Scan barcode
mitskacir's review against another edition
3.0
I feel a bit bad giving this book 3 stars because largely I was disappointed because it didn’t align with my expectations, not because there was anything bad about it. I wanted a book that explored what it means to be Asian, hoping for some guidance and insight for myself as a multiracial person who sometimes feels “not Asian enough.” I was also hoping for insight on what it means to be a family, one without biological ties, of interest because I want to adopt children someday. Although I knew it would not be the main topic of the book, I was hoping to be able to ruminate on my own questions like “Can the adopted child of me and my partner be Asian and Jewish, if they are not biologically so?”; “Can you authentically be part of a culture in the US if others do not perceive you to fit because of the way you look?”; etc.
However, this book is much more about what it was like growing up brown in a white society, the personal conflict between the author and her mother, and the intergenerational pain caused by lies, racism/colorism, and familial disfunction. The author is (understandably) distraught when she learns her father is not who she thought, but her perspective certainly places biological connections in pride of place when trying to understand herself. She speaks only briefly about her connections to Asian culture and to her Asian family, and her life after finding out she is not Asian is so filled with stress and trauma that she doesn’t have much time to reflect on what that means to her (at least in the text of the book).
I think this book has a lot of interesting things to say and may be more poignant for other readers or ones with more accurate expectations.
However, this book is much more about what it was like growing up brown in a white society, the personal conflict between the author and her mother, and the intergenerational pain caused by lies, racism/colorism, and familial disfunction. The author is (understandably) distraught when she learns her father is not who she thought, but her perspective certainly places biological connections in pride of place when trying to understand herself. She speaks only briefly about her connections to Asian culture and to her Asian family, and her life after finding out she is not Asian is so filled with stress and trauma that she doesn’t have much time to reflect on what that means to her (at least in the text of the book).
I think this book has a lot of interesting things to say and may be more poignant for other readers or ones with more accurate expectations.
kthzhng's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
khaliah's review against another edition
3.0
Quick and easy listen that brings up some interesting questions about identity and parental secrets. Might have felt different about this one had I not listened to the author reading--something about her tone in places could be off putting (I would blame the director) but a good read nonetheless.
riverofpages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Racism
Moderate: Child abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual violence and Xenophobia
aresoracle's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5