Category: Asian - READING STYLE GUIDE

Golden Glow

1/15/2022

I Am Golden by Eva Chen art by Sophie Diao

What do you see when you look in the mirror, Mei? Do you see beauty?
We see eyes that point toward the sun, that give us the warmth and joy of a thousand rays when you smile.
We see hair as inky black and smooth as a peaceful night sky. We see skin brushed with gold.

It is difficult to image a more glowing, self-affirming picture book for a child than I Am Golden. This ode a Chinese American child exudes with positivity and gorgeous imagery. Text is laden with homages to a Chinese heritage: dragons, a phoenix, sizzling garlic, steaming bao, and lotus blossoms.

Mei and her parents left their home in China and immigrated to the United States where she lives the bifurcated life of an immigrant. She delights in popular boy bands and pizza at school but at home enjoys the comfort of Mandarin and soup dumplings.

Chen poetically explores the concept of identity, emphasizing the characteristics which make Mei unique. Her individuality is her superpower.

Diao's luminous art casts a magical glow over each page. Using warm golden hues, Images clearly convey the message that distinctive hair, skin, and facial features are an asset. The warmth and support of generations from family members is particularly poignant as loving arms surround her.

A picture book that is both a window, allowing children to see and appreciate a culture they may be less familiar with, and a mirror for Asian American children to view themselves as admirable. Stellar addition to classroom and library collections. Bonus: The audiobook edition is read by the author.

The author's note offers context, describing the sting of a childhood incident that inspired the creation of I Am Golden.

Celebrate Each Child: Individuality is a Superpower

Electronic copy accessed via Net Galley.

Pub date: February 1, 2022 Publisher: Feiwel & Friends ISBN: 978-1250842053

Classic Remix: Little Women

10/30/2021

More to the Story by Hena Khan

Louisa May Alcott's 1868 classic tale of sisters gets updated with these retellings that feature four siblings with unique personalities and interests, a hardworking mother, and a modest home filled with love. Khan and Morrow give this framework fresh settings and perspective, resulting in new stories to tell.

More to the Story introduces a Pakistani-American family of girls ages 10 through 16 who negotiate the challenges of a contemporary family life in Atlanta.

Seventh grader Jameela and her sisters Maryam, Bisma, and Aleeza miss their father who must temporarily work overseas. The narrative’s dynamic shifts slightly when teenage Ali, the son of a family friend, moves into town. When Jam decides to feature Ali in an article for the school newspaper, she faces a question of journalistic ethics.

A major plot point centers around Bisma's cancer diagnosis and treatment. The effects of a serious illness are accurately described without excessive technical details and medical jargon.

Khan seamlessly blends Muslim life, including religious observance, food, and customs into the narrative. A heartwarming story.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 3, 2019 Publisher: Salaam Reads ISBN: 978-1481492096

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix
by Bethany C. Morrow read by Adenrele Ojo

So Many Beginnings is a stunning reimagining of Little Women that starts with Alcott's early 1860's time period and then fashions an entirely new tale, deftly weaving in often-overlooked aspects of American history. The March family resides in the Freedpeople's Colony of Roanoke Island, working to build a free society for formerly enslaved individuals.

Morrow's characters are intelligent women with lofty goals. Meg is a teacher who hopes to marry. Joanna dreams of becoming an author but by day works alongside construction crews, building homes in the colony. Bethlehem is a skilled seamstress and designer who wants to develop an African-based clothing enterprise. Talented dancer Amethyst earns accolades as a performer. The sisters encounter both overt and subtle forms of racism and gender inequality as they pursue personal and professional ambitions.

Listen to a sample

Audio copy accessed via Net Galley

Release date: September 7, 2021 Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Japanese Classic

10/13/2021

How Do You Live? by Genzaburō Yoshino
translated by Bruno Navasky forward by Neil Gaiman

Genzaburō Yoshino's literary classic is now available in English. Published in 1937, this exploration of science and history, cowardice and bravery, morality and friendship has enthralled generations of readers.

Jun’ichi Honda is known to his friends as Copper. His uncle started referring to him as Copernicus when his perseptions began to shift from "the world revolves around me" mindset to a Copernican model of oneself and the universe. Eventually Copernicus was shortened to Copper.

Copper is a charming young man. Small in stature, he often seems younger than his years. After the death of his father, he spends time with his uncle, sharing his observations and questions. This uncle expands on these interactions in his journal. The narrative alternates between a narrator who speaks directly to readers and the uncle’s journal entries written as advice to his nephew.

It is easy to empathize with this slight young man who lives alone with his mother following the death of his father. He sees wonder in the world. He also puzzles over conflicting and confusing ideas.

Copper is all-too -human. His friendships brush aside class distinctions. However, at one critical point in the story he knows that he should stand up for a friend but is paralyzed with fear and does not defend his classmate. The shame he feels for his failure to act is crushing. Working through his guilt, acknowledging his mistake, and attempting to rectify his error constitute a pivotal plot point.

The political sections, particularly the passages where the uncle expounds on the leadership of Napoleon, are rather lengthy. Younger readers may be unfamiliar with this historical figure.

As Neil Gaiman states in his forward to How Do You Live? this is a strange book, and such a wise book.
It transcends conventional definitions of a specific genre or audience. This story examines the universal question of what it means to be human. A book that expands the mind and the heart.

Gather your courage, Copper, and do what you must.

Internationally acclaimed Japanese animator, director, and manga artist Hayao Miyzki has announced that his next and possibly last film will be an animated retelling of How Do You Live.

While this film will attract manga and anime fans, the universal themes and captivating storytelling of this Japanese classic will appeal to a wide audience.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 26, 2021 Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers ISBN: 978-1616209773

Feast of Flavors

6/1/2021

Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai

It's going to be a special day. Nai Nai has invited Lili to help her make baos. This granddaughter not only loves to eat these steamed bundles of goodness, she loves to make them.

With charming watercolor illustrations, Lili describes each step. She begins by making the dough, then creating the filling, and finally tucking the filling inside each little pastry pillow. She refers to helpful cooking tips "secrets."

When Nai Nai is missing cabbage leaves to line the bamboo basket and keep the bao from sticking, Lili ventures up to Babcia's apartment on the 5th floor for cabbage. She discovers that Babcia has cabbage to share but needs a potato for the pierogi she is making. This pattern continues. Lili traipses up and down the stairs, locating a missing ingredient for the resident grandmothers as each cooks her own version of savory filled pastries: ravioli, tamales, beef patties, fatayer, pierogis and of course, baos.

A top floor view, looking down, reveals on all the flights of stairs Lili and her adorable dog must traverse. Note: a posted sign indicates that the elevator is out of service.

The multicultural culinary adventure concludes with neighbors sharing of each woman’s delicious specialty. A sweet surprises awaits Lili and readers on the final page.

Details from each apartment showcase the diversity of this community. In addition to learning various names for grandmother, readers are introduced to common phrases and greetings in a variety of languages.

An infographic offers a concise map of Lili’s journey throughout the apartment complex. The location for each type of dumpling is identified. Bonus: A bao recipe is included.

Melissa Iwai's Dumplings for Lili is delicious introduction to a variety of tastes and cultures.

Electronic copy accessed via NetGalley

Pub date: June 1, 2021Publisher: Norton Young Readers ISBN: 978-1324003427

Uncharted Waters

5/4/2021

Wishes by Mượn Thị Văn art by Victo Ngai

The tale begins in the dead of night as a young girl rouses from sleep and with her immediate family prepares to leave behind all that she has ever known and travel across the sea in search of the promise of safety and security.

Wishes tells the immigration story from an unusual point of view. This perilous journey is described through the wishes of inanimate objects.

A bag wished it was deeper.
The boat wised to be bigger.
The heart wished it was stronger.

As the boatload of passengers reach their destination, the narrative shifts to the perspective of the young migrant and her first wish as she views her new home.

Victo Ngai's illustrations are breathtaking. A tiny boat, crammed with passengers, sets sail across a vast ocean and beneath a starlit sky. There is a magical, almost otherworld quality to the image that graces the cover. This is the hope. The dream.
Interior images of the family collecting their belongings, bidding tearful goodbyes, and navigating the initial stages of the voyage are dark muted shades of gray. The color scheme adroitly changes to fiery reds and oranges as blistering rays of the sun torment the migrants with unrelenting heat. As the destination comes into view the reds soften to pinks and violet. Hope is in sight.
Artwork spans each two-page spread, completely filling the pages. There is no white space. The poignant narrative demands every inch of each page.

Hopeful. Haunting. Heart-wrenching. Wishes is an unforgettable journey.

Mượn Thị Văn based the narrative on her family's experience as immigrants and refugees. Her sparse yet thoughtfully selected text tells a powerful story.

Immigrants All

Beautiful picture books tell of crossing uncharted waters to begin life in a new country. Come onboard and witness the immigrant experience.

Immigrating to an unfamiliar land where everything is strange.

What if all you could carry on your journey was a teacup of soil from your homeland?

"A young man... left his home in Japan and went to see the world."

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 4, 2021 Publisher: Orchard Books ISBN: 978-1338305890

Girl's Best Friend

4/22/2021

Pawcasso by Remy Lai

The Chihuahua-sized fib that grew into a Great Dane lie.

From the imagination of Lai comes Pawcasso, a graphic novel about a dog, art, and honesty.

Hoping to escape the confines of a large family, Joanna Lin steps outdoors and discovers a most unusual sight. A basket-bearing dog is heading into town. Intrigued, Jo follows.
She learns that this pup is on a mission. The basket contains a list of items that the dog is expected to procure from local businesses.

Things get complicated when the dog enters Dog Ears, the local book shop. Jo discovers an kid's art class is in session. Young students are thrilled with the appearance of a friendly pup. This is a much more exciting model that an inert pear. They assume that Jo is the dog's owner and ask permission to sketch, paint, and sculpt the canine.
When the shop offers free books in exchange for using the dog as a model, Jo pretends to be the owner and agrees to the terms. In honor of their interest in art, the kids name their remarkable model Pawcasso.

Then Jo learns that the art workshop will continue for five more weeks and culminate in a special art show. She worries. Who is the dog’s owner and where does it live? How can she get the dog to come to Dog Ears with her every week?

To make matters worse, neighbors are concerned that a dog is wandering through town without a leash. The city is divided into two camps: those supporting strict enforcement of leash laws and those that want to make an exception for this endearing animal. Finally, Jo meet's Picasso's owners and confesses her deception. With a little help, Jo brings the opposing factions together to solve the leash law dilemma. She also heals a rift in a neighbor’s family and comes to terms with her father’s work-related absence. Bonus: There is ice cream for everyone!

A surefire hit for fans of mysteries, poop jokes, adorable dogs, and happy endings.

Lai packs her graphic novel with plenty of goodies.

Inventive word play: Pawcasso (canine version of the artist Picasso) Dog Ears (bookstore), Drippy Cone (ice cream shop) and Dippy (short for serendipity)
Contemporary artists Picasso and Marcel Duchamp
An ice cream recipe that is suitable for dogs and "hoomans”

Electronic copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 11, 2021 Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks ISBN: 978-1250774491

Defining Moment

4/19/2021

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry:
The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement
by Paula Yoo

June 2012. Jarod Lew came face to face with his past, a past that he never knew existed. Eventually he would uncover a thirty-year-old family secret.

June 1982. Vincent Chin was sitting in front of a McDonalds when he was bludgeoned with a baseball bat. Days later, he died of massive brain injuries.

Yoo's narrative introduces several seemingly unconnected individuals and brilliantly interweaves their life stories. Jarod Lew wanted to understand his past. Vikki Wong fought for justice after the violent death of her son. Detroit auto workers Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz worried about job security when Toyota, Datsun, and Honda began to dominate the car market.
Vincent Chin's life and death is the common factor that connects these people. It is a real life drama: a heinous hate crime and the resulting mobilization of the Asian American community.

Born in China, Chin was adopted and raised by Asian American parents. To celebrate his upcoming marriage to Vikki Wong, Chin went with friends to a strip club. At the club’s bar he traded insults with Ebens and Nitz. When words escalated to a fight and a smashed chair, all were evicted by the bouncer. Vincent wandered Detroit’s streets and eventually sat down in front of a local McDonalds. Ebens and Nitz were driving around the area when they spied Vincent. Eben stopped, took a baseball bat from his car, and brutally beat Chin until his face was battered beyond recognition. Chin was taken to the hospital where he died days later.

A lengthy legal battle ensued. Initially Ebens and Nitz were charged with manslaughter but the sentence was reduced to probation with no jail time. The Asian American community was shaken by this verdict. They determined to no longer remain silent when faced with inequity and racism. Asians and Pacific Islanders united to protest, seek legal redress, increase media exposure, and join with other civil rights advocacy groups to combat overt and subtle forms of discrimination.

With excellent pacing and stunning detail, Yoo uses newspaper reports, court documents, and in depth interviews to recount events leading up to this tragedy and its long-term affects.

The work is well supported with extensive back matter: a detailed timeline, 311 source citations, numerous photos, and a bibliography. The author’s Afterward personalizes this defining moment in history and brings current events, especially the world wide pandemic into the equation. She suggests that reports of the virus have helped foster and exacerbate targeting Asians.

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement chronicles a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for civil rights. It’s the story of a hate crime, the creation of the first pan-ethnic Asian American civil rights organization, and the genesis of the Asian Lives Matter movement. Compelling nonfiction.

Electronic copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 20, 2021 Publisher: Norton Young Readers ISBN: 978-1324002871

Love, Loss, and Violins

2/22/2021

When We Were Infinite by Kelly Loy Gilbert

A closely knit quintet of Asian American teens have remained together throughout their high school years. Stellar students and high achievers, each hopes to attend a prestigious university. All apply to several schools throughout the U.S. Beth Claire harbors the dream that all five will remain together, attending the University of California at Berkeley.
Musically inclined, they are members of the local youth orchestra. Beth is second chair violin to the technically precise Jason Tsou, first chair.

Beth lives with her Asian mother and has limited contact with her white father who remains aloof. Her maternal grandparents live nearby but she rarely sees them.
Her four friends are her anchor, her source of security and validation. Senior year exposes underlying stresses and fissures in their bond. They witness a father’s brutal physical abuse of his son. One tries to bring her romantic interest into the friendship circle. Another attempts suicide. When college acceptance notifications begin arriving, it is evident that the five will soon be geographically separated. Things are not the same. They will never be the same.

Beth tries to understand and manipulate events, hoping to make everything “better.” A quiet observer who clings to her idealization of the group, she goes to extraordinary measures to get along and go along, even when it doesn’t feel right.

Gilbert's characters, as seen through the lens of Beth’s perception, often reveal their personalities through dialogue. A hallmark of her writing is an exploration into the essence of each individual while simultaneously illuminating the group’s dynamic. Tiny intimate details give the story its emotional depth. One of the most heart wrenching scenes occurs when Beth stands outside her father’s house, but never steps up to his door.

After a series of missteps and misunderstandings, Beth finally acknowledges that music gives direction and purpose to her life. As she plays her violin, she becomes one with the music. Following her passion requires courage and a belief that embracing music does not mean the end of treasured relationships.

Love the gorgeous book jacket. Note the sumptuous colors that wash over Beth as she turns away to face a future different from what she expected. An apt metaphor.

I wept as I read the final pages. When We Were Infinite is exquisitely written, simply elegant, yet intriguingly complex.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: March 9, 2021 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers ISBN: 978-1534468214

Immigrants Welcome

1/26/2021

Three Keys by Kelly Yang

Good news for those who love Yang's Front Desk. There are more stories and further adventures at the Calivista Motel.

Mia Tang is growing up, dealing with complex issues as well as daily frustrations. Sixth grade is not what she expected. She and best friend Lupe are in a classroom located in a temporary building. This year her teacher seems more critical of Mia and her writing style.

Set in the 1970's during the reelection campaign of Pete Wilson, Mia is devastated by her teacher’s support for a ballot measure that will deny educational opportunities to children of undocumented workers.

Yang delves into the plight of immigrants from a variety of viewpoints: Classmate Jason appears to have achieved the American dream of financial success. Lupe, Mia's best friend and the daughter of a Calivista employee, confides that she and her family are undocumented and risk deportation.

The Tang family hopes Proposition 187 will be defeated. Their motel's marque proudly displays the notice "Immigrants welcome."

"We're Chinese, that's what we do."

Mia experiences the push and pull of two different cultures: retaining her Chinese identity while assimilating into the American lifestyle of chocolate chip cookies. She resists a "bowl" haircut, dislikes red bean shaved ice, and worries about her slightly Asian accent. She wants to become an author but lacks basic English grammar skills. Her parents who were respected professionals in China now devote their days to menial labor, struggling to keep their fledging business solvent.

"You're stronger than you think"

Three Keys is populated with an assortment of well-developed multigenerational characters with a variety of cultures and ethnicities. They are complex individuals with fascinating backstories, experiencing life's joys, heartbreaks and disappointments. Circumstances help them understand themselves and others in new ways.

There is no magic wand that solves all problems at the Calivista. While the story's conclusion is hopeful, there remain thorny political and societal issues to be addressed. Lucky for us, a continuation of Mia's story will be published this fall.

Front Desk Stories

Don't miss the continuing adventures of Mia Tang

First book in the Front Desk series. Meet Mia Tang, her family, and friends.

Third book in the Front Desk series. Room to Dream follows Tang Family's visit to Beijing.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 15, 2020 Publisher: Scholastic Press ISBN: 978-1338591385

Skyhunter by Marie Lu

9/28/2020

Skyhunter by Marie Lu

Enter a futuristic world of violence, corruption, deception. The Karensa Federation, seeking total domination, is invading the last free nation of Mara and crushing any resistance it encounters. The Federation has created a cadre of grotesque zombie-like Ghosts, programmed to hunt down and destroy all enemies.

A select group of highly trained Mara fighters are dedicated to fighting back. Warrior pairs, consisting of a Striker and a Shield, battle in tandem. In addition to their extensive combat skills, Strikers have at their disposal an arsenal of weapons including daggers, guns, bows and arrows. Talin is a remarkably adroit Striker. She grieves the loss of her Shield and best friend. When he is infected by a Ghost, she is required to kill her close companion to prevent him from becoming a Ghost. His death haunts her.

Soon after this tragedy, she is assigned a new Shield. His name is Red and he is a Skyhunter, half-human, half-machine creation of the Federation. With massive metallic wings hidden in his back, he possess impressive fighting capabilities. The final phases of Red's Skyhunter transformation were never completed and he now is a captive of Mara.

Is he a Federation operative? Can she trust him?

Talin is mute. As a young girl her vocal cords were damaged by chemicals released during a Federation attack on her home. She remains physically and emotionally scarred by the trauma. Gradually, her suppressed memories begin to return. Secrets from her past come to light.

The book's exploration of women’s empowerment, class structure, and the corrosive effects of absolute political control are relevant today.

Lu has created a fantastic universe teeming with complex characters and high-stakes confrontations. She knows how to build tension and keep readers rapidly flipping pages to discover what will happen next.

Warning. This is the first book in an ongoing series. The conclusion of Skyhunter will leave readers on tenterhooks. Please Marie Lu don’t make us wait too long.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 29, 2020 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 978-1250221681