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A review by katykelly
Chinglish by Sue Cheung
4.0
Issues abound in this 80s-set adolescent story set behind the takeaway till.
I love a good diary narrative. Easy to read, fast-moving and chatty, the first-person private thoughts suit the teenage novel well.
And here, Jo Kwan's diary, which begins as a slightly hard-done-by Chinese/English teen telling us about having to move house, slowly morphs into something that becomes quite dark, despite moments of injected fun and lightness.
Jo's parents have had to downsize more than once, now moving their daughters (whose big brother lives with grandparents) to the rooms above a takeaway in Coventry. With communication issues within the family, Jo also moans to her diary about her lack of friends, body, how her parents treat her.
Hints of Jo's hidden story creep out, and the setting of 1980s Britain also slowly adds to the picture, with fashions, pop stars and attitudes all giving this a different feel to the one it would have if set in the world of social media. I grew up just after the time the book is set.
As a typical Caucasian reader, anything that give insight into other cultures will always catch my interest. Hearing about the long days of preparing ingredients (Jo is roped into working in the family business), how the family celebrates their own special days, seeing how Jo's contemporaries view and treat her - all give some surprises.
Based on the author's own youth and family, the story feels bizarre enough to be real at times (the scenes with Jo's Dad and the goats being particularly memorable), but I felt I wanted to know more about Jo's parents, particularly her mother, who has a voice - speaking only Chinese, really - but questions are raised as to how she got where she is today, and I really did want to know her story, to make her more than just a stereotype.
Encompassing friendships, boys, first loves, and the struggle to form a place for yourself with your talents, it was amusing and moving, with some actually quite important issues covered (and helpful contact details given at the back) if not fully resolved.
For ages 11-15. With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.
I love a good diary narrative. Easy to read, fast-moving and chatty, the first-person private thoughts suit the teenage novel well.
And here, Jo Kwan's diary, which begins as a slightly hard-done-by Chinese/English teen telling us about having to move house, slowly morphs into something that becomes quite dark, despite moments of injected fun and lightness.
Jo's parents have had to downsize more than once, now moving their daughters (whose big brother lives with grandparents) to the rooms above a takeaway in Coventry. With communication issues within the family, Jo also moans to her diary about her lack of friends, body, how her parents treat her.
Hints of Jo's hidden story creep out, and the setting of 1980s Britain also slowly adds to the picture, with fashions, pop stars and attitudes all giving this a different feel to the one it would have if set in the world of social media. I grew up just after the time the book is set.
As a typical Caucasian reader, anything that give insight into other cultures will always catch my interest. Hearing about the long days of preparing ingredients (Jo is roped into working in the family business), how the family celebrates their own special days, seeing how Jo's contemporaries view and treat her - all give some surprises.
Based on the author's own youth and family, the story feels bizarre enough to be real at times (the scenes with Jo's Dad and the goats being particularly memorable), but I felt I wanted to know more about Jo's parents, particularly her mother, who has a voice - speaking only Chinese, really - but questions are raised as to how she got where she is today, and I really did want to know her story, to make her more than just a stereotype.
Encompassing friendships, boys, first loves, and the struggle to form a place for yourself with your talents, it was amusing and moving, with some actually quite important issues covered (and helpful contact details given at the back) if not fully resolved.
For ages 11-15. With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.