The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Cara McBrien for giving me this book to read! I really enjoyed all the daughters & Afong Moy as I read about their lives, romances, hardships and issues dealing with trauma, bias, and secrets. The theory of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance was so new to me and I will certainly be reading more- especially the book in the afterward that Jamie Ford has listed 1st in recommended reading. I have a copy of that book and I purchased it (The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.) based on Tara Smith's recommendation! This is a fierce read, this Chinese family and their daughters is explored as well as anti-Chinese bias in America, resulting in a must read!

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In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo

In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great debut novel! The author uses her experiences coming to America to craft a story about Anna and her parents as they leave Taiwan for California. Her father thought he had a partner in a Dino's store selling ribs and burgers but his "friend" ditched him. Anna struggles in school where she is bullied and made fun of - never telling her parents because they are dealing with bullies too in their store- breaking windows, messing up their tables, spilling ketchup & salt on the floor. Referring to America as the beautiful country, Anna and her parents find it anything but! Struggling this family decides to leave but that will prove difficult trying to sell a store that does not make a profit. This is a must read about the perseverance of an immigrant family who experiences racism often but through a few friends, church and the will to succeed slowly but surely they craft a life---will they stay or will they leave? You must dear this book to find out! Highly recommended!!! And there is a sequel, I will definitely be reading it too!!!

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Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is our Albright College Zoom Book Club read for April and oh did I love this audiobook version, Narrated by: Lynnette R. Freeman, Simone Mcintyre!!! There was so much I loved about this book---family problems, secrets causing mysteries, and the different settings with the beauty, culture, food and angst.

Many thanks to Casey Ciocca for lending me this book! It is also going to be our Albright College Zoom Book Club for April. This debut is a must read! The book starts with a huge mystery that is uncovered very slowly, rocking Bennie & Byron's world and everything they knew and believed. This book awesomely covers many years, many different characters, and many different plots yet Wilkerson weaves them seamlessly. The mysteries and betrayals as they are uncovered are mind altering---what will happen to Benny & Byron plus all the other characters that will be affected by the truth----too long in coming. Will Byron & Benny survive the audiotape their mother dictated before her death. A must read!

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Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru

Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this graphic novel that takes place in Metropolis in 1946, a Chinese American family moves in and their 2 children become friends with Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane and fight racism and evil. This graphic novel will appeal to all who read it, teens and adults with it's new take on kids helping thwart crime and terroristic threats!

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