Dumpling Days

Gr 3–6—Pacy, an 11-year-old Taiwanese-American girl first introduced in Grace Lin's The Year of the Dog (2005) and The Year of the Rat (2008), is struggling to balance two cultures and find her own identity. In this episode (2012, all Little, Brown), she travels with her family to Taiwan to attend their grandmother's birthday. Pacy is nervous about the visit because she doesn't speak Chinese and wonders what her extended family will think of her. As she experiences Taiwanese culture, meets kind relatives, and enjoys wonderful food, she gradually comes to appreciate her heritage. Lin's story is full of warmth and gentle humor. She includes interesting details about Taiwan and descriptions of food, holidays, and even the toilets. Despite the exotic setting, Pacy's family relationships and adventures are amusing because they are familiar: she has conflicts with her sisters, feels lost in unfamiliar places, and has fun trying new things. Angela Lin does a good job of voicing Pacy and her sister. She moves easily into the Chinese accents of Pacy's Taiwanese relatives, and authentically pronounces the few Chinese words. A good choice for Asian-American children who might be balancing two worlds, as well as for classes studying different cultures.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT