August 15, 2023 by Delacorte Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Henry Xiao and Wen Zhou are both immigrants from China, living with their parents in Australia. Things are difficult. Not only do they live in a neighborhood that isn't exactly safe, their parents have struggled with being in a new country and have manifested this difficulty in different ways. Henry's father works long hours delivering produce to markets, and his mother, who doesn't speak English well, is alone all day and is very depressed. She finds it difficult to care for Henry. Wen's father was a doctor, but works as a manager in a Chinese restaurant. Her mother is at home, and tries to live up to the almost impossible expecatations the father has. She must be perfectly turned out, even though her ten year old skirt suits from her previous life are threadbare. She must have eight dishes of perfectly cooked foo on the table even though there is little money. She must walk Wen back and forth from school, but be home when the father telephones the landline at exactly 4:00 p.m. Wen is never allowed to question anything, and her father is very mean to her because she doesn't do well at math in school, and is very strict. She isn't allowed to snack, lest she become "fat", she can't go to activities at other people's houses, and if she talks back at all, her father has violent outbursts. Wen is in an English as a Second Language class at school even though her English is fine; she is there to support Henry, who still struggles. The two are working together to take an entrance exam to a better school that Henry is sure will help them so better. When Henry's mother kills herself, Wen wants to help, but her father forbids it. She sneaks some food to his house, and makes her mother go to the house with her so that she can drop off homework from school. Her friends from school, who are from different areas of Sudan, even bring clothes they have collected for Henry. Even though her mother tries to echo her father's line that Henry's family is disgraced and they can have nothing to do with him, she takes pity on the boy and his father and brings food to them, even though she barely has enough money to do so. She also gets involved at the local pharmacy when an older Chinese woman collapses, and the owner, Mrs. Xenakis, asks her to help. Wen manages to cover for her mother when her father calls. Mrs. Xenakis is so glad of the help that she approaches Mrs. Zhou with an offer of work. Mrs. Zhou would like to do something to be helpful and get out of the house, but she knows that the father would be furious. When Mr. Zhou loses his job for dumping food on a customer who uses a racial slur, Mrs. Zhou decides to stand up despite the risks. While Wen hasn't told her parents about the exam, when her mother finds out, she is all for it. Mr. Xiao is so grateful for all of the help that he offers to drive Wen along with Henry. Even though life is very difficult, it becomes easier when the families band together and accept help from each other.
Strengths: This was a harrowing book, but offers a very illuminating look at how some people might struggle in a new country, especially when they have parents who area unhappy with their own lives. Many middle school students have trouble understanding that not everyone's lives are exactly like their own, in the same way that they don't understand that the world has not always been the way that it is now, and being able to offer a look into another time, place, or experience is very valuable. Wen is a motivated and kind hearted soul, and she knows that not all parents have the same expectations or dynamics that her own do. She knows she shouldn't anger her father, but also knows that there are some things, like taking care of Henry, that are worth risking it. It was a palpable relief at the end of the book when her father talks to Mr. Xiao and starts to see that he needs help, and that Wen and her mother need more freedom. I like to have books like this to give to students who don't want to read anything; not only do they often engage with books like this, but I hope they also make them more empathetic and grateful for their own lives.
Weaknesses: There are some aspects of this that are particularly Australian, but I think that if students are made aware of this, they'll understand. The story is very harrowing, so I don't know that I would give it to readers younger than 6th grade without supervision.
What I really think: Years ago, I took a continuing education class about school environment. The teacher told us that we might be the first person in the student's day to interact with them in a positive fashion. Tiger Daughter was a good reminder of this. While not all of Henry and Wen's teachers were supportive, there were a few who made a difference. This book was difficult to read, but definitely important. It reminded me a bit of Lai's Pie in the Sky. Definitely purchasing.
Strengths: This was a harrowing book, but offers a very illuminating look at how some people might struggle in a new country, especially when they have parents who area unhappy with their own lives. Many middle school students have trouble understanding that not everyone's lives are exactly like their own, in the same way that they don't understand that the world has not always been the way that it is now, and being able to offer a look into another time, place, or experience is very valuable. Wen is a motivated and kind hearted soul, and she knows that not all parents have the same expectations or dynamics that her own do. She knows she shouldn't anger her father, but also knows that there are some things, like taking care of Henry, that are worth risking it. It was a palpable relief at the end of the book when her father talks to Mr. Xiao and starts to see that he needs help, and that Wen and her mother need more freedom. I like to have books like this to give to students who don't want to read anything; not only do they often engage with books like this, but I hope they also make them more empathetic and grateful for their own lives.
Weaknesses: There are some aspects of this that are particularly Australian, but I think that if students are made aware of this, they'll understand. The story is very harrowing, so I don't know that I would give it to readers younger than 6th grade without supervision.
What I really think: Years ago, I took a continuing education class about school environment. The teacher told us that we might be the first person in the student's day to interact with them in a positive fashion. Tiger Daughter was a good reminder of this. While not all of Henry and Wen's teachers were supportive, there were a few who made a difference. This book was difficult to read, but definitely important. It reminded me a bit of Lai's Pie in the Sky. Definitely purchasing.
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