Gao packs so much in this tight and well told story. She tackles dealing with parental and cultural expectations, to learning how to adapt to AmericanGao packs so much in this tight and well told story. She tackles dealing with parental and cultural expectations, to learning how to adapt to American culture, making friends, finding your voice and coming out.
This can act as a mirror and several windows for international middle and high schoolers. I know a few kids in my classes will get a lot from this text....more
In my class we often talk about windows and mirrors and diverse books and this one by Zen Cho covers a lot of ground. A subtle coming out story that fIn my class we often talk about windows and mirrors and diverse books and this one by Zen Cho covers a lot of ground. A subtle coming out story that features a fierce grandmother ghost and wronged female god, this novel is a wonderful window into Chinese- Malaysian Hokkien (a local variant of the Min Nan Chinese variety spoken in Central and Southern Peninsular Malaysia.) culture. Full of dialect and food reference that could act as a mirror some many readers in Asia. I was thinking how cool it would be to make a list of all the foods mentioned in this book and to make some of the dishes or scopre them out here in Singapore.
A fast moving plot with lots of power dynamics and violence, this book bubbles beneath the surface to keep most young readers engaged. Might be a bit mature for G6 & 7 but any reader ready to commit and explore this world on Penang will be rewarded....more
This one hits on all cylinders. Well crafted, well paced plot, relatable and real characters, all while doing some real heavy lifting in dealing with This one hits on all cylinders. Well crafted, well paced plot, relatable and real characters, all while doing some real heavy lifting in dealing with complex themes: racism, suicide and Chinese-American history.
There is so much to unpack in this one and one that should be in every classroom library. I look forward to seeing how my students tackle this one. ...more
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