the necessity of cross-cultural communication in health care settings and makes a strong argument for the importance of cultural relativism.

Lia Lee, a Hmong child, is the protagonist of the book. Fadiman tells Lia’s story from personal observations, memories, and medical records. Lia has a severe epilepsy disorder, medically diagnosed as Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. Up until her final neurological crisis, Lia is the focus of intense cross-cultural conflict, for her parents and doctors have radically different ideas about the cause of her illness and the best course of treatment.

Foua is a Hmong refugee and mother of Lia. She loves her daughter and takes exceptional care of her, although this is not recognized by Lia’s doctors, who believe Foua is undermining their efforts to treat Lia’s seizure disorder.