Soap-opera–worthy twists are grounded by ties to significant events in contemporary Chinese history in this meaningful debut.
Eighteen-year-old Gemma Huang lands her first major acting role—and in a film co-directed by her idol, veteran actress Eilene Deng, no less.
She hops on the plane to Beijing for filming with only a twinge of guilt for breaking her parents’ cardinal rule: never go to China, and especially not to Beijing. Gemma’s always wondered what’s kept her parents away from their homeland, but she only begins to understand the extent of their secrets when she’s nearly mobbed at the airport. Turns out Gemma looks identical to Alyssa Chua, a Chinese socialite and fashion influencer—and the cousin she never knew she had. According to Alyssa, Gemma’s mother was banished from their affluent family years ago after stealing a priceless Tang dynasty painting. This revelation stuns Gemma, who, in addition to family drama, also has to contend with a film script full of tired stereotypes and a White co-director skeptical of her talent. Light historical context around the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Square protests lends weight and realism to the plot, as does commentary about Asian American representation in Hollywood, mainly presented through Gemma’s conversations with Eilene and her struggles to demand a more nuanced treatment of her film character. Readers will also enjoy Gemma's will-they, won’t-they flirtation with handsome Eric Liu, whose family has had a decadeslong feud with the Chuas.
Soap-opera–worthy twists are grounded by ties to significant events in contemporary Chinese history in this meaningful debut. (author's note) (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4197-4996-4
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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