A review by backonthealex
Ming's Christmas Wishes by Susan L. Gong

4.0

In 1930s California, Ming Gong, the oldest child of immigrants from China, has three wishes - to sing in the school choir, to have a Christmas tree, and to feel like she belongs somewhere. She's not Chinese enough at home and not American enough at school. But Ming's mother is adamant about not have a tree - it's just not Chinese. To break the tension, Ming's Pop says he will take Ming with him when he visits the Lins the next day. After a long truck ride, the two arrive at the shack where Uncle Lin and his father live, old friends of Pop's father. Ming listens to their stories about living in Hong Kong, visiting Yosemite and Canada, and surviving San Francisco's big earthquake, as she looks around at the carvings all around the house. Carvings, Ming learns, made out of pine trees for long life and strong character. When they leave, Pop takes Ming to a grove of sequoias and one with an altar in its hollow base. Here, Ming learns about her father's life when he first came to America and receives some good advice from him. Before they leave, they find a way for Ming to have a Christmas tree that will be true to her Chinese culture. This is a nice historical fiction picture book that is more about what it was like to be Chinese in America and Chinese culture. It reminds us that we are a nation of immigrants, all of whom brought traditions with them and combined them with those in their new home land, much the way Ming's tree does. I really liked this story, and the old-fashioned color palette used for the illustrations, but some of the adult faces were a drawn a little too harshly, I thought. This is a picture book will probably lead to some lively conversations about how Christmas is celebrated in different homes.