A well-told, thoughtful, amusing story of maturing perspective.
Delicious wonton soup brings together a Chinese-American girl, her grandfather, and the community in this middle-grade novel.
Third-grader Lily Lo of San Francisco wants nothing more than for her school’s soccer team, the Leopard Sharks, to go to the Big Match. But there’s one thing she wants almost as much: to show off her skills to her grandfather Gung Gung. He’s never come to her games before, but with her mother’s new work schedule, Gung Gung will be there, and Lily can’t wait. But whenever she looks over to the stands, her grandpa is reading his newspaper and clipping coupons, not even looking at the field. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Morales, grandparents of Lily’s best friend Rosana, are on their feet, watching and cheering Ro’s every move. Another anxiety is starting Chinese school; Ro won’t be there, but Deb, the bossy, critical daughter of the soccer coach, will. Lily’s frustrations make her lose focus at crucial moments, but she gets a new perspective on her grandfather when he teaches her to make wonton soup from scratch and takes her to the senior center. She realizes he’s given up his time with friends to take her to games, and his coupons have gone toward buying ingredients for soup served at the center. After the Big Match, Lily teaches the Sharks how to make soup for the seniors, and her friends realize that being a team goes beyond winning games. Hall (1964-2016) was a writer and producer who received three Emmy Awards. In her sole novel, she offers an easily relatable character in Lily, with her energy, desire for attention, and bursts of resentment or worry. These lead her to mistakes, often comical, if not to Lily, but the incidents give her cause for self-reflection. She learns to look beyond her own concerns and consider others’ hardships. The book explores the Chinese-American experience—not just through making wonton soup, but also, for example, when Lily discovers she enjoys learning traditional Chinese characters—and the universal delight in delicious food, which the ending spotlights. A glossary of unfamiliar terms is included.
A well-told, thoughtful, amusing story of maturing perspective.Pub Date: Nov. 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-947848-64-1
Page Count: 132
Publisher: Inkshares
Review Posted Online: Nov. 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Fans of Cameron’s Huey and Julian stories (More Stories Huey Tells, 1997, etc.) are in for a treat as Gloria, their friend from those tales, gets a book of her own and graciously allows the two brothers to share it . In the first tale, Gloria makes a wonderful card for her mother, but the wind blows it away and it ends up in the cage of a cantankerous parrot. Thanks to Mr. Bates, Huey and Julian’s dad, the day is saved, as is the burgeoning friendship that Gloria and the boys have struck up with new neighbor Latisha in the story, “The Promise.” In another story, Gloria has to deal with a huge problem—fractions—and this time it’s her dad who helps her through it. Mr. Bates proves helpful again when the group trains an “obsessed” puppy, while Gloria’s mother is supportive when Gloria is unintentionally hurt by her three best friends. The stories are warm and funny, as Gloria, a spunky kid who gets into some strange predicaments, finds out that her friends and wise, loving adults are good to have around when trouble beckons. Great fun, with subtly placed, positive messages that never take center stage. (b&w illustrations) (Fiction. 8-12)
Pub Date: March 9, 2000
ISBN: 0-374-32670-3
Page Count: 93
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2000
There is something profoundly elemental going on in Smalls’s book: the capturing of a moment of unmediated joy. It’s not melodramatic, but just a Saturday in which an African-American father and son immerse themselves in each other’s company when the woman of the house is away. Putting first things first, they tidy up the house, with an unheralded sense of purpose motivating their actions: “Then we clean, clean, clean the windows,/wipe, wipe, wash them right./My dad shines in the windows’ light.” When their work is done, they head for the park for some batting practice, then to the movies where the boy gets to choose between films. After a snack, they work their way homeward, racing each other, doing a dance step or two, then “Dad takes my hand and slows down./I understand, and we slow down./It’s a long, long walk./We have a quiet talk and smile.” Smalls treats the material without pretense, leaving it guileless and thus accessible to readers. Hays’s artwork is wistful and idyllic, just as this day is for one small boy. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-316-79899-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1999
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