Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
This was a fun romance that deals with some serious topics that teens and adults may face in today's reality.
I like that Anna and Rory are eventually able to fully open up with each other about the issues they are facing. I love that Anna's mom received help, but she wasn't immediately healed and it was acknowledged that it would be a long road to health.
I like that Anna and Rory are eventually able to fully open up with each other about the issues they are facing. I love that Anna's mom received help, but she wasn't immediately healed and it was acknowledged that it would be a long road to health.
YA focused on teen Chinese Australian girl dealing with her bipolar mother. Her father runs a Chinese Restaurant in another town so the bulk of the family care lands on the number one daughter Anna. She cares for her unpredictable mother her very smart sister and her five year older brother. She longs to work in the restaurant but her father both wants a better life for her and needs Hee to take care of the family.
Finally allowed to help out at the restaurant Anna meets a teen white boy who awkwardly applies for a food delivery job. We learn of his own struggle with depression and they grow close.
Interesting and not oft told topic especially from an Asian Aussie.
Finally allowed to help out at the restaurant Anna meets a teen white boy who awkwardly applies for a food delivery job. We learn of his own struggle with depression and they grow close.
Interesting and not oft told topic especially from an Asian Aussie.
This book is in our June/July Book Pool, and I'd also seen it in the hands of someone I used to work with, whose taste in books is often similar to mine. So it was easy to want to read.
I wasn't disappointed. Anna is a great character - she's earnest and a little awkward, and is trying her very best to keep things together with the father absent often for days on end, the mother suffering extreme mood swings that carry her from being closeted in her bedroom for weeks to lashing out physically at her daughters, and having to be the Big Sister to her 14-year-old sister and 6-year-old brother (6? 7?). Born to Chinese immigrant parents, Anna is raised with their cultural expectations, which include 'no boyfriend', and 'do extremely well at school so you can become a doctor or a lawyer'. The latter has been too difficult with everything at home so she's resigned to disappointing everyone, and she doesn't ever expect to meet a nice boy. But in a moment of her father's weakness she manages to persuade him to take her to work in his restaurant during the school holidays, and things being to change.
This novel tackles the serious issue of mental illness, and tackles it head on. The family dynamics are really well written, and the romance is lovely with a real depth to it. All in all, a thoroughly good read.
I wasn't disappointed. Anna is a great character - she's earnest and a little awkward, and is trying her very best to keep things together with the father absent often for days on end, the mother suffering extreme mood swings that carry her from being closeted in her bedroom for weeks to lashing out physically at her daughters, and having to be the Big Sister to her 14-year-old sister and 6-year-old brother (6? 7?). Born to Chinese immigrant parents, Anna is raised with their cultural expectations, which include 'no boyfriend', and 'do extremely well at school so you can become a doctor or a lawyer'. The latter has been too difficult with everything at home so she's resigned to disappointing everyone, and she doesn't ever expect to meet a nice boy. But in a moment of her father's weakness she manages to persuade him to take her to work in his restaurant during the school holidays, and things being to change.
This novel tackles the serious issue of mental illness, and tackles it head on. The family dynamics are really well written, and the romance is lovely with a real depth to it. All in all, a thoroughly good read.
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow wow wow wow wow!
Just finished this brilliant book. Honestly I was not expecting that bittersweet ending. But it was so realistic and honest I just... I wish I could give the author a round of applause. Like truly. She did not end it as if mental illness could be magically overnight cured. It can't be.
The notion itself is so harmful and toxic. And she shows everything with such raw honesty. The protagonist, 16yo Anna's journey is not just coming into terms with her mom's mental illnesses but also to mental illnesses in general. The love interest has it. He's better now but doesn't mean he is magically cured of it for good. Her classmate's grandmother has it. But doesn't mean it'll be magically cured by admitting her to special care. But the author shows us how as a family, we can be supportive and understanding. How we can support them through the perils mentally ill folks go through all the time and help them face the fights. The epilogue, oh gosh, it broke my heart but for the good reasons. I'm so happy and sad at the same time. But that's okay. That is reality, that is life and author Wai Chim did not shy away from showing the grey grim reality of having a family member with mental illnesses and how we can help them through everything.
I'd heartily recommend this brilliant piece of a masterpiece. Pick it up if you're looking for heart-rending but realistically and honest portrayals of mental illness.
Just finished this brilliant book. Honestly I was not expecting that bittersweet ending. But it was so realistic and honest I just... I wish I could give the author a round of applause. Like truly. She did not end it as if mental illness could be magically overnight cured. It can't be.
The notion itself is so harmful and toxic. And she shows everything with such raw honesty. The protagonist, 16yo Anna's journey is not just coming into terms with her mom's mental illnesses but also to mental illnesses in general. The love interest has it. He's better now but doesn't mean he is magically cured of it for good. Her classmate's grandmother has it. But doesn't mean it'll be magically cured by admitting her to special care. But the author shows us how as a family, we can be supportive and understanding. How we can support them through the perils mentally ill folks go through all the time and help them face the fights. The epilogue, oh gosh, it broke my heart but for the good reasons. I'm so happy and sad at the same time. But that's okay. That is reality, that is life and author Wai Chim did not shy away from showing the grey grim reality of having a family member with mental illnesses and how we can help them through everything.
I'd heartily recommend this brilliant piece of a masterpiece. Pick it up if you're looking for heart-rending but realistically and honest portrayals of mental illness.
Necesito que traduzcan este libro a todos los idiomas y sea lectura a discusión en las escuelas, porque este libro es lo mas bonito que hay con temas complejos abordados de la manera correcta, mas un toque de romance. Platillo perfecto para que adolescentes (y no tan adolescentes) comprendan temáticas como la salud mental, los microracismos y la importancia de la familia
emotional
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
Well written story weaving in the devastating impact of mental health issues on a teen & her siblings. Set in Australia’s chinese community the taboos of opening up about the issues and the silence and avoidance by the father while the children struggle is real and recognizable.
Thanks to Libro.fm for the arc.
Thanks to Libro.fm for the arc.