A review by archytas
Second Sister by Jeremy Tiang, Chan Ho-Kei

informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Tonally, this can at times be jarring. Chan narrates in a fairly upbeat mystery tone with a hand wavy approach to plot points. But the content - a realistic look at the impact of cyber bullying on vulnerable teenagers - is sombre. I'm not sure if the tone settled, or I got used to it, but in the second half, when Chan hits hard with the emotional centre , I was completely won to the combination. Certainly, the evolution of what initially appeared to be a saintlike protagonist into someone far more human, if not as likable, was a strength. The book develops into a serious examination of the complexities that surround online anonymous cultures - well, alongside some absurd mystery millionaire bits - and it finds small elements to keep you guessing until the end. Chan uses the challenging of readers' assumptions to position challlenging of simplistic assumptions around bullying. I'd really like for more of Chan's work to be translated now :)