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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a great book! The story is about a young Taiwanese-American girl named Pacy who visits Taiwan with her family. Newbery Honor-winning author Grace Lin draws on her own family trips to perfectly capture what it feels like to be caught between worlds as a child, the fears, the joys, the laughter. It reminded me so much of visiting India as a kid, meeting relatives I saw only rarely and feeling self-conscious and inadequate due my inability to speak my mother-tongue. Grace Lin's writing and illustrations are childlike, yet elegant in their simplicity. I couldn't stop smiling as I read this book and even laughed out loud in parts (the garbage truck scene is hysterical). Fair warning though if you love dumplings as much as I do, you will wish this book came with a list of suggested restaurants. I really really need to try soup dumplings! (Cue stomach grumbles)
While I wasn't super enjoying this book, I probably would have pushed through just for the feel of getting to vicariously travel to Taiwan, if it hadn't been due back at the library. I may still finish it some other time.
This was my favorite of the Pacy Lin books. The travel was a fun way of broadening the series' discussion of culture and race, and also it was just plain enjoyable to explore Taiwan through Pacy's experience. Also, it made me hungry. :)
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
http://librarianosnark.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-pacy-lin-series.html
- 4.5 Stars -
Just love Grace Lin's work! Absolutely adored this series when I was a kid.
Just love Grace Lin's work! Absolutely adored this series when I was a kid.
Finished at a good time in my life when I felt too white for my Chinese body.