 This is a fabulous book! |
The Year of the Dog
by Grace Lin
Difficulty: Average
There aren’t that many books about Chinese-Americans. That’s why Grace Lin decided to write one. Best known for her picture books, she has written her first novel, The Year of the Dog. This book has won many awards, including ALA Children’s Notable.
This story is based on the childhood of the author. Grace (at home known as Pacy) is a Chinese-American. It is the year of the dog in the Chinese Zodiac. During this year you are supposed to find your best friends and yourself. Grace struggles with finding herself. She also struggles with being different and sometimes, it affects her choices and what she wants to do. To Americans, she’s too Chinese. To Chinese people, she’s too American. Various things happen during the year as she finds a new friend and her talent. This book makes you remember when you once felt different from everyone else around you, which reminds me of when I joined the school orchestra. When I was in 1st grade, I played a song for the orchestra teacher, and she said I could join the next year. I became a 1st violinist, which usually includes only 5th graders. I felt strange since everyone was 4 years older than me.
Lin is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and wrote over fifteen books like Olvina Flies and The Ugly Vegetables. She came from Taiwan, which at the time of the story was called the Republic of China in the United States. She wrote this book for two reasons -It’s the book she wanted when she was growing up -She wanted a book about Chinese-Americans
This is a great book! I can’t wait for the next book The Year of the Rat.
By Ellen
Note: This book is available in our Library.
