marmoset737's review against another edition
3.0
Even though this is about a senior in high school - the book reads like the protagonist is 13...
mercipourleslivres's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really slim little novel but I felt it was almost intentionally written that way. Some readers might find themselves dissatisfied at the lack of resolution or plot depth, but in the end, I found it to be a much more realistic portrayal of growing up than many YA novels. In real life, there isn't always a satisfactory resolution to the shit that happens to you. While some of the characters were barely there and had little to do, I didn't mind because in the end it was Ellen's story and her thoughts were all I really cared about. Despite its original publication setting in the 90s, the book felt very timeless to me (outside of the nickname 'Tomper' that was a bit ridiculous) and I'm glad it got a re-release and chance for more readers to discover it.
maria_elisabeth's review against another edition
3.0
Nice and short, growing up story.
Nothing new really, I've read a few very similar books, with asian-american girl with strict parents and finding their strength.
Nothing new really, I've read a few very similar books, with asian-american girl with strict parents and finding their strength.
kaloughl's review against another edition
3.0
What is most impressive about this book is that it being reissued after 28 years with a new foreward*. I feel like the Young Adult genre has really grown in the last 28 years and so a lot of this book may seem dated but at the time that it came out, it must have been revolutionary! Ellen Sung is a senior at a virtually all white high school in Arkin, Minnesota. Ellen deals with racist classmates, disappointed and demanding Korean immigrant parents, and a tough college decision. Throughout it all, she matures and finds her voice, eventually standing up to her classmates and forming a really supportive group of friends.
Without the foreward, it would hard to place this book in time. Because it came out in 1992 and was set at a similar time, it reads contemporarily which is slightly confusing when reading in 2020. The home phones, plaid get-ups, and paper college applications gave a clue but the timeless themes of a teenager maturing and small town racism (fortunately and unfortunately) made it universal. I found some of Lee's character development pretty simplistic with a lot of her focus on the main character, Ellen. I particularly wanted to see a bit more focus on Ellen's parents. The pacing of the book also felt a little sluggish despite it's short nature.
For the audiobook, the narrator Jaine Ye spoke sooooo slowly that I had to increase the speed to 1.2x (and I'm not someone who usually does that) and it still felt slow to me which I think affected my overall opinion on the book's pacing. Because of her slow cadence, speeding it up actually made her voice sound crackly as if it couldn't go any faster which was annoying as well.
Overall, the story was simple but cute but the audiobook edition wasn't my favorite. The cover is also very pretty!
*Unfortunately, in the advanced reader copy of the audiobook I was given to listen to, the foreward was not recorded yet (or not recorded at all??) and so was not included. I look forward to reading (or listening) to it at a later date.
Thank you to Recorded Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen.
Without the foreward, it would hard to place this book in time. Because it came out in 1992 and was set at a similar time, it reads contemporarily which is slightly confusing when reading in 2020. The home phones, plaid get-ups, and paper college applications gave a clue but the timeless themes of a teenager maturing and small town racism (fortunately and unfortunately) made it universal. I found some of Lee's character development pretty simplistic with a lot of her focus on the main character, Ellen. I particularly wanted to see a bit more focus on Ellen's parents. The pacing of the book also felt a little sluggish despite it's short nature.
For the audiobook, the narrator Jaine Ye spoke sooooo slowly that I had to increase the speed to 1.2x (and I'm not someone who usually does that) and it still felt slow to me which I think affected my overall opinion on the book's pacing. Because of her slow cadence, speeding it up actually made her voice sound crackly as if it couldn't go any faster which was annoying as well.
Overall, the story was simple but cute but the audiobook edition wasn't my favorite. The cover is also very pretty!
*Unfortunately, in the advanced reader copy of the audiobook I was given to listen to, the foreward was not recorded yet (or not recorded at all??) and so was not included. I look forward to reading (or listening) to it at a later date.
Thank you to Recorded Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen.
southernbellebooks's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this. Sure, at times it felt a little too transparent and cliche but I think that's what makes it so great. I loved Ellen so much and found her bravery in the face of adversity was admirable. She had taken so many racial jabs on the chin and wore it without complaint until enough was enough and people close to her pointed out what was wrong with what they were saying. It was a feel good story and I can't recommend this book enough.
I listened to it as an audiobook and I loved her. I tend to listen to my audiobooks on faster speed and the narrator annunciated well enough that I never got confused or had to re-listen. Excellent.
I listened to it as an audiobook and I loved her. I tend to listen to my audiobooks on faster speed and the narrator annunciated well enough that I never got confused or had to re-listen. Excellent.
barnes_and_nobles_girl's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
fluffily's review against another edition
4.75
ahh i loved this book!! it was interesting and i appreciated the asian American female voices heard in this book. i do feel like there could have been lesser tropes as well as a longer ending, but i enjoyed this quick read<3
jessg1014's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gotathingforthings's review against another edition
4.0
Check out my full video review: https://youtu.be/WDXow5TPgIg
Finding My Voice follows Ellen Sung, a 17 year old Korean-American in her last year of high school, trying to keep up with her grades to get into Harvard as well as balancing hanging out with friends and her potential new boyfriend.
I think it is amazing that this book is being rereleased with this new cover so it can find a new audience! I know 30 years is not that long, but I still think it is scary to see the themes and what is happing to Ellen in this book and it is the same themes and events that happens in current YA contemporaries coming out now from Asians authors. It is weird how so little has changed, while at the same time it feels like the whole world has changed. In this book they need to HANG UP the phone physically. And I thought that was both great and weird (not that I’m so young that I never had to hung up a phone before, but you get the point). This book is so relevant to this day, and I think it shows that the market is changing that it is given its second chance! That is great. I really enjoyed Ellen’s story, and I both related to her character while at the same time just enjoying parts of the story that was different from mine. It was cute, fun and short! My biggest problem was the writing, which didn’t flow as much as I wanted it to and made me disconnect from the story several times. However, a solid story and I’m excited for more people to pick it up! 4/5 stars.
Finding My Voice follows Ellen Sung, a 17 year old Korean-American in her last year of high school, trying to keep up with her grades to get into Harvard as well as balancing hanging out with friends and her potential new boyfriend.
I think it is amazing that this book is being rereleased with this new cover so it can find a new audience! I know 30 years is not that long, but I still think it is scary to see the themes and what is happing to Ellen in this book and it is the same themes and events that happens in current YA contemporaries coming out now from Asians authors. It is weird how so little has changed, while at the same time it feels like the whole world has changed. In this book they need to HANG UP the phone physically. And I thought that was both great and weird (not that I’m so young that I never had to hung up a phone before, but you get the point). This book is so relevant to this day, and I think it shows that the market is changing that it is given its second chance! That is great. I really enjoyed Ellen’s story, and I both related to her character while at the same time just enjoying parts of the story that was different from mine. It was cute, fun and short! My biggest problem was the writing, which didn’t flow as much as I wanted it to and made me disconnect from the story several times. However, a solid story and I’m excited for more people to pick it up! 4/5 stars.
pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Hate crime and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Alcohol