East Asian
Chapter Book Reviews
China
DragonwingsAuthor: Yep, Laurence
Title: Dragonwings ISBN: 978-0064400855 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Harper Collins Date of Publication: 1975 Number of Pages: 248 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $6.99 Imagine. You move to a new country to live with your father whom you have never met. It seems impossible but in Yep's novel, Dragonwings, it is Moon Shadow's reality. Moon Shadow is an eight year old boy living in China until he is sent to cross the Pacific and live with his father, Windrider. Although the two do not know one another well, Mood Shadow quickly warms up to his father and respects how hard-working and determined he is. With the help of Moon Shadow, Windrider has followed his dream to move to America and is making it work by doing laundry. He is able to put aside the mockery of the other Chinese, his impoverished living situation, the separation of his wife and country, and even a great earthquake. This is an inspiring and informative story of Chinese-American immigrants living in California in the early 20th century. It is a story of heart-felt love, support, determination and family values that you will not want to miss out on. (Chapter book, Grades 5 and up) |
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Where the Mountain Meets the MoonAuthor: Lin, Grace
Illustrator: Lin, Grace Title: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon ISBN: 978-0316038638 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Date of Publication: 2009 Number of Pages: 304 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $8.99 "There's no place like home. There's no place like home." This famous line is a staple in many American homes. This timeless story is reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. Lin has beautifully interwoven Chinese folklore and fantasy in this enchanting book for young readers. Minli, which means "quick thinking" is a strong heroine character who decides to undertake the adventure of a life-time to save her terribly poor family, who works hard in the rice fields of the Fruitless Mountains but is barely able to get by. They do have one bright spot to keep them going--Minli's father tells stories each night of the Jade Dragon that keeps the mountain bare, the greedy and mean Magistrate Tiger, and the Old Man of the Moon who holds everyone's destiny. Minli sets off on her adventure, determined to make a better life for her family with the help of the Old Man of the Moon. Along the way, she forms friendships with a flightless dragon, an orphaned child, a talking fish and other interesting characters. She proves her strength and determination through defeating a group of greedy monkeys and enlisting help from the king. In addition to making new friends, Minli is regaled with stories from characters she meets on her journey. While the tales are originally told by Lin, she uses parts of actual Chinese folktales to inspire them. Her beautiful illustrations begin each chapter to intrigue the reader even more. It is a story of determination, the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude and a must-read for all young readers! (Ages 8 & up) |
Japan
Kitchen
Author: Yoshimoto, Banana
Translator: Backus, Megan Title: Kitchen ISBN: 978-0-802142-44-3 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Grove Press Date of Publication: 1988 Number of Pages: 153 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $14.00 Review: Translated from Japanese to English by Megan Backus, Kitchen became Banana Yoshimoto’s first English-language novel when she was only 24-years old. In simple, but powerful, prose, Yoshimoto delineates the hardships and struggles of eccentric Mikage Sakurai, who is distraught over the recent loss of her grandmother. Finding solace in the kitchen and the cleaning necessary in its upkeep, Mikage widens her lonely world and befriends Yuichi, one of her grandmother’s friends, and his transgender mother, Eriko. Therefore, not only does the short novel lend itself to an examination of its portrayal of gender roles through Mikage’s therapeutic use of kitchen duties and her career as a culinary teacher’s assistant, it complicates its gender commentary with Mikage’s newfound companionship with the transgender mother. With love and food brimming up to the surface despite the unforgettable air of tragedy in the text, Kitchen is a well-translated text that deserves its bestseller success. Chapter book (Ages 12+). |
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Tomo
Editor: Thomson, Holly
Author: 36 Japanese teenagers Title: Tomo: An Anthology of Japan Teen Stories ISBN: 978-1-61172-006-8 Place of Publication: California Publisher: Strong Bridge Press Date of Publication: 2012 Number of Pages: 374 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $14.95 Review: Anthologizing thirty-six short stories – ten of which are translated texts and two of which are graphic novellas – from young adults connected to Japan either through heritage or experience, Tomo is a collective effort inspired by the years Holly Thompson lived in Kamakura and her volunteer experience in Tohoku after the tsunami. From fiction to memoirs, most of the collected stories are set in Japan and their teenage authors’ shine through in the informal writing. With the filler “you know” and the passive voice cropping up fairly often, the unedited passages bless the stories with a commendable purity and captivating rawness in their childish, but relatable, embrace of vernacular writing. A square-faced, thick eye-browed boy graces one comic and a pseudo-diary scribbled with the ramblings of young love acts as another. Although mostly prose, poems appear and complete this well-rounded, inspirational anthology that admirably gives a rare published voice to young international writers. Chapter book anthology (Ages 12+). |
Korea
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Seesaw Girl
Author: Park, Linda Sue
Illustrator: Tseng, Mou-Sien & Tseng, Jean Title: Seasaw Girl ISBN: 978-0-547248-88-2 Place of Publication: New York Publisher: Shen’s Books Date of Publication: 2009 Number of Pages: 96 pages Recommended / Listed Price: $5.99 Review: As a work of historical fiction, Linda Sue Park’s “Seasaw Girl” takes place in 17th-century Korea when female suppression was prevalent. Following Jade Blossom, the story examines the rightness of stereotypical gender roles as the little girl is forced into the domestic sphere, learning to cook, sew, embroider, and do laundry. Forbidden from leaving the Inner Court until marriage and, upon marriage, restricted to her husband’s household, Jade yearns to expand their horizons, gaining the initial motivation to do so at the knowledge of her best friend’s wedding and the consequent desire to visit. Providing a critical look at gender inequality and a story about the wonders of natural curiosity, “Seasaw Girl” is a well-rounded chapter book sporadically interwoven with full-page, black-and-white illustrations. With her childhood readings about Korea’s Choson period as the initial inspiration for this chapter book, Park performed extensive research of the 1300-1900 time period - evident by the comprehensive bibliography provided at the story’s conclusion - to be able to write accurately and authentically about the topic here in Seasaw Girl. Chapter book (Ages 8+). |