Amy Tan is an author who often uses the theme of Chinese-American life, focusing mainly on mother-daughter relationships where the mother is an immigrant from China and the daughter is a thoroughly Americanized - yellow on the surface and white underneath. In "A Pair of Tickets," the mother tries to convey their rich history and legacy to her daughter, who is almost completely ignorant of their heritage, while the daughter attempts to understand her hopelessly old- fashioned mother. The mother harbors a secret wisdom and in the end, is right about everything. At the opening of the story, Jandale Woo, and her father is on a train and are destined for China. Their first stop will be Guangzhou, China where he father will reunite with his long lost aunt. After visiting with her for a day they plan to take a plane to Shanghai, China where Jandale will meet her two half-sisters for the first time. It is both a blissful time and yet a time of remorse; Jandale has come to China to find her Chinese roots that her mother told her she possessed, and to meet her two twin half-sisters whom her mother had to abandon her attempt to flee from the Japanese.
Some people have no opportunity to get to know their heritage and their long lost family members. Jandale however, had almost waited her entire life to connect with her heritage and her family. She was willing to visit China and meet with her two half-sisters only in recognition to her mother's wishes. Jandale should have been delighted to have the opportunity to visit China and get to know her roots and her family. The theme of this story was effectively treated in that the reader could see the reunion of the sisters, but yet could feel pain and sorrow inside of themselves.
Having the story take place in China, helped it to become more realistic for the reader. The reader can feel as Jandale traces her Chinese roots and becomes in touch with her heritage and her past.