stanro's review against another edition
3.25
I wanted to read this author. In a book about a 15-y-o Chinese Vietnamese girl from a hard-working refugee family living in a very poor part of town, who gets a diversity scholarship to a prestigious school for girls, I probably did not choose wisely for my interest.
It’s well written. I got some insights. I’ll try something else of Pung’s.
It’s well written. I got some insights. I’ll try something else of Pung’s.
lampsunnies's review
3.0
3.5 stars
If only this book were around when I was in high school. There were quite a few instances that felt awfully familiar and I know that had I read this book when I was younger it would've resonated with me immediately and would've had much more of an impact on me than it does now. Regardless, this was a heartwarming coming of age story.
The book follows a girl named, Lucy Lam, who lives in a low income area in Melbourne, goes to a Catholic school and is Chinese-Vietnamese refugee. She manages to get a scholarship into a private school, Laurinda. She starts off at the school almost like a fly on the wall, observing the social hierarchy within the school.
I had an issue with this whole storyline in the beginning because it had a Mean Girls cliquey vibe which I'm not really a fan of. Having not gone to a private school in Melbourne in the 90s but rather a public school in Sydney in the 00/10s, I was convinced it was just one huge exaggeration but I'm not so sure anymore. I really can't begin to imagine the things the girls did in the book, happening in real life.
But I did like the main character. She was smart, she was incredibly level headed - more so than I was at her age, at least. I love how she handled everything that was brought her way.
The book is also written as a series of letters, addressed to a mysterious person named Linh. The reasoning behind all this isn't revealed until about 2/3 of the story and while in hindsight I get it, I'm not sure it was as well executed as it could have been.
I liked that the book also dealt with racial prejudice, prejudice against people who live in low income areas and just issues affecting people of lower socioeconomic backgrounds in general. I was kinda worried these issues wouldn't be covered in the beginning, because it seemed to be so focused on the school but boy was I wrong.
Anyway, all in all, a solid read.
If only this book were around when I was in high school. There were quite a few instances that felt awfully familiar and I know that had I read this book when I was younger it would've resonated with me immediately and would've had much more of an impact on me than it does now. Regardless, this was a heartwarming coming of age story.
The book follows a girl named, Lucy Lam, who lives in a low income area in Melbourne, goes to a Catholic school and is Chinese-Vietnamese refugee. She manages to get a scholarship into a private school, Laurinda. She starts off at the school almost like a fly on the wall, observing the social hierarchy within the school.
I had an issue with this whole storyline in the beginning because it had a Mean Girls cliquey vibe which I'm not really a fan of. Having not gone to a private school in Melbourne in the 90s but rather a public school in Sydney in the 00/10s, I was convinced it was just one huge exaggeration but I'm not so sure anymore. I really can't begin to imagine the things the girls did in the book, happening in real life.
But I did like the main character. She was smart, she was incredibly level headed - more so than I was at her age, at least. I love how she handled everything that was brought her way.
The book is also written as a series of letters, addressed to a mysterious person named Linh. The reasoning behind all this isn't revealed until about 2/3 of the story and while in hindsight I get it, I'm not sure it was as well executed as it could have been.
I liked that the book also dealt with racial prejudice, prejudice against people who live in low income areas and just issues affecting people of lower socioeconomic backgrounds in general. I was kinda worried these issues wouldn't be covered in the beginning, because it seemed to be so focused on the school but boy was I wrong.
Anyway, all in all, a solid read.
sonni89's review against another edition
4.0
The social commentary in this is PHENOMENAL, but it took me a really long time to actually get into it. Once I did, though, I was sold. The description of this being Mean Girls meets Fresh off the Boat is spot-on.
hanakorc's review against another edition
3.0
This book was basically Mean Girls if you replaced Cady Heron with a Third Culture Kid named Lucy.
I really enjoyed the qualty writing in this book. It allowed me to get fully immersed in the story. Lucy's obserations on social norms, class, race, self-identity are quite astute but still feel in line with her teenage self.
The book drags a little at moments and the twist at the end was a tad predictable for my taste, but overall it was a delightful read.
I really enjoyed the qualty writing in this book. It allowed me to get fully immersed in the story. Lucy's obserations on social norms, class, race, self-identity are quite astute but still feel in line with her teenage self.
The book drags a little at moments and the twist at the end was a tad predictable for my taste, but overall it was a delightful read.
orangerful's review against another edition
3.0
One of the more low-key "outsider trying to fit" stories I've read in awhile. I mean, there was some drama with the entire "Mean Girls" dynamic of the Cabinet girls, but otherwise this was kind of calm? Or maybe it is just that whole thing about how teen girls bully and it is all psychological, though I really felt like most of Lucy's torture was her own because she couldn't quite fit in.
I will be leading the discussion for this book during the 'Books for the Beast' conference in October so I will be curious to see what others have to say about it, especially the teachers and students, who are more "in" this world than I am as a public librarian.
I will be leading the discussion for this book during the 'Books for the Beast' conference in October so I will be curious to see what others have to say about it, especially the teachers and students, who are more "in" this world than I am as a public librarian.
theblondebird's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
terrimpin's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. Lucy was likable, relatable, and she was smart and funny. I laughed, teared up, and felt relieved at the end. Even better: no one was cartoonishly evil in this. We're shown realistic bitchy highschoolers but nothing over the top.
zohal99's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a great #loveozya novel. It is Australian young adult fiction meets Mean girls. I loved the format of the story, the writing, the main character and her family. Everything in this story was great and it was well-paced. Highly enjoyed and highly recommend!!!
If you've never read Australian Young Adult Fiction, this is a good place to start.
If you've never read Australian Young Adult Fiction, this is a good place to start.
oanh_1's review
4.0
Alice Pung writes with of awfully serious matters - bullying, mental illness - with a deft and light touch. I laughed aloud, but I also had my heart ache for so many of the characters. I hope this ends up on high school reading lists.