  | Tiger daughter Author: Lim, Rebecca | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Wen Zhou is a first-generation daughter of Chinese migrant parents. She has high expectations from her parents to succeed in school, especially her father whose strict rules leave her feeling trapped. She dreams of creating a future for herself more satisfying than the one her parents expect her to lead.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 6.00 Points: 6.0 Quiz: 519841 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (06/15/23)
School Library Journal (+) (09/01/23)
Booklist (+) (12/01/23)
The Hornbook (+) (00/07/23)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 09/01/2023 Gr 5 Up—For Wen Zhou, a first-generation Chinese immigrant living in Australia, life is challenging. Her father, Jin, who chooses to work in a restaurant after failing to complete a top-level surgical exam, is angry and disappointed. He tries to shelter Wen and her mother, Mei Ling, by forbidding their contact with other members of the community, and both are afraid to defy him. At her local school, Wen finds little solace other than her friendship with Henry Xiao. Both are studying for entrance to a better school more suited to their educational needs. Henry is confident; Wen, not so much. Sadly, Henry's mom dies by suicide, and in grief and humiliation, both he and his father retreat into their home. But Wen is determined to see that Henry keeps studying for the exam and, with the eventual help of her mother, they bring food and homework to his house daily. But can they keep it a secret from Jin? This book offers a fresh perspective on immigration in a setting outside of the United States. The author, an Asian Australian herself, creates the story and dialogue from a wealth of firsthand experience including rich detail on traditional Chinese cuisine and other customs. Young readers will enjoy the story's satisfying conclusion and its reminder to work hard and never forget your dreams. VERDICT A first purchase for libraries serving immigrant populations and highly recommended for those looking to diversify their collections.—Anne Jung-Mathews - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 08/08/2023 *Starred Review* Wen Zhou and Henry Xiao are fast friends. Their families migrated to Australia from different parts of China, bringing with them all manner of hierarchical mores that, combined with the difficulties of trying to survive in a racist environment, stack the odds against them for a good future. At the suggestion of their teacher, they decide to prepare for an entrance exam to a school that could help them realize their ambitious dreams. They study hard, helping each other, while their parents struggle with immigrant disillusionment, coping in ways that hurt the ones around them. When tragedy strikes, it falls to Wen to keep Henry on track for the exam, which means standing up to her abusive father for the sake of her friend. Wen is a smart, lively narrator whose voice crackles on the page, even when it wavers with vulnerability. Wen and Henry's story is one of community, friendship, courage, and solidarity in unexpected places. Tiger Daughter calls out the ways toxic masculinity intersects with class and race and ultimately hurts everyone, especially those bound up in it. Wen and Henry are part of a generation whose members can lead one another toward a new future, not by running away but by toppling ugly power with defiance, respect, and love. A middle-school must-read. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
