Bitter Melonby Cara Chow
Published: 2010
Genre: Coming of Age, YA
Paperback: 320 pages
Rating: 4
Description from the amazon:
Frances, a Chinese-American student at an academically competitive school in San Francisco, has always had it drilled into her to be obedient to her mother and to be a straight-A student so that she can go to Med school.
But is being a doctor what she wants? It has never even occurred to Frances to question her own feelings and desires until she accidentally winds up in speech class and finds herself with a hidden talent.
Does she dare to challenge the mother who has sacrificed everything for her?
Set in the 1980s.
My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): speak
A classic mother-daughter struggle with perspective of Chinese Americans. One can see how family and culture play such a pivotal role in life. This is also a coming-of-age story as the protagonist deals with guilt and emotional abuse.
* review copy courtesy of Goodman Media
* in conjunction with the Book Rat's Winter Wonderland - check it out for more winter reads and giveaways!
* part of Women's Tales event
* part of Winter Getaway event
