Description
My study buddy, Henry, has made it his mission to get me to an A in maths the way I'm trying to get him to an A in English.
Wen Zhou is the daughter and only child of Chinese immigrants whose move to the lucky country has proven to be not so lucky. Wen and her friend, Henry Xiao - whose mum and dad are also poor immigrants - both dream of escape from their unhappy circumstances, and they form a plan to sit an entrance exam to a selective high school far from home.But when tragedy strikes, it will take all of Wen's resilience and resourcefulness to get herself and Henry through the storm that follows.
Tiger Daughter is a novel that will grab hold of you and not let go.
Review
This is a truly touching story that is heart wrenching, but also full of hope.
Wen and her friend Henry are dealing with the struggles of being the children of immigrants, where the values and expectations of their parents that don’t always align with the ‘free and easy’ lifestyle in Australia.
Life is extremely hard for Wen and her mother, who are constantly on edge around Wen’s aggressive father. Australia has not been the place he thought it would be for his family. Once a skilled Doctor in China, he now finds himself working at the local Chinese restaurant, and the only thing he can now control is his wife and daughter.
But Wen is a feisty, determined and resilient girl, and you will love her ability and willingness to not give up and to force her father to see things from a different perspective. She finds the courage to stand up for herself, for her friend Henry whose family is facing an unspeakable tragedy, and also to help her mother find her voice.
This really is a wonderful story about friendship, family, the struggles that can be faced by immigrant families, and ultimately hope for a better life. It will be enjoyed by those in lower to middle secondary.
Reviewed by Sam
