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libreroaming's review against another edition
4.0
Twelve-year old Lily Lew has just learned her Hollywood famous Auntie, and namesake, is coming for a job promoting the Chinatown New Year's parade. Auntie Tiger Lil is a firecracker character, full of spunky attitude that makes for a perfect detective character. Think Miss Marple meets Charlie Chan meets Bruce Lee. While Tiger Lil is no longer in the prime days where she was making TV serials of an action star, she and her niece end up embroiled in a crime syndicate when a burglar makes off with some priceless pearls in the middle of the parade.
The mystery itself is slight, meaning there's really no clues or surprises so much as an obvious path to the culprits and no hidden clues so much as ones Lily (in one case, literally) stumbles over. The case tying with the sweatshop dilemma of one of Lily's classmates doesn't feel clunky at all, and really works as a stronger story than the issue of chasing down the pearls.
One thing I will point out, this book was written in the 1990's and it bears a lot of the trappings. Kids reading it nowadays may wonder what faxes are or why Lily searched for VHS tapes of her Auntie's movies. Likewise, a bit of the slang might feel dated. Otherwise, it's a good fourth grade novel mainly carried on the shoulders by a very effusive character of Tiger Lil, her audience-by-proxy niece, and social issues that can inhabit Chinese-American's lives. The mystery is not the draw, and kids demanding contemporary novels may find this too old to count.
The mystery itself is slight, meaning there's really no clues or surprises so much as an obvious path to the culprits and no hidden clues so much as ones Lily (in one case, literally) stumbles over. The case tying with the sweatshop dilemma of one of Lily's classmates doesn't feel clunky at all, and really works as a stronger story than the issue of chasing down the pearls.
One thing I will point out, this book was written in the 1990's and it bears a lot of the trappings. Kids reading it nowadays may wonder what faxes are or why Lily searched for VHS tapes of her Auntie's movies. Likewise, a bit of the slang might feel dated. Otherwise, it's a good fourth grade novel mainly carried on the shoulders by a very effusive character of Tiger Lil, her audience-by-proxy niece, and social issues that can inhabit Chinese-American's lives. The mystery is not the draw, and kids demanding contemporary novels may find this too old to count.
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
4.0
Lily's name sake actress Aunt Tiger Lil' is coming to stay with Lily's family while she oversees a portion of the New Year's Day parade. However, a gang called the Powell Street Boys is robbing several Chinatown businesses and the mayor is threatening to cancel the big parade. When the Goblin Pearls go missing, Lily and her Aunt try to solve the case.
Lily is a typical 12 year old and this novel, while written in 1997, isn't too dated with technology - maybe it will be in the next 10 years when kids really have no idea what a videocassette is. This novel brings up important issues such as sweat shops and the history of Asians in film.
Grades 6-8th.
Lily is a typical 12 year old and this novel, while written in 1997, isn't too dated with technology - maybe it will be in the next 10 years when kids really have no idea what a videocassette is. This novel brings up important issues such as sweat shops and the history of Asians in film.
Grades 6-8th.
princessleia4life's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it. I wish those Tiger Lil movies were real as I would love to watch them. The story was very cute. I want to read the rest.
valhecka's review
4.0
For a book report...eighth grade, I believe.
One thing that stuck out - main character had a friend who liked math, and it wasn't portrayed as something weird or super-special. Which was awesome.
One thing that stuck out - main character had a friend who liked math, and it wasn't portrayed as something weird or super-special. Which was awesome.
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