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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
This book follows 3 characters in Kowloon Walled city that was once in Hong Kong. I personally had never heard of this place but I'm now very interested. Jin is a girl pretending to be a boy. She is trying to find her sister that was sold as a sex slave by her abusive father. The sister, Mei Yee, is suffering through the life as a prostitute while helping a boy get information on the gang that runs the brothel. Dai, the boy in Mei Yee's window is the middle ground for both girls. He is trying to redeem himself for a crime that has dishonored his family.
I'm not sure this would be suitable for any child under 16. It does talk about sex slaves, drug use, murder, and gang violence. I loved this book though. 4/5 stars
I received this novel in exchange for an Honest review.
I'm not sure this would be suitable for any child under 16. It does talk about sex slaves, drug use, murder, and gang violence. I loved this book though. 4/5 stars
I received this novel in exchange for an Honest review.
I don't usually write reviews often, but I felt the need to comment on something as surreal as The Walled City.
I picked up this book because all the characters were Asian. You don't see that often in an industry dominated by white people and a hand full of token black characters that usually don't get the amount of pages they deserve.
Anyway, as I read it I found it kind of odd that everything was so Chinese in this book, because I thought it was a fictional world. It was even stranger since it wasn't written by an Asian person. Eventually, I accidentally flipped to the author's note and read that the walled city really did exist. This captivated me, because my family is from Hong Kong. I've visited numerous times and never realized something as awful as this existed so close to me. This is part of what kept me reading, but the characters did too. The author did a great job keeping me reading. She kept things vague and mysterious throughout the novel by with holding information until it was absolutely vital. I wanted to know about Dai's past badly. And although Jin and Mei Yee's story is one we've probably heard before, and the whole strong sister and pretty sister thing was cheesy, I still loved the characters. I loved that Jin could run faster than any boy in that walled city and could stand her own against them, even though she did need help along the way. I loved that Mei Yee was the pretty one who didn't stand up to her father like her sister did, but she was still strong in her own way. I loved the way she had to face her mother's mistakes and decide whether she would make the same ones too, because it's not that easy to fight for freedom. She wasn't the headstrong heroine doing anything to be free that we're used to.
So yeah, I loved this book.
I picked up this book because all the characters were Asian. You don't see that often in an industry dominated by white people and a hand full of token black characters that usually don't get the amount of pages they deserve.
Anyway, as I read it I found it kind of odd that everything was so Chinese in this book, because I thought it was a fictional world. It was even stranger since it wasn't written by an Asian person. Eventually, I accidentally flipped to the author's note and read that the walled city really did exist. This captivated me, because my family is from Hong Kong. I've visited numerous times and never realized something as awful as this existed so close to me. This is part of what kept me reading, but the characters did too. The author did a great job keeping me reading. She kept things vague and mysterious throughout the novel by with holding information until it was absolutely vital. I wanted to know about Dai's past badly. And although Jin and Mei Yee's story is one we've probably heard before, and the whole strong sister and pretty sister thing was cheesy, I still loved the characters. I loved that Jin could run faster than any boy in that walled city and could stand her own against them, even though she did need help along the way. I loved that Mei Yee was the pretty one who didn't stand up to her father like her sister did, but she was still strong in her own way. I loved the way she had to face her mother's mistakes and decide whether she would make the same ones too, because it's not that easy to fight for freedom. She wasn't the headstrong heroine doing anything to be free that we're used to.
So yeah, I loved this book.
I'm just finishing this, but wanted to get something down before I forget. I love it. So not my genre, but I try to read all new & noteworthy YA these days, and this surprised me by being a favorite even if it is kind of dystopian. The three viewpoints are so well done, there's a cool feminist thing going on that doesn't hit you over the head, no shying away from sexual exploitation, but found a good way to not make it everything that character is about. Just well done on a lot of levels.
story 4/5
characters 4/5
writing 4/5
audio/paper Paper.
reread? Yes.
Recommend it? Yes!
Verhaal: 4/5
Karakters: 4/5
Schrijfstijl: 4/5
Papier/audio? Papier.
Herlezen: Ja.
Aanrader? Zeker!
characters 4/5
writing 4/5
audio/paper Paper.
reread? Yes.
Recommend it? Yes!
Verhaal: 4/5
Karakters: 4/5
Schrijfstijl: 4/5
Papier/audio? Papier.
Herlezen: Ja.
Aanrader? Zeker!
I fell in love with Ryan Graudin’s writing style in Wolf by Wolf. Her worlds tend to be bleak and dangerous. A walled city full of criminals, gangs,prostitutes, and street gangs. This cast lets you know right away that, not only is there little hope, there is no safety and no way out. And yet this is a story about family, forgiveness, and never giving up.
There were a lot of things I loved in this book:
-Sisters
- connecting to people on different levels i.e. not everyone is a love interest
-there were no easy rescues or simple “outs”.
-building family when yours is not healthy
-not everyone made it out
This book went really fast for me. Having 3 narrators helped me keep POV’s straight. Finding out that this story came from history was fascinating. I had no idea that such a place existed. I have to mention the epilogue. A lot better f times epilogues go the direction of happily ever after. This epilogue fit the story. Healing takes time and that is reflected.
There were a lot of things I loved in this book:
-Sisters
- connecting to people on different levels i.e. not everyone is a love interest
-there were no easy rescues or simple “outs”.
-building family when yours is not healthy
-not everyone made it out
This book went really fast for me. Having 3 narrators helped me keep POV’s straight. Finding out that this story came from history was fascinating. I had no idea that such a place existed. I have to mention the epilogue. A lot better f times epilogues go the direction of happily ever after. This epilogue fit the story. Healing takes time and that is reflected.
"Sometimes an end seems so much better than my now. If there's any way out, any open door, I have to take it"
I think, when I first started this, I wasn't sure what to think. As I got two then three days in, the three points of view were still growing on me. You hear from Dai, Jin Ling and Mei Yee.
Dai is a complete mystery for most of the book. You do eventually get the answers but not for quite some time. Jin Ling is a girl posing as a boy to survive the streets of The Walled city. It's a ruthless world and Jin Ling is walking a very fine line trying to live there. Because Jin Ling has something to live for - to save a sister that was sold into a sex trade and is being held at a brothel. Jin Ling doesn't know where, but she's still looking.
I think what really drew me in (and honestly, startled me) was that this was based on a real city - Kowloon Walled City. It's was crazy to read about this city and see the photos. Once I saw that all, it made it more real and more alive.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2139914/A-rare-insight-Kowloon-Walled-City.html
From about the 50% point, the book is a race. As you count down the days to what you know must be the finale, time feels like it's running out. Dai, Jin Ling and Mei Yee have to succeed if they are going to make it out alive. But can they trust each other?
I hope you love this one as much as I did.
I think, when I first started this, I wasn't sure what to think. As I got two then three days in, the three points of view were still growing on me. You hear from Dai, Jin Ling and Mei Yee.
Dai is a complete mystery for most of the book. You do eventually get the answers but not for quite some time. Jin Ling is a girl posing as a boy to survive the streets of The Walled city. It's a ruthless world and Jin Ling is walking a very fine line trying to live there. Because Jin Ling has something to live for - to save a sister that was sold into a sex trade and is being held at a brothel. Jin Ling doesn't know where, but she's still looking.
I think what really drew me in (and honestly, startled me) was that this was based on a real city - Kowloon Walled City. It's was crazy to read about this city and see the photos. Once I saw that all, it made it more real and more alive.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2139914/A-rare-insight-Kowloon-Walled-City.html
From about the 50% point, the book is a race. As you count down the days to what you know must be the finale, time feels like it's running out. Dai, Jin Ling and Mei Yee have to succeed if they are going to make it out alive. But can they trust each other?
I hope you love this one as much as I did.
This book was very different than anything I've read before. I enjoyed that it was set in an environment completely foreign to what I'm used to. It definitely made me want to read up on the actual Walled City.
My only complaints about this book was that at times it seemed a little heavy handed. I felt like ever other page I was reminded that Jin's father was abusive. The way Dai's storyline was handled was much better, much more subtle. Anyways, that's a small complaint. Overall a suspenseful, enjoyable read!
My only complaints about this book was that at times it seemed a little heavy handed. I felt like ever other page I was reminded that Jin's father was abusive. The way Dai's storyline was handled was much better, much more subtle. Anyways, that's a small complaint. Overall a suspenseful, enjoyable read!
The Walled City starts off by introducing us to our three main characters, Jin, Dai, and Mei Yee. Their first person POV chapters gives the reader a full view of the Walled City of Hak Nam. Though it's a dark book with a lot of edgy content, including human trafficking, forced drug torture, and prostitution, the underlying hope each character carries within them keeps it from feeling overwhelmingly depressing. Each character is exceedingly well crafted and their personalities shine through in a myriad of ways. Each one had motivations, dreams and a history that intersected perfectly and gave them sympathetic reasons for being in such a horrible city.
Aside from the character development, the other strength of this book is the author's ability to build tension and suspense. Though information is withheld from the reader about certain characters, it's not done in a way that feels annoying or intrusive to the story. As well, the three alternative POVs allows the reader to be privy to information that the characters haven't realized yet-- that Mei Yee is Jin's sister, that Dai is the strange boy Mei Yee sees in the window-- these little things leaves the reader-- or at least me-- squealing and bouncing in my seat, eager to see how the reveal will come, not to me, but to the characters.
The sense of place is incredibly strong within The Walled City. The city is based off a city that once existed in Hong Kong, but had since been torn down. Ryan Graudin creates an incredible setting by detailing the places and people who dwell within. Graudin keeps true to the Chinese history and keeps the culture rich within her own Walled City. The diversity was delightful to see, especially because the level of detail made me feel like I was standing in those cramped, dark streets.
Speaking of detail, the writing in this book is absolutely gorgeous. It flows and flowers without being overbearing, which I found to be absolutely delightful. The level of symbolism and metaphor as well is heavy and very well done-- from the dying flowers in Mei Yee's hotel room to the seashell and ocean representing her freedom-- the pages are lined with the type of writing that makes me heart sing.
I adored this book from start to finish. It drew me in and made me fall in love. At no point did I find something that annoyed me or I didn't enjoy, and at the end I shed a tear, not because the ending was sad, but because it was so good and I was happy with how things resolved.
If you want a beautiful story filled with rich Chinese culture, I suggest you pick this up. If you're worried about it too dark, don't let that stop you. The heart of the story keeps it hopeful.
Aside from the character development, the other strength of this book is the author's ability to build tension and suspense. Though information is withheld from the reader about certain characters, it's not done in a way that feels annoying or intrusive to the story. As well, the three alternative POVs allows the reader to be privy to information that the characters haven't realized yet-- that Mei Yee is Jin's sister, that Dai is the strange boy Mei Yee sees in the window-- these little things leaves the reader-- or at least me-- squealing and bouncing in my seat, eager to see how the reveal will come, not to me, but to the characters.
The sense of place is incredibly strong within The Walled City. The city is based off a city that once existed in Hong Kong, but had since been torn down. Ryan Graudin creates an incredible setting by detailing the places and people who dwell within. Graudin keeps true to the Chinese history and keeps the culture rich within her own Walled City. The diversity was delightful to see, especially because the level of detail made me feel like I was standing in those cramped, dark streets.
Speaking of detail, the writing in this book is absolutely gorgeous. It flows and flowers without being overbearing, which I found to be absolutely delightful. The level of symbolism and metaphor as well is heavy and very well done-- from the dying flowers in Mei Yee's hotel room to the seashell and ocean representing her freedom-- the pages are lined with the type of writing that makes me heart sing.
I adored this book from start to finish. It drew me in and made me fall in love. At no point did I find something that annoyed me or I didn't enjoy, and at the end I shed a tear, not because the ending was sad, but because it was so good and I was happy with how things resolved.
If you want a beautiful story filled with rich Chinese culture, I suggest you pick this up. If you're worried about it too dark, don't let that stop you. The heart of the story keeps it hopeful.