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A review by alavenderlibrary
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-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
4.75
This book is for the first & second generation children, oldest born daughters, daughters with complicated relationships with their fathers, burntout overachievers, and anyone who has ever questioned the validity of their identity. Whether that be race, sexuality, or anything else for that matter.
Jade is a Vietnamese American girl who just wants to escape the shame that has followed her around since even before her father left. All she has to do is survive five weeks in the French colonial house her Ba is restoring— playing the happy, helpful daughter—and he'll give her the money she needs to cover what her college scholarship won't.
But the house is alive. And it eats, it thrums, and infects, and Jade is begining to realize that something—someone doesn't want her to leave. And that if she isn't careful, she won't want to leave either.
I really loved this book! It was hard for me to get into at first, since I don't particularly like first person perspective that much, but the story and it's elements drew me in so well. Bugs and rotting food play a huge part in the horror of this story, especially the idea of parasites—which I wasn't expecting but really enjoyed the inclusion.
I also appreciated the focus on colonialism and it's effects, told through the haunting and anthropomorphism of the house, Nhà Hoa. Part of the book is focused on the dead French matriarch, who hated the Vietnamese people and is a ma đói: hungry ghost. But as Jade learns more through the memories of another Vietnamese girl who died there, the house is ultimately the one in control and wants to be full of people forever, no matter how it happens.
I did find a lot of similarities between Jade and myself, so I connected a lot more with this book and that's why it was such a great read for me. The only reason it doesn't quite get 5 stars for me is because I really did not like that writing style of first person and her inner monologues for majority of the book. But the author's prose and story really made up for it.
Jade is a Vietnamese American girl who just wants to escape the shame that has followed her around since even before her father left. All she has to do is survive five weeks in the French colonial house her Ba is restoring— playing the happy, helpful daughter—and he'll give her the money she needs to cover what her college scholarship won't.
But the house is alive. And it eats, it thrums, and infects, and Jade is begining to realize that something—someone doesn't want her to leave. And that if she isn't careful, she won't want to leave either.
I really loved this book! It was hard for me to get into at first, since I don't particularly like first person perspective that much, but the story and it's elements drew me in so well. Bugs and rotting food play a huge part in the horror of this story, especially the idea of parasites—which I wasn't expecting but really enjoyed the inclusion.
I also appreciated the focus on colonialism and it's effects, told through the haunting and anthropomorphism of the house, Nhà Hoa. Part of the book is focused on the dead French matriarch, who hated the Vietnamese people and is a ma đói: hungry ghost. But as Jade learns more through the memories of another Vietnamese girl who died there, the house is ultimately the one in control and wants to be full of people forever, no matter how it happens.
I did find a lot of similarities between Jade and myself, so I connected a lot more with this book and that's why it was such a great read for me. The only reason it doesn't quite get 5 stars for me is because I really did not like that writing style of first person and her inner monologues for majority of the book. But the author's prose and story really made up for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Xenophobia, Blood, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Violence