"Okayyyy, so .... Do I
introduce myself to people?
Or do I just
smoothly insert myself
into a group?
I wonder what my
friends in Toronto
are doing ...
Back to looking cool ...
Looking like I just don't care.
Yup. So cool."
Ruth's dad has a new job which means the family is moving from Toronto, where she has lived all of her 13 years, to Hong Kong which is her mother's hometown. Ruth couldn't be more upset. She won't know anyone, not even her mom's family.
Once they arrive, her father is often away on business while her mother is busy with her family and friends. Ruth is left to face many new experiences on her own. She is lonely for the company of her best friends in Toronto; is finding her way through a busy urban environment and a brand-new school; meeting her mother's family and trying to meet their expectations; and missing the bedtime talks she had so often with her father.
In those talks, her father tells her the story of his worrisome birth while his parents were fleeing war in their home country. His story of survival doesn't have the impact it might have if she weren't going through so many of her own worries. Ultimately, it helps her understand the need for patience, bravery and perseverance as she navigates unfamiliar territory. When she is finally able to explain how she is feeling to her parents (in a very angry tirade), she begins to find some peace with her new life in Hong Kong.
Middle graders with a love for graphic novels will find much to admire here. The artwork will hold attention as the story is told, the characters are engaging, and the memoir has much to teach about a young girl dealing with change and the uneasiness she is feeling. Ms. Chan uses a mix of English, Cantonese and Chinese to show how difficult it is for Ruth to feel comfortable with her extended family.
An author's note explains the parallels between her life and her father's as both have to deal with change and difficult times.
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