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a_very_dyslexic_reader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Trafficking
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying and Sexual harassment
magpi3's review against another edition
4.0
I remember reading this one when I was younger, along with Chinese Cinderella but it's coming back to it as an adult that the full scale of it hits you.
This book, while it may appear like a light hearted children's book, is anything but.
It explores some horrific practices such as selling young girls as brides, to the potentially horrific working practices.
And yet this book is still a really interesting and thought provoking read.
This book, while it may appear like a light hearted children's book, is anything but.
It explores some horrific practices such as selling young girls as brides, to the potentially horrific working practices.
And yet this book is still a really interesting and thought provoking read.
sammy_nor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
andatherrin's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, and Trafficking
Moderate: Sexual harassment
nicoliflour's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ellawaters97's review against another edition
3.0
This book is very different to the sort of books I normally read but it was still good. It is a powerful book for a childrens that makes you think as it is set in a different country and about a girl who is sold in to slavery. It talks about her struggles and her wanting to be back with her mum and brother. The letters are quite big compared to the books I read now and this is short as it is a childrens book. A good childrens read.
vcmc's review against another edition
3.0
A compelling story for older primary age children and older. The subject matter is dark and so the book may be upsetting to many children. However, it's impossible not to root for Lu Si-Yan as the story flies along. However I found the writing clunky and the characters lack substance and subtlety.
gracefulquills's review against another edition
4.0
This (supposedly children's) book actually deals with many many, heavy themes that even made me cry as an adult. The book starts off on a happy note, and then we as readers helplessly watch on as things spiral downwards and out of control. The amount of misfortune and suffering the female main character goes through is overwhelming even for me as a reader. Its themes of gender inequality, death and grief, poverty, slavery, child exploitation—ALL PACKED IN ONE BOOK.
First it starts exploring themes of gender, key notes on how it was like to be a girl in rural China at that time draws the readers in and enlightens them. In the uncle's detestable attitude towards Si Yan, we can see how he can't conceive of being proved wrong by women and girls, sons were preferred over daughters, who were seen as a burden to the family. Fortunately the book also provided another perspective on gender, shown through Si-Yan's father's behaviour towards her which contradicts that of her uncle's. Her father believed Si-Yan needed an education and that she was smart, and could also be the protector of her baby brother—"perhaps your silk swallow will protect and treasure your handsome tiger."
However Si-Yan did not manage to escape fully from the inequalities that came with being a female. She is sold into slavery by her uncle, this reminded me of how human beings deemed as "inferior" were always sold into slavery throughout history, like how black people were also traded as slaves in the past. Even the jobs she undertook throughout the novel were jobs associated with home economics, like cooking or sewing.
I have to give Grindley credit for balancing this theme well though—for there was also notes of female empowerment, if you looked hard enough. I’m surprised to find two strong women in the novel, women who resisted all odds, stayed strong and worked in the fields even as the crippling grief of losing a husband and father threatened to consume them. Themes of grief and death kicked in. There were no mental health therapists to help them deal with grief properly, they were rushed to 'get over it'. It was painful to read especially as we become more and more aware of mental health wellness in these modern times.
Then the book went into themes of child exploitation and slavery. This is also a story of a little girl who’s forced to adult too quickly. A child like Si-Yan is not equipped to deal with inequalities like these. She can't stand up for herself and has no choice. Throughout the chapters, a constant question was nagging at Si-Yan and the readers: To resign to her fate or to fight against it? Larger themes of gender come into play here, influencing our answer to this question: but she is stuck in the cycle of poverty. she has no choice. but she is a woman. Women were supposed to resign to their fates and be obedient. After considering things like wealth, social status, age and gender, we realise these are the 'labels' that traps Si-Yan and many others around the world, whether we like it or not.
Life is unfair. "the air of resignation has now overwhelmed her."
I would say the only blissful thing about this book would be the relationship between Si-Yan and her father, which was narrated from her perspective and feels all the more personal. But alas, fate is cruel, and each time I read about Si-Yan's misfortunes I would read them from her father's perspective and feel heartbreaking sad for him, if he realised how much his beloved daughter was suffering in the harsh world out there. We readers are then hit with waves of nostalgia, knowing that the good times with her father has ran its course and will never return.
Si-Yan then dealt with her final blow: the death of her mother. One then begins to entertain the thought of an alternate ending: What would happen if Si-Yan just abandoned the idea of earning money and just went straight home from the ferry? I’m sure she would have regretted not going home earlier, and instead went to work at a factory. But the fact was she didn’t, and so the book leaves us wrestling with the importance of money VS family ties. Is bringing money home for loved ones more important, or just simply being present to spend time with them?
The book then ends on an open note, leaving the ending up to the reader’s imagination. With that Grindley has failed to provide me with a satisfying ending. The joy of seeing the characters reunite. Instead it left me hanging, empty, and hungry for closure. We are then invited to seek our own closure for Si-Yan. Could she have went to college, got a degree and prospered? Or was her life as hard, perhaps her uncle abandoned her again?
Yet nothing changes the fact that her mum and dad was not coming back. The cold, harsh fact set in stone, that happy season of her life gone forever. This is no children's book, it is a harsh reality check. Was glad I read it at 23, not 12!
PS. The only problem I have with this story is the Mrs Hong's involvement in Si-Yan's escape. I think the tale would be more powerful and meaningful if Si-Yan planned and executed her own escape with the help of others, rather than allowing Mrs Hong to dictate when and how she should escape. It's almost as if if Mrs Hong hadn't urged her on, Si-Yan would not have found the courage and strength in her to escape. Maybe I just wanted to see some female empowerment.
I also think the uncle’s character was written a bit unrealistically and the shift in his character development was too sudden and drastic that even the readers are not able to extend forgiveness towards him. Never have I felt so angry with a character like this before. He was so unlikable!
First it starts exploring themes of gender, key notes on how it was like to be a girl in rural China at that time draws the readers in and enlightens them. In the uncle's detestable attitude towards Si Yan, we can see how he can't conceive of being proved wrong by women and girls, sons were preferred over daughters, who were seen as a burden to the family. Fortunately the book also provided another perspective on gender, shown through Si-Yan's father's behaviour towards her which contradicts that of her uncle's. Her father believed Si-Yan needed an education and that she was smart, and could also be the protector of her baby brother—"perhaps your silk swallow will protect and treasure your handsome tiger."
However Si-Yan did not manage to escape fully from the inequalities that came with being a female. She is sold into slavery by her uncle, this reminded me of how human beings deemed as "inferior" were always sold into slavery throughout history, like how black people were also traded as slaves in the past. Even the jobs she undertook throughout the novel were jobs associated with home economics, like cooking or sewing.
I have to give Grindley credit for balancing this theme well though—for there was also notes of female empowerment, if you looked hard enough. I’m surprised to find two strong women in the novel, women who resisted all odds, stayed strong and worked in the fields even as the crippling grief of losing a husband and father threatened to consume them. Themes of grief and death kicked in. There were no mental health therapists to help them deal with grief properly, they were rushed to 'get over it'. It was painful to read especially as we become more and more aware of mental health wellness in these modern times.
Then the book went into themes of child exploitation and slavery. This is also a story of a little girl who’s forced to adult too quickly. A child like Si-Yan is not equipped to deal with inequalities like these. She can't stand up for herself and has no choice. Throughout the chapters, a constant question was nagging at Si-Yan and the readers: To resign to her fate or to fight against it? Larger themes of gender come into play here, influencing our answer to this question: but she is stuck in the cycle of poverty. she has no choice. but she is a woman. Women were supposed to resign to their fates and be obedient. After considering things like wealth, social status, age and gender, we realise these are the 'labels' that traps Si-Yan and many others around the world, whether we like it or not.
Life is unfair. "the air of resignation has now overwhelmed her."
I would say the only blissful thing about this book would be the relationship between Si-Yan and her father, which was narrated from her perspective and feels all the more personal. But alas, fate is cruel, and each time I read about Si-Yan's misfortunes I would read them from her father's perspective and feel heartbreaking sad for him, if he realised how much his beloved daughter was suffering in the harsh world out there. We readers are then hit with waves of nostalgia, knowing that the good times with her father has ran its course and will never return.
Si-Yan then dealt with her final blow: the death of her mother. One then begins to entertain the thought of an alternate ending: What would happen if Si-Yan just abandoned the idea of earning money and just went straight home from the ferry? I’m sure she would have regretted not going home earlier, and instead went to work at a factory. But the fact was she didn’t, and so the book leaves us wrestling with the importance of money VS family ties. Is bringing money home for loved ones more important, or just simply being present to spend time with them?
The book then ends on an open note, leaving the ending up to the reader’s imagination. With that Grindley has failed to provide me with a satisfying ending. The joy of seeing the characters reunite. Instead it left me hanging, empty, and hungry for closure. We are then invited to seek our own closure for Si-Yan. Could she have went to college, got a degree and prospered? Or was her life as hard, perhaps her uncle abandoned her again?
Yet nothing changes the fact that her mum and dad was not coming back. The cold, harsh fact set in stone, that happy season of her life gone forever. This is no children's book, it is a harsh reality check. Was glad I read it at 23, not 12!
PS. The only problem I have with this story is the Mrs Hong's involvement in Si-Yan's escape. I think the tale would be more powerful and meaningful if Si-Yan planned and executed her own escape with the help of others, rather than allowing Mrs Hong to dictate when and how she should escape. It's almost as if if Mrs Hong hadn't urged her on, Si-Yan would not have found the courage and strength in her to escape. Maybe I just wanted to see some female empowerment.
I also think the uncle’s character was written a bit unrealistically and the shift in his character development was too sudden and drastic that even the readers are not able to extend forgiveness towards him. Never have I felt so angry with a character like this before. He was so unlikable!
sophiaep4's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0