Jean Kwok is back with her second book and it is as good as her first one. Dealing with the issues of family and change against the backdrop of being an American Born Chinese, our heroine, Charlie, must balance what she is able to do, what is expected of her, and how to be both mother and sister to her middle school aged younger sister with a father who has checked out of life following the death of her mother. Charlie is an untreated dyslexic who finds life is not so bad once she learns that she takes after her late mother with a particular talent. Her talent flies in the face of all her family and cultural expectations for her, and yet she succeeds.
This is set against the backdrop of Chinese culture, but it resonates with all backgrounds. It is about how we change to become ourselves, and how those around us deal or do not deal with the change.
This is set against the backdrop of Chinese culture, but it resonates with all backgrounds. It is about how we change to become ourselves, and how those around us deal or do not deal with the change.