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A review by kolee_c
If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
I had so much fun reading this book. The descriptions of food and places made me want to visit China so bad.
This is my first time reading a book by Ann Liang and now I’m definitely going to read the rest of her books. I can’t believe this one was her debut novel; it’s so well written. It perfectly portrays Alice’s difficulties, the setting of the elite boarding school was realistic enough that I could compare it to English language schools I’ve been in, and the romance was just enough that it was sweet without being in your face.
As Alice is a scholarship student, it gives us an insight into how class and privilege can play a part in attending Airington. The status that comes with being a student there is obvious from the beginning. Alice balances precariously on the line; she is regarded with similar status and privilege as her peers but her home life and private thoughts are overshadowed with what it takes to get to that place.
The sacrifices that parents make, particularly immigrant families, is shown in how Alice interacts with her parents. In moments where she is looking for a moral guide, she reverts back to the teachings of her parents and the life they have had to live in order for her to do what she wants.
Alice lived in America when she was younger but moved back to Beijing. This has resulted in her feeling like an outsider in both places. I liked how this was described because it can feel like this sometimes when you look different to what people would expect of your nationality.
“I’ve had to recount my entire life story to strangers enough times to know that sometimes it’s easier to just let them assume what they want.”
This book is about more than a girl suddenly gaining the ability to turn invisible. It’s about feeling lost and alone, the worries about your future, guilt over the things your parents do for you, trying to find a home in a strange land, learning to open to others, and staying true to your beliefs.
This is my first time reading a book by Ann Liang and now I’m definitely going to read the rest of her books. I can’t believe this one was her debut novel; it’s so well written. It perfectly portrays Alice’s difficulties, the setting of the elite boarding school was realistic enough that I could compare it to English language schools I’ve been in, and the romance was just enough that it was sweet without being in your face.
As Alice is a scholarship student, it gives us an insight into how class and privilege can play a part in attending Airington. The status that comes with being a student there is obvious from the beginning. Alice balances precariously on the line; she is regarded with similar status and privilege as her peers but her home life and private thoughts are overshadowed with what it takes to get to that place.
The sacrifices that parents make, particularly immigrant families, is shown in how Alice interacts with her parents. In moments where she is looking for a moral guide, she reverts back to the teachings of her parents and the life they have had to live in order for her to do what she wants.
Alice lived in America when she was younger but moved back to Beijing. This has resulted in her feeling like an outsider in both places. I liked how this was described because it can feel like this sometimes when you look different to what people would expect of your nationality.
“I’ve had to recount my entire life story to strangers enough times to know that sometimes it’s easier to just let them assume what they want.”
This book is about more than a girl suddenly gaining the ability to turn invisible. It’s about feeling lost and alone, the worries about your future, guilt over the things your parents do for you, trying to find a home in a strange land, learning to open to others, and staying true to your beliefs.