Author: Jane Kuo
Genre: realistic fiction/verse novel
Similar books: Front Desk by Kelly Yang
A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr
Rating:
.JPG)
Summary (provided by publisher): Anna can’t wait to move to the beautiful country—the Chinese name for America. Although she’s only ever known life in Taiwan, she can’t help but brag about the move to her family and friends.
But the beautiful country isn’t anything like Anna pictured. Her family can only afford a cramped apartment, she’s bullied at school, and she struggles to understand a new language. On top of that, the restaurant that her parents poured their savings into is barely staying afloat. The version of America that Anna is experiencing is nothing like she imagined. How will she be able to make the beautiful country her home?
My opinion: An immigrant story is a solid choice for a verse novel since a lot of the conflict is internal. This is a story of Anna trying to fit in, trying to make a life in a place she feels constantly off balance and discovering that reality isn't living up to her expectations. Kuo presents the reader with a hard view of the immigrant experience: the constant struggle to get my, harsh criticisms from random people, racism and ignorance, the limitations on opportunities. It's a quick read and doesn't get into deep depth but could work well in contrast to a more idealized story and could inspire discussion of the "American dream" and the notion of the US as the land of opportunities.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
No comments:
Post a Comment