Scan barcode
zhzhang's review
A very touching memoir. I can relate a lot of details in my daily life: the complicated mother and daughter relationship, the feeling of not being recognized, the absolute being bullied and the always want yet getting rejected.
strandedinbooks's review
It’s amazing the memories this author has of their childhood. I barely remember what I ate last night.
katiez624's review
5.0
What a time for Asian female memoirs! I am really enjoying the publication of numerous well-written memoirs about the immigrant experience in America, and many of those experiences parallel my own.
The author paints a vivid picture of her experience immigrating to America as a young child, the harsh realities of living undocumented and in poverty. The language barriers, racism, lack of job opportunities, and legal limitations force her family to endure harrowing hardships throughout many of her formative years. The detailed way Wang is able to recount stories of her childhood is impressive. These are experiences that deeply shaped her as a person, and these are stories that she needed to share with the world.
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for my ARC.
The author paints a vivid picture of her experience immigrating to America as a young child, the harsh realities of living undocumented and in poverty. The language barriers, racism, lack of job opportunities, and legal limitations force her family to endure harrowing hardships throughout many of her formative years. The detailed way Wang is able to recount stories of her childhood is impressive. These are experiences that deeply shaped her as a person, and these are stories that she needed to share with the world.
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for my ARC.
jcpdiesel21's review
4.0
A somber snapshot of the contemporary immigrant experience. Qian's account is littered with hardship and obstacles, but it's an incredibly valuable perspective to share. Although I wish that the book had featured more content beyond Qian as a preteen to expand upon what is briefly relayed in the final chapter, this was such a formative time in her life and her memories are so vividly drawn that they are quite impactful.
minty's review
4.0
This was such an eye-opening read. Around the time she moved to NYC I had just recently moved back to the States from Taiwan, and the stark differences in our experiences were so so shocking. On some level I certainly know that there were and surely still are sweatshops in the city, but getting a glimpse inside was very hard to hear. The constant stress of being undocumented was captured really well.
Some of the vignettes had no substance to them--she felt threatened by a guy on the subway and evaded him? That's a regular occurrence for women on the subway.--but the ones that did were palpable.
Some of the vignettes had no substance to them--she felt threatened by a guy on the subway and evaded him? That's a regular occurrence for women on the subway.--but the ones that did were palpable.
More...