Trouble Begins

This is another title that I read expressly for use in our East Meets West book night. I really enjoyed this take on the immigrant experience.

Du and his grandmother have been waiting for 8 years to join the rest of their family in California. They all left Vietnam at the same time, but grandmother and Du had TB, and were left behind.

When father finally gets the money together to bring Du and grandmother over, the rest of their family is pretty much Americanized. Du's brothers and sisters are embarassed by his constant trouble making and odd behaviour. His parents are always at work, and only seem to notice him when he gets in trouble at school. And school. That awful place is where Du feels most alone. He knows he is not stupid, but his lack of English is making everyone else talk to him like he is an idiot.

This is a fascinating story in that the reader is truly in Du's headspace. Eventhough we assume his thoughts are in Vietnamese, we are reading them in English. The reader recognized the very real struggles that Du is facing. This misunderstandings, and miscommunications. Without being preachy, this book makes readers stop and think about their own assumptions.

A thoughtful read.

Curse of the Blue Tattoo, Under the Jolly Roger, In the Belly of the Bloodhound

Ahhhh....I am finished my binge of Jacky Faber.

It was exciting. It was fun. And now I am about done. I am giving Meyer one more book. I simply can't take anymore cliff hangers. Now I know what my little kiddos feel like when I am doing a read aloud and finish just at that spot. You know the one.

These are plot heavy books which see Jacky through boarding school, piracy, and white slavery. There is romance, violence, scandal and a whole lot of things nautical. Meyers has a great ability to set the scene. The reader has enough sensory keys to really be there.

I loved the ride.

But I'm ready for a break!

Meyer

So, it seems like a long time since I last posted. This is for a couple of reasons. First off, I am reading, reading, reading for our booknight at school. "East Meets West" is the theme. So I have read some Yep, and Krishnaswami and I will post some of that stuff later. But for my own recreation, I have been tearing through the Bloody Jack sequels! The Curse of the Blue Tattoo, Under the Jolly Roger, and currently In the Belly of the Bloodhound.

I discussed it with my friend Jen, and we thought it may be best if I blogged all 3 titles together.

Let me tell you, L.A. Meyer has written quite the series. I know that some folks complain that the way that Jacky always gets out of situations is too "convenient", but I think it's just plain exciting. Melodramatic, really.

And I am eating up every last word.

Hurrah!