1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lin, Grace. 2009. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 9780316114271.
2.PLOT SUMMARY
Living in the Valley of Fruitless Mountain, a cursed land full of muddy color, a young poor peasant girl named Minli lives with her parents in a little wooden shack barely big enough for 3 people to sit around. Life was so difficult that Minli’s mother keeps complaining about it. The family spent their days working hard in the field parsed by the sun just to be able to have a bowl of rice to eat each evening. At night, Minli’s father always tells his daughter her favorite stories, especially of the Jade Dragons and the Old Man of the Moon. Minli believes in the enchanting stories and embarks on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon to ask him how her family can change their fortune. She encounters an assorted of cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, all of which give her a lot of excitement, humors and wisdom. Through her journey, she has heard a lot of stories and has learned to fine herself and understanding of life.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
"Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" is a fantasy book for children of younger age. However, reading it one will find it is intriguing and will be of interest to even adult readers. There is also a lot of wisdom of the east ones can learn from. It was woven well between the old fables, tales and wisdoms with the literacy presentation in the form of children fantasy writing.
I will analyze the book using the usual criterion of Characters, Plot, Setting, Theme and Style as follows.
Characters
The main character is Minli, the poor Chinese family’s active little girl. She is a smart and determined girl with a quick decisive action. Minli is a brave and adventurous girl who is ready to take charge and find wisdom through hardship and journey in order to find answers to her quest.
Plot
The Valley of the Fruitless Mountain is cursed by the Jade Dragon with dryness after the people have complaint of having too much rain which the Jade Dragon has been providing to them for generations. As a result, the people have to work hard even to produce enough grains of rice to feed themselves. Through the struggles, a poor family’s daughter sets out a journey to find a way to solve the poverty problem for her family by trying to find the Old Man of the Moon her father has been telling her about in his nightly story. The girl finds wisdom on her journey and received a great fortune from those she found on her way. At the end, Minli comes home and the Fruitless Mountain never is the same.
Setting
The story sets itself in a sun parched dry land of rural China where all houses and environments turn brownish because of the dry clay they have been stomping on trying to make it a workable paddy rice field.
Theme
The theme story of the story portrays a poor family struggles to survive. Seeing the hardship her family has been facing, Minli, through the belief in the stories her father has been telling her, took of to find the Old Man of the Moon who knows how to change their fortune so she can help her family to be better. Through out the journeys, Minli learns more wisdom and at the end knows what her family should be like.
Style
The story is woven very cleverly through the use of old Chinese tales and fables in a very beautiful and elegant language. The chapters are proportionally short and the full color illustrations at the opening of the chapters make it very enjoyable. The fonts used are large and make it easier to read.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Newbery Honor Books
Children’s Notable Books
School Library Journal reviewed that the author's writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning.
Starred Reviewed from booklist that stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot.
Librarian named Bogart, Debra reviewed that the book is a charming fantasy with very low violence, making it a great family read-aloud for various ages.
5.CONNECTIONS
The first connection book I found is also a fantasy fiction about moon. A boy named Harold wanted to walk in the moon light, so he drawled a moon with his purple crayon. He started to his magic journal with his imagination.
Johnson, Crockett. 1998. Harold and the Purple Crayon 50th Anniversary Edition. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 9780064430227.
The second connection book I found portrayed a traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, including author's note explaining this festival's customs and tradition. Each member of a Chinese family contributes to the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. This book could be a good supplement book for people who don’t understand the meaning of moon for Chinese.
Lin, Grace. 2010. Thanking the moon: celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. New York : Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 9780375861017.
2011年5月5日 星期四
A Combination of Contemporary Realistic Fiction and Fantasy
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Yang, Gene Luen. 2009. American Born Chinese. New York: Square Fish. ISBN: 9780312384487.
2.PLOT SUMMARY
American Born Chinese is made up of three individual plotlines: the determined efforts of the Chinese folk hero Monkey King to shed his humble roots and be revered as a god; the struggles faced by Jin Wang, a lonely Asian American middle school student who would do anything to fit in with his white classmates; and the sitcom plight of Danny, an All-American teen so shamed by his Chinese cousin Chin-Kee (a purposefully painful ethnic stereotype) that he is forced to change schools.
At first when one reads this book, one would think it is a three stories book. However, through all the wisely devised plots are woven together at the end. I think this is quite unique to have one story with three seemingly disconnected plots and tie them together at the end like a three strands rope. The story, thus, at the beginning was somewhat confusing to an older reader like me. Yet the story was written interestingly enough to keep me going until the end, and then, I saw the light. It was fun to read.
The story first plot started with the story of the Monkey King, one of the oldest and grestest Chinese fables possibly all Chinese knew. He was born to rule over all the monkeys of the world. The Monkey King had mastered many disciplines of kung fu which later on made him an even more skillful and stronger than all the other human masters. Yet, he was a monkey who could not fit in with those humans whom he could over rule. He did not want to be a monkey. He wanted to be something other than what he was born to be. He wanted to be a god.
The second plot, the key plot is a Chinese boy named Jin Wang who moved with his family to a new neighborhood and tried to fit in. He was put in a new school where he was the only Chinese student and one of the two Asian students in the school, one being a Japanese girl. Jin was bullied by white children from the start. He finally had a good Chinese friend when a new Chinese enrolled in the school. His new friend got him hook up with the all-American white girl whom he had been in love with.
The third plot, Danny, a seemingly normal American boy, was visited by his cousin Chin-Kee, an ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who would visit him once every year. Chin-Kee’s visit had brought so much embarrassment and shame to Danny that he had to transfer to a new school every year without being able to be well established at a school though he was one of a great basketball player. But this year, in the story in the book, things turned from bad to worse.
At the end, all three stories merged into one. I cannot tell you how it happens for it is better for readers to read it by themselves.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The analysis can be done using the main framework based on Characters, Plot, Settings, Theme and Style as follows.
Characters
The main characters of the three stories are Jin Wang, Danny and the Monkey King, all of whose were seeking to fit into or to be something they were not born to be.
Plot
The story has a complicated plot but appealing to young readers. It starts with the introduction of the main character of each sub-story and moves forward introducing readers to the events in their lives, the progresses, problems and the climax leading to the resolve of the single main character’s life.
It should be noted that some readers might find it confusing due to not having adequate Chinese cultural background. However, young adults who have been reading a lot of comic books and mangas will likely find it interesting because of the twists in the stories.
Settings
The story sets itself in two locations, a presumable legendary Chinese location and the United States of America, where there are so many multi-racial multicultural born Americans struggling to find and identify themselves while they grow up.
Theme
The central theme of the story is to be what you are and everyone is no less valuable than others, whatever one may look like or whatever background—ethnic or cultural—one would come from.
Style
The writing style is very interesting and fun, as well as funny. The language used is that of a realistic daily English pronounced by Chinese who have not mastered English pronunciation and grammar. Parts of the story also show some interesting cultural differences as well. Young readers may encounter some linguistic representations the white kids in the story use to mock the Chinese characters as well.
It should be noted that this book is not a straight contemporary realistic fiction alone. It is a combination of fantasy in combination with realistic fiction with a twist, which makes it very interesting.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
A National Book Award finalist and ALA's Printz Award winner
The Library Journal reviewed that the art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective. Some potty humor; recommended for teen and adult collections.
The booklist reviewed that the stories have a simple, engaging sweep to them, but their weighty subjects — shame, racism, and friendship — receive thoughtful, powerful examination.
Publishers Weekly reviewed that this story is clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive.
5.CONNECTIONS
The first connection book I found is also a cartoon format based on a 14-year-old Indian boy’s perspective. The book is a list on 2008 Books for Young Adults. The book portrayed that the Indian boy’s experiences when he transferred from the reservation school to the new rich, white school. The book is also based on a view of minority group and how hard would be to involve into the majority culture and group.
Alexie, Sherman. 2009. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York : Little, Brown. ISBN: 0316013692.
The second connection book I found portrayed a story about a five year old Chinese American girl who tried to learn about the place where she was born. The main protagonist has similar Asian culture background even though this book is for young readers. I believe it is good connection book for readers to explore a little Chinese history and culture by the simple picture book.
Lewis, Rose A. 2010. Orange Peel's pocket. New York : Abrams Books. ISBN: 081098394X.
Yang, Gene Luen. 2009. American Born Chinese. New York: Square Fish. ISBN: 9780312384487.
2.PLOT SUMMARY
American Born Chinese is made up of three individual plotlines: the determined efforts of the Chinese folk hero Monkey King to shed his humble roots and be revered as a god; the struggles faced by Jin Wang, a lonely Asian American middle school student who would do anything to fit in with his white classmates; and the sitcom plight of Danny, an All-American teen so shamed by his Chinese cousin Chin-Kee (a purposefully painful ethnic stereotype) that he is forced to change schools.
At first when one reads this book, one would think it is a three stories book. However, through all the wisely devised plots are woven together at the end. I think this is quite unique to have one story with three seemingly disconnected plots and tie them together at the end like a three strands rope. The story, thus, at the beginning was somewhat confusing to an older reader like me. Yet the story was written interestingly enough to keep me going until the end, and then, I saw the light. It was fun to read.
The story first plot started with the story of the Monkey King, one of the oldest and grestest Chinese fables possibly all Chinese knew. He was born to rule over all the monkeys of the world. The Monkey King had mastered many disciplines of kung fu which later on made him an even more skillful and stronger than all the other human masters. Yet, he was a monkey who could not fit in with those humans whom he could over rule. He did not want to be a monkey. He wanted to be something other than what he was born to be. He wanted to be a god.
The second plot, the key plot is a Chinese boy named Jin Wang who moved with his family to a new neighborhood and tried to fit in. He was put in a new school where he was the only Chinese student and one of the two Asian students in the school, one being a Japanese girl. Jin was bullied by white children from the start. He finally had a good Chinese friend when a new Chinese enrolled in the school. His new friend got him hook up with the all-American white girl whom he had been in love with.
The third plot, Danny, a seemingly normal American boy, was visited by his cousin Chin-Kee, an ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who would visit him once every year. Chin-Kee’s visit had brought so much embarrassment and shame to Danny that he had to transfer to a new school every year without being able to be well established at a school though he was one of a great basketball player. But this year, in the story in the book, things turned from bad to worse.
At the end, all three stories merged into one. I cannot tell you how it happens for it is better for readers to read it by themselves.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The analysis can be done using the main framework based on Characters, Plot, Settings, Theme and Style as follows.
Characters
The main characters of the three stories are Jin Wang, Danny and the Monkey King, all of whose were seeking to fit into or to be something they were not born to be.
Plot
The story has a complicated plot but appealing to young readers. It starts with the introduction of the main character of each sub-story and moves forward introducing readers to the events in their lives, the progresses, problems and the climax leading to the resolve of the single main character’s life.
It should be noted that some readers might find it confusing due to not having adequate Chinese cultural background. However, young adults who have been reading a lot of comic books and mangas will likely find it interesting because of the twists in the stories.
Settings
The story sets itself in two locations, a presumable legendary Chinese location and the United States of America, where there are so many multi-racial multicultural born Americans struggling to find and identify themselves while they grow up.
Theme
The central theme of the story is to be what you are and everyone is no less valuable than others, whatever one may look like or whatever background—ethnic or cultural—one would come from.
Style
The writing style is very interesting and fun, as well as funny. The language used is that of a realistic daily English pronounced by Chinese who have not mastered English pronunciation and grammar. Parts of the story also show some interesting cultural differences as well. Young readers may encounter some linguistic representations the white kids in the story use to mock the Chinese characters as well.
It should be noted that this book is not a straight contemporary realistic fiction alone. It is a combination of fantasy in combination with realistic fiction with a twist, which makes it very interesting.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
A National Book Award finalist and ALA's Printz Award winner
The Library Journal reviewed that the art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective. Some potty humor; recommended for teen and adult collections.
The booklist reviewed that the stories have a simple, engaging sweep to them, but their weighty subjects — shame, racism, and friendship — receive thoughtful, powerful examination.
Publishers Weekly reviewed that this story is clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive.
5.CONNECTIONS
The first connection book I found is also a cartoon format based on a 14-year-old Indian boy’s perspective. The book is a list on 2008 Books for Young Adults. The book portrayed that the Indian boy’s experiences when he transferred from the reservation school to the new rich, white school. The book is also based on a view of minority group and how hard would be to involve into the majority culture and group.
Alexie, Sherman. 2009. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York : Little, Brown. ISBN: 0316013692.
The second connection book I found portrayed a story about a five year old Chinese American girl who tried to learn about the place where she was born. The main protagonist has similar Asian culture background even though this book is for young readers. I believe it is good connection book for readers to explore a little Chinese history and culture by the simple picture book.
Lewis, Rose A. 2010. Orange Peel's pocket. New York : Abrams Books. ISBN: 081098394X.
Contemporary Realistic Fiction Review: A Step from Heaven
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Na, An. 2001. A Step from Heaven. New York : Speak. ISBN 1886910588.
2.PLOT SUMMARY
A young Korean girl from a fishermen’s town migrated to the US with her family to find a better life. Life in America was a journey for her and dreamers’ family. Instead of ‘heaven’ they found life in America was not carpeted with the red-roses. From learning a new language to adjusting to the new society and internal family conflict to keep their identity to growing up and acculturation to the family breakup, they had endured for a victorious life.
The story is told in the tones of a little girl’s memoirs manner with a resonating voice in the beginning to a more mature young lady’s narrative of her life perspectives at the end. There are linguistic and cultural exposures a reader can learn from both the narrator’s ethnic and new world’s sides. It is a captivating story readers of all grades should enjoy.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Using the standard analytical basis of characters, plot, setting, theme and style, I can present the analysis as follows.
Characters
The main character is Young Ju, the first-born child of the Park family. Young Ju is a dreamer and a thinker. She reflects on things talked and taught to her by her family. Young Ju has a strong character and is an independent thinker though she has to suppress her own thoughts most of the time due to her original Korean tradition.
Plot
The Park family moves from Korea to the US to find a new life, a step lower than heaven, for their child’s future. They dream high but the hardship in America tears their dreams almost into pieces. They have to struggle to survive. Finally Young Ju’s father left her family and went back to Korea, possibly with a new woman. Yet, Young Ju, her little brother and her mother kept on until they finally got their own house a short while before Young Ju leaves for a college where she gets a full scholarship.
Setting
The story starts out in a fisherman’s town in Korea and moves on to California, USA. The Park’s new life in America was first in a cousin’s house then they moved out to their own rented room in a run down neighborhood. At the end the story setting moves to a little home they bought which gives the similar feels to their original home in Korea.
Theme
The theme is simple: A family from Korea moves to the US to find a better life but instead of finding heaven on earth from the beginning, they have to fight through poverty, hardships and troubles until they find success and happiness at the end. The story shows how endurance and staying focus while not giving up yields a satisfactory result at the end.
Style
This contemporary realistic fiction’s written style was very resonating. The little girl Yong Ju voices and resonates what she things while she hears others talking all along the story. Each chapter is short and completes in itself. The language used is a progressive one from a little child’s expressions to a more mature young adult at the end. Readers will find many ‘foreign words’ and expressions from the beginning but reading along will help them decipher what those words, for example ‘Mi Gook’, means.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Winner of the 2002 Michael L. Printz Award
From School Library Journal, Marton, Diane S. indicated that this book is a beautiful written, affecting work.
From the New York Times book review, the book was endowed with a haunting grace by the exquisite voice of a new young writer.
The Book Report reviewed that it was a powerful story of cultural clash.
5.CONNECTIONS
The two books I found are similar to A Step from Heaven. Three protagonists all immigrated from other countries to the U.S., and had a cross-culture perspective and have to face culture adaption and conflict.
The first connection book I found is also a young adult novel, a semiautobiographical chronicle describing a story based on a 14-year-old Indican boy’s perspective.
Alexie, Sherman. 2009. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York : Little, Brown. ISBN: 0316013692.
The second connection book I found also portrayed a story based on a twelve-year-old girl’s perspective. Anita de la Torre’s life and her family escaped from the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic when she was 10, but in Before We Were Free she imagines, through the stories of her cousins and friends, how it was for those who stayed behind.
Alvarez, Julia. 2004. Before We Were Free. New York : Laurel Leaf. ISBN: 9780440237846
Na, An. 2001. A Step from Heaven. New York : Speak. ISBN 1886910588.
2.PLOT SUMMARY
A young Korean girl from a fishermen’s town migrated to the US with her family to find a better life. Life in America was a journey for her and dreamers’ family. Instead of ‘heaven’ they found life in America was not carpeted with the red-roses. From learning a new language to adjusting to the new society and internal family conflict to keep their identity to growing up and acculturation to the family breakup, they had endured for a victorious life.
The story is told in the tones of a little girl’s memoirs manner with a resonating voice in the beginning to a more mature young lady’s narrative of her life perspectives at the end. There are linguistic and cultural exposures a reader can learn from both the narrator’s ethnic and new world’s sides. It is a captivating story readers of all grades should enjoy.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Using the standard analytical basis of characters, plot, setting, theme and style, I can present the analysis as follows.
Characters
The main character is Young Ju, the first-born child of the Park family. Young Ju is a dreamer and a thinker. She reflects on things talked and taught to her by her family. Young Ju has a strong character and is an independent thinker though she has to suppress her own thoughts most of the time due to her original Korean tradition.
Plot
The Park family moves from Korea to the US to find a new life, a step lower than heaven, for their child’s future. They dream high but the hardship in America tears their dreams almost into pieces. They have to struggle to survive. Finally Young Ju’s father left her family and went back to Korea, possibly with a new woman. Yet, Young Ju, her little brother and her mother kept on until they finally got their own house a short while before Young Ju leaves for a college where she gets a full scholarship.
Setting
The story starts out in a fisherman’s town in Korea and moves on to California, USA. The Park’s new life in America was first in a cousin’s house then they moved out to their own rented room in a run down neighborhood. At the end the story setting moves to a little home they bought which gives the similar feels to their original home in Korea.
Theme
The theme is simple: A family from Korea moves to the US to find a better life but instead of finding heaven on earth from the beginning, they have to fight through poverty, hardships and troubles until they find success and happiness at the end. The story shows how endurance and staying focus while not giving up yields a satisfactory result at the end.
Style
This contemporary realistic fiction’s written style was very resonating. The little girl Yong Ju voices and resonates what she things while she hears others talking all along the story. Each chapter is short and completes in itself. The language used is a progressive one from a little child’s expressions to a more mature young adult at the end. Readers will find many ‘foreign words’ and expressions from the beginning but reading along will help them decipher what those words, for example ‘Mi Gook’, means.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Winner of the 2002 Michael L. Printz Award
From School Library Journal, Marton, Diane S. indicated that this book is a beautiful written, affecting work.
From the New York Times book review, the book was endowed with a haunting grace by the exquisite voice of a new young writer.
The Book Report reviewed that it was a powerful story of cultural clash.
5.CONNECTIONS
The two books I found are similar to A Step from Heaven. Three protagonists all immigrated from other countries to the U.S., and had a cross-culture perspective and have to face culture adaption and conflict.
The first connection book I found is also a young adult novel, a semiautobiographical chronicle describing a story based on a 14-year-old Indican boy’s perspective.
Alexie, Sherman. 2009. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York : Little, Brown. ISBN: 0316013692.
The second connection book I found also portrayed a story based on a twelve-year-old girl’s perspective. Anita de la Torre’s life and her family escaped from the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic when she was 10, but in Before We Were Free she imagines, through the stories of her cousins and friends, how it was for those who stayed behind.
Alvarez, Julia. 2004. Before We Were Free. New York : Laurel Leaf. ISBN: 9780440237846
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