Chinese-Americans

Review: The Way Home Looks Now by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

| Tasha

way home looks now

The Way Home Looks Now by Wendy Wan-Long Shang (InfoSoup)

The author of The Great Wall of Lucy Wu returns with a new novel for young readers. Peter loves baseball just like all of the others in his family, including his mother who is a huge Pittsburgh Pirates fan. His older brother is amazing at baseball and will occasionally join in the neighborhood game and hit homeruns with his favorite bat. But when tragedy strikes their family, Peter stops playing entirely. He can’t seem to find joy in it anymore and starts to spend most of his time alone. As Peter’s mother descends deeply into grief, rarely eating or speaking and never leaving the living room, Peter decides that maybe baseball can inspire her to return to normal. So Peter tries out for a Little League team that his father reluctantly agrees to coach. Soon baseball is once again a huge part of their family, but can it heal the wounds left behind by loss?

Shang has written a book that will appeal to children who adore baseball but also invites in those who may not be fans. This is not a sports book, but rather a novel that features baseball and the catalyst that sports can be for a family to rally around. At the same time, Shang shows the appeal of baseball in particular with its mathematical logic, fascinating trick plays, and the effect that being on a team can have on different kids.

The central family in this novel is Chinese American. Shang weaves details of that heritage throughout the novel. It is more about the reverberations through generations of concepts like honoring your elders and showing respect in very tangible ways. The father in the book had been a distant figure and suddenly becomes that sole caretaker for Peter and his little sister. That transition is shown in all of its difficulty, made even more difficult because of the strict nature of their relationship. These complexities add a lot of depth to the novel, making it about so much more than baseball.

A deep look at grief, loss and baseball, this novel features strong writing and great characters of diversity. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from ARC received from Scholastic Press.

Review: Crouching Tiger by Ying Chang Compestine

| Tasha

crouching tiger

Crouching Tiger by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Yan Nascimbene

Vinson is fascinated when his grandfather arrives from China and practices tai chi in the backyard.  When Vinson finds out it’s a martial art, he thinks it might be like kung fu but soon learns it is not.  His grandfather begins to teach him the basic movements of tai chi but it is slow and requires a lot of patience.  When Vinson is offered a place in the Chinese New Year parade, he’s not sure he wants to even participate.  However, when he and his grandfather get to China Town, he discovers that his grandfather has been saying wonderful things about him and that everyone is very pleased to meet him.  Even more importantly, the respect everyone shows his gentle, quiet grandfather changes his view of martial arts and the man himself.

This book is perfect for Chinese New Year, since that holiday is celebrated in the story.  The growth of the main character is well developed, especially for a picture book.  The quiet grace of tai chi is shown throughout the book, including the overall tone of the story itself. 

The illustrations also reflect that quiet simplicity with their expanses of watercolor and fine lines.  The illustrations are modern-feeling and capture the excitement of the New Year and the movement of martial arts with great energy. 

This winning title is a dynamic but also introspective look at the Chinese New Year and tai chi.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy. 

Also reviewed by BookDragon.

Thanking the Moon

| Tasha

50782563

Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival by Grace Lin

Join a Chinese-American family as they head out into the night to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.  They bring a night-time picnic and set up the moon-honoring table.  There are glowing lanterns and tea to drink.  There are also special mooncakes to munch.  Then everyone thanks the moon for bringing them together and make secret wishes.  This will have every child wishing that they could celebrate the Moon Festival too.

A gentle and simple story, Lin offers a glimpse of Chinese heritage in this picture book.  With just one or two lines of text per double page spread, she invites readers to the picnic and the celebration.  Her illustrations are jewel-toned and delightful.  She fills the night time sky with swirls and plays with other patterns throughout as well.  From the plate to the tea cups to clothing and lanterns, everything has a touch of pattern to catch the eye. 

This short, simple book concludes with some additional information on the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival that will answer any questions that readers may have.  Lin has once again created a book that is inviting, interesting and culturally fascinating.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Random House.

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