From an Asian Perspective
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-- School Library Journal, 1/9/2008 10:45:00 AM
Gene Luen Yang's graphic novel American Born Chinese (Roaring Brook/First Second, 2006) swept up a host of honors in 2006 and 2007, including YALSA’s prestigious Michael L. Printz Award. The experience of assimilating (or not) into a different culture can be exciting and scary at the same time. The teens in the following titles come from a variety of Asian backgrounds, demonstrating resiliency as they adapt to their new surroundings and changing self-perceptions.
COMPESTINE, Ying Chang. Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party. Holt. 2007. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-8207-4.
Gr 6-10–It is 1972, and Ling’s middle-upper-class life in Wuhan starts to fall apart as China’s Cultural Revolution goes into full swing. Though Ling is relocated to a farming region for safety, her bourgeois attitude leads to a beating and loss of her hair. Known primarily for her picture books and cookbooks, this is Compestine’s first novel for young adults, an excellent addition to historical fiction about this period in China’s history.
HEADLEY, Justina Chen. Nothing But the Truth (and a Few White Lies). Little, Brown. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-01128-0; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-316-01131-0.
Gr 7-11–With her Taiwanese single mom running her life and her white father long absent, Patti Ho feels unnerved by her lack of self–something her brilliant, nearly perfect brother has never had to worry about. When the awkward 15-year-old is sent to a Stanford summer math program, she expects to hate it but actually enjoys it. Perhaps experiencing her first kiss there has something to do with it?
PARK, Linda Sue. Project Mulberry. Clarion. 2005. ISBN 978-0-618-47786-9.
Gr 4-8–Silkworms for a state fair project? Isn’t that a bit too Korean? Julia Song wants a more American focus, but her friend Patrick latches on to the idea before she has a chance to say no. Their friendship grows as does their worldview as they learn to depend on African-American neighbor Mr. Dixon, supplier of mulberry leaves. Park’s focus is on what makes us alike, not what makes us different.
YOO, David. Girls for Breakfast. Delacorte. 2005. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-0-385-73192-8; PLB $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90227-4; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-440-23883-6.
Gr 9 Up–If the cover doesn’t get them, the title will! Nick Park’s teen angst is really no different than any other teen’s–but then again, how many white suburban families have kimchee with their cheeseburgers? Both questioning and sweet, Nick eventually discovers that while his Korean heritage is part of the whole, it does not define him or his future.
Remarkable Reads are produced by the editors of NoveList, NoveList K-8, and Book Index with Reviews (
