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2.98 AVERAGE
2.98 AVERAGE
I loved the overall premise of the story: multicultural teen, discovering what makes us belong, ties to the past. But the writing was sloppy and rambling. There were too many unnecessary periphery events going on that may have given insight to the character, but didn't add to the plot. More editing was needed; shorter and tighter would have made it a more enjoyable read.
I thought this would be super relatable - biracial kid feels disconnected from his roots on both sides, hello - but the protagonist spends the first three quarters of the book being the most judgmental asshole of all time, and his sudden decision to cut all (most) of that out felt unprompted and unearned. The book was far more tolerable, even a bit enjoyable, once they finally get to China, but by then, too little too late.
Also, can we knock it off with the "Oriental kitsch" cover designs? Thanks.
Also, can we knock it off with the "Oriental kitsch" cover designs? Thanks.
There was plenty to laugh at here. Vee gets himself into complicated and humorous situations over and over again. He makes choices that are cringe-worthy throughout the book. This, of course, is part of the charm. The reader is compelled to find out if Vee is truly going to go through with his next idea. Then, there is the wait for the train wreck that is sure to happen. The book is fairly lighthearted and entertaining most of the time. Vee is trying to figure out who he is and what he wants for himself so it isn’t only about the laughs.
I was uncomfortable with some of the terms that Vee used like retarded and lesbos, but these are certainly words that are tossed about in high schools and they fit the context. They were just a little jarring for me. I also found the speech patterns for Vee’s father a little stilted. He often sounds formal and maybe the purpose was to show that English wasn’t his first language or to emphasize how closed off he is to Vee, but it seemed awkward to me.
You will find humor, a bit of romance around the edges, basketball action, and plenty of high school and family drama in The Counterfeit Family Tree of Vee Crawford-Wong. If humorous contemporary books are your thing, get it soon.
L. Tam Holland did a reading of her book last week if you want a sneak peek visit the original post at Rich in Color to watch the video.
Review originally posted at Rich in Color blog http://richincolor.com/2013/07/mini-reviews-a-really-awesome-mess-and-the-counterfeit-family-tree-of-vee-crawford-wong/
I was uncomfortable with some of the terms that Vee used like retarded and lesbos, but these are certainly words that are tossed about in high schools and they fit the context. They were just a little jarring for me. I also found the speech patterns for Vee’s father a little stilted. He often sounds formal and maybe the purpose was to show that English wasn’t his first language or to emphasize how closed off he is to Vee, but it seemed awkward to me.
You will find humor, a bit of romance around the edges, basketball action, and plenty of high school and family drama in The Counterfeit Family Tree of Vee Crawford-Wong. If humorous contemporary books are your thing, get it soon.
L. Tam Holland did a reading of her book last week if you want a sneak peek visit the original post at Rich in Color to watch the video.
Review originally posted at Rich in Color blog http://richincolor.com/2013/07/mini-reviews-a-really-awesome-mess-and-the-counterfeit-family-tree-of-vee-crawford-wong/
Holland, L. Tam. The Counterfeit Family Tree of Vee Crawford-Wong.
Vee Crawford Wong would describe himself as half Texan, half Chinese. He is in high school and he fakes a family tree for Spanish class and fakes a family history for his history class. He's frustrated because he doesn't really know his extended family at all. He ends up conning his family into a trip to China, where he meets his grandfather and finds out that sometimes things don't work out the way we expect them to.
What I liked: The multicultural aspect of this book was good. The details during the Wong family trip to China were good. Vee was a very real, very flawed character.
What I didn't like: First, Vee is uber-entitled. His family flies to China (all four of them, plus a guest) because of a letter Vee faked and which his father knew was a fake all along. That's a really expensive lesson for Vee to learn. Second, Vee refers to the girls' volleyball team as half princess and half lesbos. He stereotypes all the supposedly-lesbian volleyball players and uses the term lesbos frequently throughout his narration. That kind of homophobic language is not acceptable, and it did nothing to enhance the story at all.
Recommended for: young adults
Red Flags: homophobic slurs - "lesbo" and "fa----" neither of which is corrected, ever. Also, Vee is a teen boy, and the book is told from inside his brain. Therefore, lots of thoughts about sex.
Overall Rating: 2/5 stars
Vee Crawford Wong would describe himself as half Texan, half Chinese. He is in high school and he fakes a family tree for Spanish class and fakes a family history for his history class. He's frustrated because he doesn't really know his extended family at all. He ends up conning his family into a trip to China, where he meets his grandfather and finds out that sometimes things don't work out the way we expect them to.
What I liked: The multicultural aspect of this book was good. The details during the Wong family trip to China were good. Vee was a very real, very flawed character.
What I didn't like: First, Vee is uber-entitled. His family flies to China (all four of them, plus a guest) because of a letter Vee faked and which his father knew was a fake all along. That's a really expensive lesson for Vee to learn. Second, Vee refers to the girls' volleyball team as half princess and half lesbos. He stereotypes all the supposedly-lesbian volleyball players and uses the term lesbos frequently throughout his narration. That kind of homophobic language is not acceptable, and it did nothing to enhance the story at all.
Recommended for: young adults
Red Flags: homophobic slurs - "lesbo" and "fa----" neither of which is corrected, ever. Also, Vee is a teen boy, and the book is told from inside his brain. Therefore, lots of thoughts about sex.
Overall Rating: 2/5 stars
The protagonist of this novel reminded me of Oscar Wao in Junot Diaz's (brilliant) A Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. There's a pathetic, sullen, coming of age discomfort in both characters which can strike a chord with just about any reader. Vee is an authentic character and I felt for him throughout the novel and was cheering when he capitalized on the opportunities for growth the novel brought him. This is quite the impressive debut from L. Tam Holland.
I did not enjoy this for a few reasons, but I think partly because I am an adult and a parent and a teacher.
I think younger students may enjoy this.
I think younger students may enjoy this.
I've been looking for the next _Part-Time Indian_ and had high hopes that this could be it. But alas, it fell so so flat.
Super cute first novel by Mrs. Holland! She was my water polo coach in high school & this book has been sitting on my home shelf for so long, I had to read it. It was a great coming of age story of a young man in high school trying to get in touch with where is from - not realizing that the people who raised him & support him now might be the key to that over where his family is from.
I laughed a couple times and enjoyed this read overall - it had some great lessons learned & takeaways. I saw several comments on the poor parents of Vee's parents but I had some of my own thoughts - the true sign of a calm and collected person is patience.
I laughed a couple times and enjoyed this read overall - it had some great lessons learned & takeaways. I saw several comments on the poor parents of Vee's parents but I had some of my own thoughts - the true sign of a calm and collected person is patience.
Spoiler
Yes, not acknowledging your son's lies to you does not teach the great responsibility in life but they also acknowledge his ability to help especially his father make big steps forward in his relationship with his sad & I loved that moment.
A coming of age novel about a boy who does not know his family history and his attempts to find out who he is.
http://librarianosnark.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-counterfeit-family-tree-of-vee.html