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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book features an interesting and realistic view on a topic that is not often discussed, both in real life and in YA: mental illness in the context of Asian culture. While it was sometimes hard to read, I really appreciate that this book exists.
While Anna’s situation was very easy to sympathize with, and my heart really ached for her and her difficult home life, I felt like she didn’t have as much of a personality as her siblings. It was great to see her grow throughout the book, but I wish we’d seen her passions earlier.
In terms of supporting characters:
- Siblings: I liked all their complex relationships, especially Lily
- Rory: I really wanted to like the romance, but it wasn’t very memorable for me. Rory was fine I guess, though I feel like there didn’t need to be so many moments that highlighted their cultural differences. Maybe it was realistic, but it just wasn’t very fun to read
- The mean girls storyline felt a bit underdeveloped; I would’ve loved to see Anna actually spend time with the girl she had something in common with (and make a friend! she didn’t have any friends!)
- Parents: As mentioned before, there were parts of this story that were harder to get through. It was sad and frustrating and hard to read about Anna’s mom’s condition and her dad’s tendency to stay away. I understand how their struggles added to the story, but it did make it harder for me to continue reading. The ending also felt a bit unfinished (though maybe that’s just life).
In conclusion: I didn’t connect with the teen life aspect of the story as much as I’d hoped, but I think this book is really important, and I hope that the topics it explores can help certain readers face their own challenges!
While Anna’s situation was very easy to sympathize with, and my heart really ached for her and her difficult home life, I felt like she didn’t have as much of a personality as her siblings. It was great to see her grow throughout the book, but I wish we’d seen her passions earlier.
In terms of supporting characters:
- Siblings: I liked all their complex relationships, especially Lily
- Rory: I really wanted to like the romance, but it wasn’t very memorable for me. Rory was fine I guess, though I feel like there didn’t need to be so many moments that highlighted their cultural differences. Maybe it was realistic, but it just wasn’t very fun to read
- The mean girls storyline felt a bit underdeveloped; I would’ve loved to see Anna actually spend time with the girl she had something in common with (and make a friend! she didn’t have any friends!)
- Parents: As mentioned before, there were parts of this story that were harder to get through. It was sad and frustrating and hard to read about Anna’s mom’s condition and her dad’s tendency to stay away. I understand how their struggles added to the story, but it did make it harder for me to continue reading. The ending also felt a bit unfinished (though maybe that’s just life).
In conclusion: I didn’t connect with the teen life aspect of the story as much as I’d hoped, but I think this book is really important, and I hope that the topics it explores can help certain readers face their own challenges!
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Anna is trying to do it all; as the eldest daughter to two younger siblings (Lily, a teen and Michael a preschooler), young carer for her bedridden mother and absent father, she has more than enough lived experiences than her high school peers. When she is not forging notes for Michael's s school trip, Anna is daydreaming about different choices she could make.
Anna's recollection of her childhood made my heartbreak, her tales of adultification was reinforced by her teachers and parents. It broke my heart to read she is managing the expectations of others, protecting the family name and also neglecting her own basic needs.
Chim excels at bringing the tension in scenes of hyperviligence and micro aggression. They also highlight the everyday joys to be found in a kitchen, on 'good days'. The scenes around Mental health, hospitals are handled with care and gentleness.
This is a bittersweet and silver linings type of YA, showcasing snippets of how Australian Chinese heritage teen finds her way through parental mental health, trauma, cultural bonds and how food is always how we check on with each other.
Anna's recollection of her childhood made my heartbreak, her tales of adultification was reinforced by her teachers and parents. It broke my heart to read she is managing the expectations of others, protecting the family name and also neglecting her own basic needs.
Chim excels at bringing the tension in scenes of hyperviligence and micro aggression. They also highlight the everyday joys to be found in a kitchen, on 'good days'. The scenes around Mental health, hospitals are handled with care and gentleness.
This is a bittersweet and silver linings type of YA, showcasing snippets of how Australian Chinese heritage teen finds her way through parental mental health, trauma, cultural bonds and how food is always how we check on with each other.
Actually a really good book. Definitely not my normal genre but I loved the character development and the very realistic portrayal of mental health and the issues that surround it. The stigma is also a very real and very important aspect of this book. I would definitely read it again and would recommend to those around me. It's quite similar to cloudwish but it also has major differences.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes