Family on the Brink

Vera, a precocious ten-year-old, is the glue holding her fractious family together. Her father, a Russian-Jewish intellectual, and her mother, Anne, a progressive WASP, are locked in a constant battle of wits and values, their marriage fraying at the seams. Vera's younger brother, Dylan, is carefree and oblivious, while Vera's anxiety and sense of responsibility grow. The family's financial security is precarious, hinging on her father's struggling magazine and Anne's modest trust fund. Vera's fear of homelessness and abandonment is ever-present, compounded by the absence of her birth mother, Mom Mom, who left when Vera was a baby. Vera's world is one of lists, strategies, and desperate attempts to keep her family from falling apart.

Schoolyard Survival Instincts

School is a daily ordeal for Vera, who is academically gifted but socially anxious. She is caught between the pressure to perform and the desire to fit in, her advanced vocabulary and odd habits making her a target for ridicule. Recess is a battleground where alliances are forged and broken, and Vera's attempts to connect with classmates like Yumi are fraught with self-doubt. She observes the social hierarchies and learns to mirror others, hoping to be accepted. Her Things I Still Need to Know Diary becomes a repository for words, concepts, and social cues she must master to survive. The school's focus on participation and debate offers Vera a rare opportunity to shine, but also exposes her vulnerabilities.

Marches and Divides

The family's urban life is overshadowed by the March of the Hated (MOTH), a recurring protest that exposes the city's deep racial and class divisions. Vera is disturbed by the spectacle of children marching for causes they barely understand, and by the adults' inability to protect them from exploitation. The political climate is tense, with the looming Five-Three amendment threatening to upend democracy by giving extra voting power to "exceptional Americans." Vera's father is both a critic and a participant in these debates, his public persona at odds with his private despair. The family's apartment, divided by the "Maginot Line," becomes a metaphor for their emotional separation.

Lists, Labels, and Loyalties

Vera copes by making lists—reasons her parents should stay together, things she admires about each of them, and strategies for social survival. She internalizes the adults' anxieties, believing it is her responsibility to hold the family together. Her loyalty is tested as she navigates conflicting expectations from her parents, teachers, and peers. The pressure to excel academically and socially is relentless, and Vera's sense of self is shaped by the labels others assign her: Facts Girl, woman in STEM, daughter of immigrants. Her longing for stability and belonging is palpable, driving her to seek connection wherever she can find it.

Aunt Cecile's Embrace

Aunt Cecile, Anne's best friend, is a free-spirited actor who provides Vera with the affection and validation she craves. Their relationship is a refuge from the chaos at home, and Cecile's acting lessons help Vera prepare for her school debate. Cecile encourages Vera to embrace her uniqueness and teaches her the power of breathing and performance. Their bond is tinged with longing and confusion, as Vera's feelings for Cecile blur the lines between friendship, mentorship, and something more. Cecile's presence is fleeting but transformative, offering Vera a glimpse of unconditional love and acceptance.

Nightmares and Secrets

Vera's nights are haunted by insomnia, anxiety, and the fear of abandonment. She overhears her parents' late-night arguments, learning that her birth mother, Mom Mom, is dying of cancer—a secret kept from her. The revelation deepens Vera's sense of loss and her determination to find her origins. Her only solace comes from playing chess with Kaspie, her AI chessboard, and from the weighted blanket that mimics the comfort she finds in Cecile's embrace. The boundaries between dreams and reality blur, and Vera's nightmares become a metaphor for her family's unraveling.

The Big Secret Buried

Vera buries the secret of her mother's illness deep inside, struggling to maintain normalcy at school and home. Her academic confidence is shaken when a teacher punishes her for being right, and her attempts to connect with peers often backfire. The pressure to perform and the weight of unspoken truths threaten to overwhelm her. Vera's relationship with her brother is strained, and her parents' emotional volatility leaves her feeling isolated. The only constant is her drive to understand and control her world, even as it slips further from her grasp.

Debates, Friends, and Enemies

The school's Lincoln–Douglas debate becomes a crucible for Vera's intellectual and social development. Paired with Yumi, she channels her anxieties into preparation, hoping to win both the debate and a friend. The debate's subject—Five-Three and the meaning of fairness—mirrors the divisions in Vera's own life. Her rivalry with Stephen, the privileged troublemaker, and her alliance with Yumi force her to confront issues of identity, loyalty, and justice. The debate is both a performance and a test of character, offering Vera a rare sense of agency and accomplishment.

Parental Fault Lines

As Anne Mom organizes a political fundraiser and Daddy's career falters, the family's tensions reach a breaking point. Vera witnesses her parents' public and private failures, their inability to communicate, and their growing estrangement. The children are caught in the crossfire, their needs neglected as the adults pursue their own agendas. Vera's attempts to mediate and please both parents are futile, and her sense of responsibility becomes a burden she can no longer bear. The family's collapse is both inevitable and devastating, leaving Vera adrift.

The Spy Within

With her mother away and her father increasingly absent, Vera becomes a spy in her own home. She follows her father to clandestine meetings, discovers encrypted documents, and enlists Kaspie to translate Russian files. The revelations are shocking: her father is involved in a scheme to manipulate public opinion for foreign interests, possibly betraying his country for money. Vera grapples with the implications of her father's actions, questioning his love and her own complicity. The line between victim and perpetrator blurs, and Vera's sense of self is shaken to its core.

The Traitor's Path

Vera's discovery of her father's treachery forces her to confront painful truths about loyalty, family, and belonging. She debates whether to expose him, torn between her love for her father and her sense of justice. The burden of knowledge isolates her further, and her relationship with Kaspie becomes a lifeline. Vera's search for her birth mother intensifies, driven by the need to understand her origins and escape the shadow of her father's betrayal. The question of what it means to be a traitor—nationally, personally, emotionally—haunts her.

The Search for Mom Mom

With the help of Yumi and Stephen, Vera embarks on a digital and emotional journey to find her birth mother, Iris. The search is complicated by missing information, cultural barriers, and the ghosts of the past. Vera's longing for connection and identity propels her forward, even as she fears what she might discover. The process of searching becomes an act of self-discovery, forcing Vera to reconcile her multiple identities—Russian, Korean, American, daughter, friend, traitor, and survivor.

Grandparents and Ghosts

Vera's journey leads her to Ohio, where she meets her Korean grandparents for the first time. The encounter is bittersweet, filled with stories of loss, resilience, and cultural displacement. Vera learns about her mother's struggles, her family's history, and the reasons for their estrangement. The warmth of her grandparents' home contrasts with the pain of her mother's absence, and Vera is forced to confront the reality of her origins. The ghosts of the past linger, but the possibility of healing emerges.

Truths and Betrayals

In Ohio, Vera uncovers the truth about her mother's death and her father's choices. She learns that her mother died shortly after her birth, not from cancer but from despair, and that her father's letter to her grandparents reveals both love and cowardice. The burden of secrets and betrayals is heavy, but Vera finds solace in the knowledge that she was loved, however imperfectly. The confrontation with her family's history is both shattering and liberating, allowing Vera to begin the process of forgiveness and self-acceptance.

The Great Escape

Overwhelmed by the weight of her discoveries, Vera orchestrates a daring escape to Ohio, enlisting Yumi and Kaspie in a high-tech ruse. The journey is fraught with danger, from border checkpoints to the threat of human trafficking accusations. Vera's determination to find her roots and claim her identity propels her forward, even as she risks everything she has left. The escape is both a literal and metaphorical journey, marking the end of childhood and the beginning of a new understanding of self.

Ohio and Origins

In her grandparents' home, Vera is enveloped by the smells, tastes, and stories of her heritage. She learns about her mother's life, her family's struggles, and the cultural forces that shaped them. The experience is both grounding and disorienting, as Vera grapples with the reality of loss and the possibility of belonging. The warmth of her grandparents' love offers a counterpoint to the pain of her parents' failures, and Vera begins to see herself as part of a larger story.

Shattered and Rebuilt

Vera's reunion with her grandparents is violently interrupted by a raid, the result of a misunderstanding and the ever-present threat of surveillance and suspicion. In the chaos, Vera is rescued by Anne Mom, who reclaims her daughter with fierce love and determination. The ordeal forces Vera to confront the limits of her agency and the depth of her need for family. The experience is both traumatic and redemptive, shattering old illusions and paving the way for healing.

Only Ten

In the aftermath, Vera is finally able to relinquish the burdens she has carried for so long. Surrounded by her mother's love, she allows herself to be a child again, accepting that she cannot fix everything or know everything. The journey has been one of loss, betrayal, and self-discovery, but also of resilience, connection, and hope. Vera's story ends not with certainty, but with faith—in herself, in her family, and in the possibility of a better future.

Characters

Vera Bradford-Shmulkin

Vera is a ten-year-old girl caught between cultures, families, and expectations. The daughter of a Russian-Jewish intellectual and a progressive WASP, and the abandoned child of a Korean mother, Vera is precocious, anxious, and deeply sensitive. She internalizes her family's dysfunction, believing it is her responsibility to hold them together. Her intelligence is both a gift and a curse, isolating her from peers and making her hyper-aware of adult failings. Vera's journey is one of self-discovery, as she navigates betrayal, loss, and the search for identity. Her relationships—with her parents, brother, Aunt Cecile, and friends—are fraught with longing and complexity. Ultimately, Vera's resilience and capacity for love allow her to survive and grow, even as she confronts painful truths.

Anne "Anne Mom" Bradford

Anne is Vera's stepmother, a well-educated, politically active woman who struggles to balance her ideals with the realities of family life. She is both nurturing and demanding, providing structure and support but also projecting her anxieties onto Vera. Anne's relationship with Vera is complicated by the presence of Dylan, her biological son, and by Vera's longing for her absent birth mother. Anne's marriage to Vera's father is strained by financial pressures, ideological differences, and emotional distance. Despite her flaws, Anne's love for Vera is fierce and unwavering, and her willingness to fight for her daughter is ultimately redemptive.

Igor "Daddy" Shmulkin

Vera's father is a Russian-Jewish intellectual, editor, and public figure whose charm and wit mask deep insecurities and ethical lapses. He is both a source of inspiration and pain for Vera, whose love for him is complicated by his emotional absence and questionable choices. His career is marked by ambition and failure, and his involvement in political schemes reveals a willingness to compromise principles for survival. Daddy's relationships—with Anne, Vera, and his own parents—are fraught with unresolved trauma and longing. His ultimate betrayal forces Vera to confront the limits of loyalty and the meaning of family.

Dylan Bradford-Shmulkin

Dylan is Vera's younger brother, the golden child whose charm and energy contrast sharply with Vera's anxiety and introspection. He is the center of Anne's world and the object of Vera's envy and affection. Dylan's obliviousness to family tensions and his ability to find joy in the moment make him both a source of comfort and frustration for Vera. His relationship with Vera is marked by sibling rivalry, but also by moments of genuine connection and loyalty.

Aunt Cecile

Cecile is Anne's best friend and Vera's surrogate aunt, an actor whose warmth and creativity provide Vera with much-needed validation and guidance. Cecile's unconventional approach to life and her willingness to embrace Vera's quirks make her a safe haven in a world of judgment and expectation. Their relationship is deeply intimate, blurring the lines between friendship, mentorship, and longing. Cecile's own struggles with illness and mortality mirror Vera's fears, and her eventual absence leaves a void that Vera must learn to fill.

Yumi Saemonsaburou

Yumi is Vera's classmate and debate partner, the daughter of Japanese diplomats. She is mature, kind, and socially adept, providing Vera with a model of friendship and resilience. Yumi's own experiences as an outsider and her ability to navigate multiple cultures make her an ideal confidante for Vera. Their partnership in the debate and their shared quest to find Vera's mother forge a bond that transcends differences. Yumi's loyalty and bravery are instrumental in Vera's journey, and their friendship offers hope for connection and understanding.

Kaspie

Kaspie is Vera's AI chessboard, a gift from her grandmother that becomes her most trusted companion. Kaspie's ability to play chess, translate languages, and offer advice makes him both a source of comfort and a catalyst for self-reflection. His programmed logic and moral clarity challenge Vera to confront difficult truths about her family and herself. Kaspie's presence blurs the line between technology and humanity, serving as a mirror for Vera's own struggles with identity and agency.

Mom Mom (Iris Choi)

Iris is Vera's Korean birth mother, whose absence shapes Vera's sense of self and longing for belonging. Her story is one of displacement, struggle, and ultimately, despair. Iris's death shortly after Vera's birth is shrouded in secrecy and shame, and her memory is both a source of pain and a touchstone for Vera's search for identity. The discovery of Iris's diary and the stories told by her grandparents offer Vera a connection to her roots and a path toward healing.

Baba Tanya and Grandpa Boris

Vera's paternal grandparents are Russian immigrants whose eccentricities and prejudices reflect the complexities of assimilation and generational conflict. Their relationship with Vera is marked by both warmth and distance, shaped by their own experiences of loss and survival. Their interactions with Anne and Daddy reveal the deep scars of the past and the challenges of forging new identities in a foreign land. Their presence in Vera's life is a reminder of the enduring power of family, for better or worse.

Carol and Hun Choi

Vera's maternal grandparents are the custodians of her mother's legacy and the bridge to her Korean heritage. Their home in Ohio is a sanctuary of tradition, love, and unspoken grief. Their stories, food, and rituals offer Vera a sense of belonging and continuity, even as they struggle to reconcile the pain of the past. Their willingness to embrace Vera, despite years of separation, is a testament to the resilience of family and the possibility of forgiveness.

Plot Devices

Child's Perspective and Voice

The novel is filtered through Vera's consciousness, blending childlike innocence with adult-level insight. Her Things I Still Need to Know Diary, lists, and internal monologue provide a window into her attempts to make sense of a chaotic world. This perspective heightens the emotional stakes, as readers experience the confusion, longing, and resilience of a child forced to confront adult realities. The use of humor, irony, and linguistic playfulness underscores the tension between Vera's intelligence and her vulnerability.

Political Satire and Social Commentary

The Five-Three amendment, March of the Hated, and debates over status and identity serve as both plot elements and commentary on contemporary society. The novel satirizes the absurdities of meritocracy, privilege, and political polarization, using the family's struggles as a microcosm of national dysfunction. The interplay between public and private crises blurs the boundaries between the personal and the political, inviting readers to question the meaning of fairness, loyalty, and justice.

Secrets, Surveillance, and Betrayal

The plot is propelled by secrets—parental infidelity, political machinations, the circumstances of Vera's birth and her mother's death. Vera's role as a spy in her own family, her discovery of her father's betrayal, and the use of technology (Kaspie, Stella, digital searches) create a sense of suspense and paranoia. The motif of surveillance—both literal and metaphorical—reflects the characters' inability to trust one another or themselves.

Intergenerational Trauma and Cultural Hybridity

The novel explores the ways in which trauma, displacement, and cultural hybridity shape identity and relationships. Vera's journey to Ohio and her encounters with her grandparents reveal the enduring impact of migration, loss, and adaptation. The blending of Russian, Korean, and American influences creates a rich tapestry of language, food, and tradition, highlighting both the challenges and possibilities of belonging.

Foreshadowing and Circular Structure

The novel's structure is marked by recurring motifs—lists, debates, family fights, dreams, and escapes—that mirror Vera's attempts to impose order on chaos. The repetition of "She had to…" in chapter titles and throughout the narrative underscores the relentless pressure on Vera to act, fix, and survive. The story's circularity—beginning and ending with Vera's struggle to be "only ten"—emphasizes the impossibility of escaping the burdens of family and history, while also suggesting the possibility of renewal.

Analysis

Gary Shteyngart's Vera, or Faith is a masterful exploration of the burdens and resilience of childhood in a fractured, hyper-anxious America. Through the eyes of Vera, a brilliant but deeply anxious girl, the novel interrogates the meaning of family, loyalty, and identity in a world defined by instability and betrayal. Shteyngart's satirical lens exposes the absurdities of meritocracy, privilege, and political polarization, while his deep empathy for his characters renders their struggles both specific and universal. The novel's use of a child's perspective—by turns hilarious, heartbreaking, and incisive—invites readers to reconsider the ways in which children absorb and reflect the anxieties of the adult world. At its core, Vera, or Faith is a story about the search for belonging in the face of loss, the possibility of forgiveness, and the enduring power of love—even when it is flawed, conditional, or hard-won. The lessons are clear: no one can fix everything, secrets have a cost, and sometimes the greatest act of faith is to allow oneself to be only ten.

Last updated: December 12, 2025