Dumpling Days

I'm hungry!

Lin, Grace. Dumpling Days. Prince Frederick, MD : Recorded Books, 2012.

Plot: Much to her frustration, Pacy Lin finds herself on a long flight to Taiwan. While her parents insist the trip will teach her and her sisters about their culture, she doubts she will find anything of importance. The first jet-lagged days seem to confirm her fears. The customs, language, and lessons frustrate and alienate her. Eventually, though, she discovers the positive aspects of the country, such as its stories and food, especially its dumplings. She discovers herself as a Taiwanese-American, and learns to accept and enjoy both worlds.

Genre: Growing Up, Asian-American, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Year of the Dog, Turtle in Paradise

Personal Thoughts: While I enjoyed the title, it seemed to fall into the trap plaguing most mixed-culture novels. Typically, the books reflect exclusively on the difficult aspects of growing up in two cultures and, frustratingly, most of Dumpling Days focuses on the alienation facing Taiwanese-Americans. While a mixed background can be difficult, it can also be fun, which Lin's previous titles describe in detail. Unfortunately, only two pages of Dumpling Days address the benefits of both cultures. Still, it does offer a realistic view of a trip to Taiwan, as well as insight to Taiwanese traditions and lifestyles. As such, the title remains recommended, but not as recommended as Year of the Rat or Year of the Dog.