Brainstorm 262: From Taiwan to the US

I was working on cataloging books for our Elementary library this week, and of course I can’t resist reading some of them while doing that. I Dream of Popo was one of the books I read this week, and it had me thinking of other books that feature characters who have moved from Taiwan to the USA, or their parents did, and they still have family in Taiwan they visit sometimes. So today I have 6 books for you that feature characters or real people who immigrated from Taiwan to the US, and/or are children of Taiwanese immigrants. Click on the title of each book to see my full review and any content notes/trigger warnings.

Dim Sum of All Fears (A Noodle Shop Mystery, #2) by Vivian Chien

When the couple who owns the souvenir shop next door in Asia Village is found dead in a double homicide, Lana is very sad. She considered Izzy a friend and enjoyed book shopping with her. Lana wasn't too sure about Brandon, especially the way he'd been disappearing on Izzy recently. She's sure he somehow was responsible for their deaths, but how to get answers? Her maybe boyfriend Adam has banned her from doing any investigating, and her parents are in Taiwan right now and have left her in charge of Ho-Lee Noodle House. She doesn't have time to investigate, and she doesn't want to be dishonest with Adam, but she can't help it if people involved in the case come to her and tell her things, right? And this case is an itch that needs to be scratched.

This is the 2nd book in this series, and I do recommend reading them in order, but I’m highlighting this one because Lana’s parents are in Taiwan visiting her mom’s mom and eventually bring her back to the States at the end. 

Target Readers:

Cozy Mystery Fans, Foodies, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Asian American Character Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable to YA)

 

Dumpling Days (Pacy, #3) by Grace Lin

Pacy and her family are off to Taiwan for a whole month to visit family. Pacy isn't too sure about this. Her parents think it's important for her to understand her roots, but she'd rather just stay in the comfort of New Hartford, CT. At first, Taiwan is just as confusing and strange as she'd thought it would be. She can't understand any of the Taiwanese or Chinese people when they speak. She can't read any of the signs. And she's worried that everyone can tell just by looking at her that she's a twinkie (Asian on the outside, white on the inside) and is judging her. Her mom has enrolled Pacy and her two sisters in Taiwanese cultural art classes while they're there. Pacy thought her class would be a breeze since she knows she has artistic talent, but it seems to take her forever to just get painting bamboo right. She's afraid that maybe even her talent has abandoned her here in this strange land. The two bright spots in Taiwan are the family members they get to see and all the incredible dumplings, Pacy's favorite food. Pacy and her sisters are afraid it's going to be a horribly long and torturous month in Taiwan, but the time flies quickly and without realizing it they learn a few things about Taiwan, their family, and themselves along the way.

Target Readers:

Taiwan Setting Fans, Cross-Cultural Travel Story Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Asian American Character Fans, Family Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne, ill. by Julia Kuo

A girl shares her memories of her relationship with her grandma as she grows, celebrates Chinese New Year, moves from Taiwan to the States, learns English, and visits Taiwan again later.

Don’t miss the end notes from the author and illustrator about how this book reflects their own experiences!

Target Readers:

Grandparent Grandchild Story Fans, Immigrant/Emmigrant Story Fans, Cross-Cultural Travel Story Fans, English Language Learner Story Fans, Asian American Character Fans, Chinese New Year Story Fans, Picture Book Readers

 

Last Boat out of Shanghai: the Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao’s Revolution by Helen Zia

The highs and lows of Shanghai's Chinese residents from the late 1920s to late 1940s is brought to life by following the stories of four young people: Bing who was sold by her farming parents so they could feed their other children and adopted twice by upper middle class Shanghai Chinese families; Benny whose father was in the Shanghai police and through gang membership and cooperation with the Japanese rose to the top of the leadership; Ho whose family owned land in the area just northeast of Shanghai and moved their for safety when the Japanese were closing in; and Annuo the daughter of a lawyer turned judge turned Nationalist military leader and a doctor who was born in Shanghai. Through the Japanese occupation, the calm after World War II, and then the threat of Communism eventually all four young people must run from Shanghai at least once for safety. What it was like for each of them during those turbulent years is related and in so doing the story of Shanghai and broader China is also related.

Several of the young people we follow in this book end up in Taiwan for a while before immigrating to the US, and I learned a ton about how Taiwan grew into the place it is today through this book. This is one of the best books I’ve read on 20th century East Asian history.

Target Readers:

Chinese History Buffs, East Asian History Buffs, Curious Readers, War Story Fans, Nonfiction Readers, Collective Biography Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable to high reading YA readers)

 

Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte, ill. by Ann Xu

Cici is upset when her parents move from Taiwan to the US because her beloved A-ma (Grandma) can't come with them. She's also a little worried about the adjustment to a new culture, though she finds some friends quickly. There are still differences between herself and her new friends she's not sure if they will understand. As A-ma's 70th birthday approaches, Cici really wants A-ma to visit but neither of them have the funds to make it happen. When Cici sees a sign for a kids' cooking competition with a monetary award, she signs up. A-ma taught her all sorts of cooking tips. The beginning of the competition finds Cici paired up with a girl who isn't very friendly at first and seems to know loads more about cooking than Cici. Will they find a way to make the competition work and even be friends, and what happens when they have to go individual again?

Target Readers:

Graphic Novel Fans, Immigrant/Emmigrant Story Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Foodies, Friendship Story Fans, Grandparent-Grandchild Story Fans, East vs. West Culture Tension Story Fans, Asian American Character Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh

7th grade has gotten off to a rather rough start for Bea. She came back from her family's summer trip to Taiwan and found that her best friends had moved on without her. She keeps waiting at their special spot each morning hoping that at least her best friend will show and they can walk to school together like they've done for years. At home her parents are consumed with their projects (her mom's an artist and dad's a graphic novelist), and with the new baby coming she feels like they hardly have time for her either. She's joined the school newspaper, but with the way the year has started Bea isn't sure she has any poems to contribute. The only sharing of poetry she is doing right now is with someone at the special spot who is trading poems and letters in a secret hiding place. Is Bea destined to spend all of 7th grade lonely?

Thankfully Bea does find some unexpected friends (one of whom is a boy with Aspergers who is also lonely and I love what she learns about friendship from him), she eventually tells her parents she's feeling lonely, and then a big climax event results in some other misunderstandings being cleared up and more hope.

Target Readers:

Friendship Story Fans, Facing Changes Story Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Asian American Character Fans, Neurodivergent Character Fans, Middle Grade Readers

 

When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospel of Life-Transforming Grace by Ruth Chou Simmons

It is easy to get caught up thinking we earn our own salvation, or that it is God’s gift plus what I can do that earns God’s favor. It is sometimes hard to live in the space of really believing in grace, that God gives us things we don’t deserve or earn. And it can be even harder to realize that we can’t change ourselves deep down at our core, that change can only come with God’s working in our lives. Ruth Chou-Simmons talks about her own struggles and progress in each of these areas as a Taiwanese American child of immigrants, a driven person, who was taught to just work harder to accomplish anything. She shares the truths God has taught her over her life, and what those truths have changed in her life and walk with God. She never shares from a place of saying she’s arrived, but as someone in process willing to walk alongside others in process too.

Target Readers:

Christian Life Nonfiction Fans, Asian American Memoir Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Perfectionists, People Pleasers, Adult Readers (though definitely approachable to YA Readers)