The Year of the Dog

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lin, Grace. 2006. The Year of the Dog. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0316060003

PLOT SUMMARY

The Year of the Dog tells the story of a young girl, Pacy, and her experiences growing up as a Taiwanese-American.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In The Year of the Dog, Lin writes a story that is engaging and delightful.  The story chronicles Grace (or Pacy as she is known at home) and her quest to “find herself.”  Pacy is a charming main character, and readers will like her immediately.  Readers, especially young girls, of all races will be able to relate to her feelings about trying to fit in and navigate the social circles of school.  This theme is present throughout the story. 

At the beginning of the story, Pacy meets another Taiwanese-American girl, Melody.  The girls become fast friends.  Although they are similar, they find that they are quite different as well. 

Lin has incorporated small black and white drawings throughout the story.  These drawings are simple and add to the authenticity of the narration.

Throughout the story, Line breaks up the story by inserting stories from Grace’s different family members.  This provides a historical and cultural context for Pacy’s experiences.

Lin excels at including cultural markers in this story and examples can be found on almost every page.  The story is narrated by a childhood and throughout the story, Pacy explains cultural issues to the reader.  Her explanations are directed to young readers and are simple, yet informative.  For example, when Pacy has a new cousin, she explains how the extended family gives red eggs to the baby. 

Lin also tackles tougher issues, like racism.  For example, Pacy and her family attend a Taiwanese convention.  Pacy struggles with not being American enough for the Americans and not Chinese enough for the Asian population.  While at the convention, Pacy encounters this racism:

“You’re a Twinkie” another girl said.  “My brother said Chinese people who are Americanized are Twinkies.  Yellow on the outside, but white on the inside!” (p. 101).

This example is a brief summarization of Pacy’s identity struggles that continue throughout the book.

I especially enjoyed Pacy’s description of her family’s Thanksgiving celebrations in Chapter 27.  Her descriptions make it clear to readers how the family has adopted customs from both cultures.

Overall, this book was an enjoyable read and it presents cultural issues respectfully and with humor.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publisher’s Weekly:  "Lin creates an endearing protagonist, realistically dealing with universal emotions and situations," in this "autobiographical tale of an Asian-American girl's sweet and funny insights on family, identity and friendship.”

Horn Book:  “For Taiwanese-American Pacy, sorting out her ethnic identity is important, and she wonders what she should be when she grows up. Writing and illustrating a book for a national contest makes her think that perhaps she can become an author of a "real Chinese person book." Lin offers both authentic Taiwanese-American and universal childhood experiences, told from a genuine child perspective.”

Booklist:  ”Lin does a remarkable job capturing the soul and the spirit of books like those of Hayward or Maud Hart Lovelace, reimagining them through the lens of her own story, and transforming their special qualities into something new for today's young readers.”

CONNECTIONS

Readers who enjoyed The Year of the Dog will enjoy the following books in the Pacy Lin series:

Grace Lin. The Year of the Rat. ISBN 1439596891

Grace Lin. Dumpling Days. ISBN 0316125903

Tree of Cranes

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Say, Allen. 1991. Tree of Cranes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 039552024X.

PLOT SUMMARY

Tree of Cranes is the story of a young Japanese boy who is celebrating his first Christmas.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The protagonist of this story is a young Japanese boy.  Although Say does not identify his age, the boy is “not yet old enough to wear long pants” (p. 4).  The story begins with the young boy catching a cold from playing near the pond, even those his mother had warned him not to play there.  The boy returns home, and his mother acts strangely for the rest of the day.  He is confused about her behavior and she finally admits the reason—she has been preparing for Christmas.  Even though the mother is Japanese, she was born and raised in California.  In Tree of Cranes, she introduces the American custom of Christmas to her young son.

The beauty of this story is in the fusion of the two cultures.  Instead of decorating the Christmas trees with traditional American’s decorations, the mother uses paper cranes and candles.

Say’s illustrations are beautiful and culturally accurate.  The mother and boy wear traditional clothing in the pictures, but the father is wearing a Western suit and tie.  Skin coloring and hair texture are accurate and respectful of the culture.  The colors of the watercolor illustrations are vibrant.

In addition to the cultural markers in the illustrations, Say identifies typical food (rice gruel, sour plum, and yellow radishes).

Overall, this book would be a wonderful introduction to the holiday celebrations in other cultures.  This story is unique as it presents Christmas from an outsider’s perspective. Tree of Cranes would be a wonderful addition to any collection.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist: “Infused with gentle nostalgia, the quiet, graciously told picture book is a perfect blend of text and art.”

Publisher’s Weekly: “Heedless of Mama's warnings, a Japanese boy cannot resist playing at an ice-cold pond ``filled with carp of bright colors.'' When he comes home, he is immediately treated for a cold, with a hot bath and rice gruel. His mother's attitude chills him more than the weather, though; he cannot understand why she seems to be ignoring him. Hearing a noise in the garden, the boy spies Mama digging up the pine tree that was planted when he was born. She brings it inside and decorates it with paper cranes and candles. It is a Christmas tree, the first for the boy, and the first in many years for his mother, who tells her son she comes from ``a warm place called Ca-li-for-ni-a.'' The story is a poignant one, illuminated with finely drawn illustrations reflecting the serenity of a Japanese home and the quiet love between mother and son. Say (The Bicycle Man, El Chino), who came to this country from Japan when he was a teenager, again exhibits a laudable sensitivity to Eastern and Western cultures--and to both the differences and the similarities between them.”

CONNECTIONS

The following books by Allen Say offer similar themes and illustrations:

Allen Say. Grandfather’s Journey. ISBN 0395570352

Allen Say. Bicycle Man. ISBN 0812474279

When My Name Was Keoko

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Park, Linda Sue. 2002. When My Name was Keoko. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618133356

PLOT SUMMARY

In When My Name Was Keoko, Park tells the story of Japanese occupation of Korea during WWII.  The story is told from the perspective of young Sun-hee and her older brother, Tae-yul.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

When My Name Was Keoko is told from the alternating perspectives of Sun-hee and Tae-yul.  The story begins with the children having to give up their Korean names and adopting Japanese names in their place, a requirement from the occupying Japanese government.  As the story continues, the children’s family must endure other hardships enforced by the Japanese.  As children, Sun-hee and Tae-yul do not always understand what is happening or the larger implications of the Japanese occupation.

Both of the main characters are likeable children.  Boys may relate better to Tae-yul and girls may relate better to Sun-hee.  By using both characters, Park gives readers of both genders a main character with whom they can identify.  Although the siblings often quarrel, their love for each other is evident, especially when Tae-yul joins the Japanese army.

The theme of pride for one’s heritage is present throughout this book.  The children’s uncle first introduces them to the Korean flag, but must do so subversively as the Japanese have outlawed it.  He teaches the children about the flag and gives the children hope that the flag will fly again one day:

“It is against the law to fly this flag—even to put up a picture of it.  Korea is part of the Japanese Empire now.  But someday this will be our own country once more.  Your own country” (p. 14).

Both children remain optimistic that Uncles’ words are true and that one day they will be living under the Korean flag again.

The Author’s Note at the end of the book adds to the historical authenticity of this story.  In addition to the Author’s Note, Park provides and extensive bibliography.

Cultural markers are thoroughly incorporated into this story.  Specifically, forms of address are explained in a foreword.  The culture is specifically identified as Korean.  The Kanji form of writing is also explained several times throughout the book.  In addition to the Korean focus of the book, the story explores Japanese cultural markers as well, especially noting the difference between the Korean and Japanese cultures.

Most historical fiction novels set during WWII focus on the European experience during the war.  This novel presents a unique, authentic, and engaging perspective.  I highly recommend this novel. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publisher’s Weekly”  “A brother and sister alternate as narrators in Newbery Medalist Park's (A Single Shard) well-constructed novel, which takes place from 1940-1945 in Japanese-occupied Korea. The Japanese government forbids the Korean language to be spoken and the country's flag to be flown, and even forces Korean families like Tae-yul and Sun-hee's to change their names (Sun-hee becomes Keoko). Through the use of the shifting narrators, Park subtly points up the differences between male and female roles in Korean society; and the father's process of choosing the family's Japanese name speaks volumes about his strength and intelligence. As the war intensifies, each family member asserts his or her individuality, from Sun-hee, who continues to keep a journal after a soldier calls it "a crime against our Divine Emperor," to her uncle, who prints a revolutionary newspaper in hiding, to Tae-yul, who joins the Japanese army to avoid helping the military police capture his uncle only to be chosen as a kamikaze pilot. The son comes to an understanding of his father rather abruptly at the novel's close, and some readers may wonder why Tae-yul was not labeled a chin-il-pa ("lover of Japan" ). But, in the end, telling details provide a clear picture of Sun-hee and Tae-yul and their world. Readers will come away with an appreciation of this period of history and likely a greater interest in learning more about it.”

Kirkus Review:  “This powerful and riveting tale of one close-knit, proud Korean family movingly addresses life-and-death issues of courage and collaboration, injustice, and death-defying determination in the face of totalitarian oppression.”

CONNECTIONS

The following books by Linda Sue Park might appeal to readers who enjoyed When My Name Was Keoko:

Linda Sue Park. A Single Shard. ISBN 0395978270

Linda Sue Park. The Kite Fighters. ISBN 054732863X