Reviews

Laurinda by Alice Pung

annabelle6969's review

funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

roseleaf24's review against another edition

4.0

Throughout my reading, this book wavered between 3 stars and 5 stars. There is a twist to the book that I figured out early on, so the middle portion was solidly at a three. It wasn't quite original enough to feel special to me.

But then Lucy's character begins to really come through the text, and her unique story shines. The specific racial tension that Lucy and Linh face is fascinating and condemning, and the unoriginal aspects of life in high school become universal experiences. Lines like, "She saw me as a human doing, not a human being," blew me away.

beachybooksok's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 ⭐️

esshgee's review

4.0

I really enjoyed Laurinda; I devoured it,and just wanted to keep reading. It made me think back to my own high school, and how hindsight and further experience brings a better understanding to events that occurred. Alice Pung is a great storyteller

1madchild's review against another edition

3.0

My first Alice Pung novel.

Had definitely heard about her in English class.

Quite enjoyable car listening.

kathsia's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

kathrynkao's review against another edition

5.0

The book is a complicated look at the immigrant experience. Lucy is ethnically Chinese, but her family is from Vietnam, so culturally she’s more complicated than many people in the book expect. Lucy’s home situation isn’t the best–her mother makes knockoff designer clothes, and her living conditions is making her baby brother sick–so even before she gets accepted to her new private school, things aren’t perfect. The book really leans into the cultural differences and veiled racism from many of the people Lucy encounters at her new school, including from well-meaning people. The book also explores the nature of gatekeeping at elite private schools, especially when it comes to marginalized students. Lucy is told she was selected for the scholarship because she scored well on the test, but didn’t seem like a cliché or a robot–unlike her classmates, who were passed over because their personal essays seemed inauthentic. But when Lucy is authentic, behaving the way she wants to instead of falling in line–she’s threatened and punished. Lucy is praised for being free-thinking, but punished for evidence of that thinking. The contrast between Lucy her friends from her old school is stark and at times almost chilling. Lucy views her old friends and everyone in her old life as people who are stuck in their neighborhood, with limited options for the future, whereas Lucy is on her way out.

espressoroast's review

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

mbrandmaier's review against another edition

5.0

Lucy discovers a many layers of cattiness and hatefulness in her new school. She must use her inner strength and courage to stand up to the bullshit. Also, I can see Lucy's love for her family shining throughout the story.

essjay1's review

4.0

Loved this book - took me back to all the confusion and clarity of being 15, and the politics of the school system which is enabled by parents & teachers in some instances. Pung's sharply observed characters exist everywhere, not just in posh private schools, and she writes Linh's story beautifully. This book is for anyone who has ever tried to fit in, or wandered those hallowed halls and thought "What the hell am I doing here?"