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I Want Candy: A Young Adult Novel About Dangerous Freedom and Family in San Francisco
Fourteen-year-old Candace Ong is wasting away in wonderland—Eggroll Wonderland, the restaurant where her under-Americanized family toils in San Francisco. She loves rock candy and rock music, jelly beans and jelly shoes—and hangs with her best friend Ruby, whose wild life she envies. Candace wants more than another stifling summer stuck in the kitchen. So when a new opportunity arises, she leaps at the chance—even though it means leaving home to experience a tantalizing, dangerous life far beyond the dim sum ho hum. But the waiting world may be a lot more than one brainiac Chinese Lolita can safely handle.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by Cat for TeensReadToo.com
Don't let the cover's pink, white, and red color scheme, or chicklit-ish title, fool you. Kim Wong Keltner's I WANT CANDY is not some lighthearted, nostalgic ode to life as a teen in the '80s. Keltner explores life as experienced by fourteen-year-old Candace, who wants more from life than what the larger culture deems appropriate for someone of Chinese descent.
Candace knows the odds of her dream boyfriend, Rick Ocasek from The Cars, driving up next to her as she walks the streets of San Francisco may be slim to none. That doesn't stop her from squirreling away every penny she earns and dreaming of the day when she will be more than the Eggroll Girl at the Chinese restaurant run by her family.
Candace plays sidekick to "hot" girl Ruby (the only other Chinese girl in attendance at Candace's private Catholic school), serves as class treasurer, and harbors feelings of general misanthropy, all the while waiting for her life to begin. But when things actually start happening, Candace faces startling truths about herself, her family, and her heritage that she never even imagined.
Candace isn't necessarily the most likable character, and I spent a great deal of this novel fairly appalled by her behavior, but the contrasts of her personality ring true. Throughout her journey, Candace remains a compelling force, driving the reader to follow her story to its unexpected conclusion.
Kim Wong Keltner weaves into the larger narrative underlying themes related to the history of Chinese women in San Francisco, the cultural gap between immigrants and their Americanized offspring, and the contrast of values between the various worlds in which Candace moves. I was especially pleased by the author's repeated denunciation of the cultural mindset fetishizing and objectifying Asian girls and women.
If you're looking for a novel to churn the gears of your mind, I WANT CANDY is definitely one to check out.
Don't let the cover's pink, white, and red color scheme, or chicklit-ish title, fool you. Kim Wong Keltner's I WANT CANDY is not some lighthearted, nostalgic ode to life as a teen in the '80s. Keltner explores life as experienced by fourteen-year-old Candace, who wants more from life than what the larger culture deems appropriate for someone of Chinese descent.
Candace knows the odds of her dream boyfriend, Rick Ocasek from The Cars, driving up next to her as she walks the streets of San Francisco may be slim to none. That doesn't stop her from squirreling away every penny she earns and dreaming of the day when she will be more than the Eggroll Girl at the Chinese restaurant run by her family.
Candace plays sidekick to "hot" girl Ruby (the only other Chinese girl in attendance at Candace's private Catholic school), serves as class treasurer, and harbors feelings of general misanthropy, all the while waiting for her life to begin. But when things actually start happening, Candace faces startling truths about herself, her family, and her heritage that she never even imagined.
Candace isn't necessarily the most likable character, and I spent a great deal of this novel fairly appalled by her behavior, but the contrasts of her personality ring true. Throughout her journey, Candace remains a compelling force, driving the reader to follow her story to its unexpected conclusion.
Kim Wong Keltner weaves into the larger narrative underlying themes related to the history of Chinese women in San Francisco, the cultural gap between immigrants and their Americanized offspring, and the contrast of values between the various worlds in which Candace moves. I was especially pleased by the author's repeated denunciation of the cultural mindset fetishizing and objectifying Asian girls and women.
If you're looking for a novel to churn the gears of your mind, I WANT CANDY is definitely one to check out.
July 21, 2009
I quite enjoyed The Dim Sum of All Things, so when I saw I Want Candy, I thought I'd give it a try. It's interesting in that this book is part coming-of-age Judy Blume's Forever and part historical fiction. On one page (sorry to be crude) blow jobs are discussed, on the other the sex trafficking of young Chinese girls. It should be noted that this is an EXTREMELY graphic book (depicting 14 year olds), so I wouldn't recommend it for girls under... 15? I'm a little out of touch with what kids are doing these days, so I'm not really sure. The problem that I had with I Want Candy, actually, wasn't necessarily the content, but more that I didn't really like the characters. I found them sort of annoying and not very compelling. I don't really recommend it unless you HAVE to read every piece of Asian American pop fiction that there is.
April 10, 2008
Candace jokes in the first sentence that there was never an Are You There God, It's Me, Mei-Ling book for young Asian girls who are coming of age.
Kim Wong Keltner dares to go where Judy Blume has gone before, but perhaps with a tad more detail than I really wanted, and also "updated" for the new millennium, with a lot more "street" than Margaret of Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret ever faced. Technically this book takes place in 1983, though.
I was a little put off by the multiple references to Candace's masturbatory practices with her stuffed animals, and I was also surprised by Ruby's sudden untimely death. Ruby's promiscuity at such a young age is never really resolved, in my opinion. She just dies a mean, slutty person.
Kim Wong Keltner dares to go where Judy Blume has gone before, but perhaps with a tad more detail than I really wanted, and also "updated" for the new millennium, with a lot more "street" than Margaret of Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret ever faced. Technically this book takes place in 1983, though.
I was a little put off by the multiple references to Candace's masturbatory practices with her stuffed animals, and I was also surprised by Ruby's sudden untimely death. Ruby's promiscuity at such a young age is never really resolved, in my opinion. She just dies a mean, slutty person.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2009
Fourteen year-old Candace Ong lives in the Chinatown section of San Francisco with her younger brother and her parents who own and operate a Chinese restaurant called Eggroll Wonderland. But Candace can’t stand her life. She hates being Chinese and working alongside her parents making wontons and eggrolls. Candace doesn’t want to have to work for the rest of her life waiting tables and cooking in the back kitchen just as her parents are doing. Candace wants something more; she just has to find out what it may be.
Candace daydreams of a better life and wants to go by the cooler name of Candy O. She loves pop music, Pop Rocks candy, and retro t-shirts. Lately Candace has been antsy, perhaps from the growing pains of being a teenager, but especially with the feelings she has had lately about boys and sex. Her best friend Ruby has quite the reputation with the boys in the neighborhood. Candace thinks it is because Ruby has a big chest and is not afraid of going all the way with a boy even though she is the same age as Candace. But Candace can hardly stand Ruby anymore. Ruby likes to put her down, call her fat and leave Candace when Ruby finds a boy to go off with and have a little fun. Candace doesn’t have many other friends so she walks the streets or goes to Pier 39 for fun. Soon Candace is meeting some interesting people, including some boys she would love to be with like Ruby.
There’s Andrew who is somewhat of a first boyfriend for Candace. He wants to have sex with her, and even though she enjoys his kisses, Candace is not sure if she is ready for that. Plus, Andrew runs hot and cold, and when Candace finds out that he has been playing around with Ruby on the side, Candace is heartbroken. But, there are other boys out there to introduce her to the joys of sex, and now she is on the lookout for the right one to make her a true woman. But Ruby is always in the background, making sure Candace is always last and the least liked. Candace wishes Ruby were dead, and then her wish becomes a reality.
Now Candace has to live with the guilt that she may have killed her former best friend. And what can she do when the ghost of Ruby starts to haunt her? And will Candace ever be able to give up the stuffed animals she loves and keep her pet hamster alive? So much responsibility for poor Candy O!
I WANT CANDY reads like a young adult novel especially with Candace, and her fourteen-year-old style antics, but Kim Wong Keltner’s coming of age saga is very much an adult read. There are disturbing scenes of sex with underage teens, the bulk of them with Ruby, and told in explicit detail. This Lolita type story is shocking in some ways, but very telling, especially from a lonely young girl’s point of view.
I saw Candace as a girl on the brink of womanhood and having no one to turn to for advice. Her parents are indifferent and only care about work. Candace finds herself in dangerous situations that no teenager or woman should find herself in. Her journey for love and acceptance is very sad, but Candace’s point of view is very interesting, along with some of the people she meets on her journey. There is Fred, an older man who is a bit too friendly with the kids in the neighborhood, and Albert, who works in a record store and happens to be gay. The language Candace uses is shocking, from her crude cursing to her explanation of her situations and the people she comes in contact with.
I WANT CANDY is not a book for everyone. There are points of humor but also of despair and a future that is unknown for Candace. By the time summer ends, Candace is ready to move on to high school and her experiences are ones that I wouldn’t want to find myself in, but I do feel a lesson was learned. Shocking, crude, yet very eye opening, Kim Wong Keltner has written an out of-the-box book that should make some heads turn and discussions to be held.
Candace daydreams of a better life and wants to go by the cooler name of Candy O. She loves pop music, Pop Rocks candy, and retro t-shirts. Lately Candace has been antsy, perhaps from the growing pains of being a teenager, but especially with the feelings she has had lately about boys and sex. Her best friend Ruby has quite the reputation with the boys in the neighborhood. Candace thinks it is because Ruby has a big chest and is not afraid of going all the way with a boy even though she is the same age as Candace. But Candace can hardly stand Ruby anymore. Ruby likes to put her down, call her fat and leave Candace when Ruby finds a boy to go off with and have a little fun. Candace doesn’t have many other friends so she walks the streets or goes to Pier 39 for fun. Soon Candace is meeting some interesting people, including some boys she would love to be with like Ruby.
There’s Andrew who is somewhat of a first boyfriend for Candace. He wants to have sex with her, and even though she enjoys his kisses, Candace is not sure if she is ready for that. Plus, Andrew runs hot and cold, and when Candace finds out that he has been playing around with Ruby on the side, Candace is heartbroken. But, there are other boys out there to introduce her to the joys of sex, and now she is on the lookout for the right one to make her a true woman. But Ruby is always in the background, making sure Candace is always last and the least liked. Candace wishes Ruby were dead, and then her wish becomes a reality.
Now Candace has to live with the guilt that she may have killed her former best friend. And what can she do when the ghost of Ruby starts to haunt her? And will Candace ever be able to give up the stuffed animals she loves and keep her pet hamster alive? So much responsibility for poor Candy O!
I WANT CANDY reads like a young adult novel especially with Candace, and her fourteen-year-old style antics, but Kim Wong Keltner’s coming of age saga is very much an adult read. There are disturbing scenes of sex with underage teens, the bulk of them with Ruby, and told in explicit detail. This Lolita type story is shocking in some ways, but very telling, especially from a lonely young girl’s point of view.
I saw Candace as a girl on the brink of womanhood and having no one to turn to for advice. Her parents are indifferent and only care about work. Candace finds herself in dangerous situations that no teenager or woman should find herself in. Her journey for love and acceptance is very sad, but Candace’s point of view is very interesting, along with some of the people she meets on her journey. There is Fred, an older man who is a bit too friendly with the kids in the neighborhood, and Albert, who works in a record store and happens to be gay. The language Candace uses is shocking, from her crude cursing to her explanation of her situations and the people she comes in contact with.
I WANT CANDY is not a book for everyone. There are points of humor but also of despair and a future that is unknown for Candace. By the time summer ends, Candace is ready to move on to high school and her experiences are ones that I wouldn’t want to find myself in, but I do feel a lesson was learned. Shocking, crude, yet very eye opening, Kim Wong Keltner has written an out of-the-box book that should make some heads turn and discussions to be held.
June 15, 2016
This is not a YA novel, although initially it sounds like one. Candace is 14 and about to graduate from the 8th grade. She and her family live above their business, Eggroll Wonderland, in San Francisco. This is a gritty novel with plenty of sly humor. There's a lot of 80s references from Facts of Life to David Bowie. It was filled with all the angst of a 14 year old. The author sets this in a Chinese-American family but really it could be any family.
Quotes to remember:
His command of profanity far outshined any of the idiotic drolleries I'd culled from the schoolyard.
...I saw the writing on the wall, and it was misspelled.
Quotes to remember:
His command of profanity far outshined any of the idiotic drolleries I'd culled from the schoolyard.
...I saw the writing on the wall, and it was misspelled.
June 12, 2008
I am so disappointed in this book. Her first one, "The Dim Sum of All Things," was hilarious and I told everybody how good it was. The sequel to that book "Buddah Baby" was ok, but not as good as "The Dim Sum of All Things." I hated this book and it just wasn't what I thought it would be. I'm thinking that perhaps "The Dim Sum of all Things" was her one hit wonder??
August 23, 2017
It was unexpected, thought-provoking and even to the point of scandalous. I made the mistake of assuming it was only going to be about the pangs of growing up Chinese in another society.
September 22, 2008
It's 1983 in San Francisco's Chinatown. Fourteen-year-old Candace Ong spends her time after school working alongside her parents at a Chinese restaurant called Eggroll Wonderland. Candace feels fat and ugly, and willingly but unhappily plays sidekick to her best friend Ruby Ping, a seemingly self-assured underage Lolita. She observes Ruby's sexual escapades and has a short-lived encounter of her own with an older musician who works at the neighborhood copy store. Following a summer tragedy, Candace runs away from home and finds herself in over her head in another sexually dangerous situation.
Far too many pop culture references abound to the point of distraction from the plot which seems to be Candace's coming of age in a gloomy, greasy, gray environment where her overworked immigrant parents have little time to pay her heed, and the constant threat of "being rape[d]," as her mother says, lurks in the poor, working class neighborhood where the Ong family lives and works. The story contains a fair number of references to female masturbation, and portrays all of the male characters as manipulative, distant, untrustworthy and/or with only one goal – sex with a minor. It can be raunchy and painful to read how Candace is treated and how utterly low her self-esteem is. It made me squeamish that she and Ruby were eighth-graders and there were squicky adult men constantly trying to get in their pants. Lastly, the novel takes a disastrous turn into magical realism that made me not want to finish the blasted thing, although I forced myself. Do. Not. Recommend.
Far too many pop culture references abound to the point of distraction from the plot which seems to be Candace's coming of age in a gloomy, greasy, gray environment where her overworked immigrant parents have little time to pay her heed, and the constant threat of "being rape[d]," as her mother says, lurks in the poor, working class neighborhood where the Ong family lives and works. The story contains a fair number of references to female masturbation, and portrays all of the male characters as manipulative, distant, untrustworthy and/or with only one goal – sex with a minor. It can be raunchy and painful to read how Candace is treated and how utterly low her self-esteem is. It made me squeamish that she and Ruby were eighth-graders and there were squicky adult men constantly trying to get in their pants. Lastly, the novel takes a disastrous turn into magical realism that made me not want to finish the blasted thing, although I forced myself. Do. Not. Recommend.
August 29, 2011
"I Want Candy" has the grit (Chinese restaurant grit) of Kim Wong Keltner's earlier books, but less of the humor. This book is darker and more frightening though the fourteen-year-old narrator's tone is flip ("The girl who really liked her tits was gone. The girl who liked her tits, had a heart-shaped butt, and played a mean game of Galaga, was blown to smithereens," p. 146.) Candace's love-hate relationship with her best friend is completely believable and real, as is the risky behavior both girls engage in (and which their overworked, overwhelmed, or simply distracted parents don't cope with well), though not all the plot twists are.
April 28, 2008
I picked this up for a vacation read and ended up reading this on the flight home. While it touched upon growing up with hard working immigrant parents and the struggles of being the first American generation. There was a lot of raunchy stuff going on. Especially since the main character was 14 and the majority of the book takes place while she is in 8th grade and the summer after 8th grade. It had it's moments, but not something I'd read again.
September 4, 2018
I really did not enjoy this. Not a story I liked inhabiting. All the terrible, awful, gross, scary or sad things that could happen to a teenager show up here. Kind of like Madame Bovary—a not entirely sympathetic character making questionable choices and being unhappy. The cover was cute. There are 80s pop culture references. The blurbs said it was funny or even hilarious. Huge mismatch! So miserable.
September 29, 2008
This was not what I would call Keltner's strongest effort. The ending (while better) did little to redeem the overall book, which featured what seems to be the current trend in self-absorbed and oblivious characters. That's definitely a trend I'd like to see the end of!
March 28, 2011
A truly awful book.
January 26, 2019
A coming of age book about Candace Ong, a fourteen year old Chinese American girl in San Francisco. The novel is gritty than Kim Wong Keltner's earlier books, The Dim Sum of All Things and Buddha Baby, as the story line deals with promiscuity and predators that try to seduce young teenagers, who accept advances due to a need to be loved and because they want to be perceived as being cool.
The first half of the book kept my interest, as we're hoping for Candace to become aware of what is happening around her, realize that her BFF is not really her friend and develops the self confidence to deal with the people she meets. Unfortunately the story line breaks down in the second half of the book, as the plot becomes unrealistic.
The first half of the book kept my interest, as we're hoping for Candace to become aware of what is happening around her, realize that her BFF is not really her friend and develops the self confidence to deal with the people she meets. Unfortunately the story line breaks down in the second half of the book, as the plot becomes unrealistic.
July 5, 2010
This is the first book I've read and reviwed that I had a really hard time finishing (as evidenced by how long it took me to finish). I found this book in the YA section but I'm really not sure if should count as YA. It seemed more like one of those books where the author makes the main character a teenager just to prove a point, to use her as a device. If that makes sense. The book is set in the '80s and 99% of the references were completely lost to me sicne Candace mostly listened to rock and the only music I really know from the '80s is hip hop, Bon Jovi and Journey. I was just relieved to have finally finished it.
The book is a slow read and it's basically all about sex. Candace masturbates and while I'm not a prude, I really don't need to know about that or all the sleezy guys she hooks up with. It just wasn't interesting to read about because I wanted to scream at her about hwo dangerous her situation was. At the same time I felt really bad for her, she is bullied and her one and only friend, Ruby is a complete jerk. Someone who tears Candace down to make herself feel better. I was skpetical as to how gullible Candace's parents could be, they believed anything she said. This book did have a lot of twists and turns, I was completely surprised by Ruby's fate. I was annoyed that the change Candace was supposed to make didn't happen until the very end of the book. The whole story is a sort of build up I guess, but the result was just creepy. Sex/masturbation/hooking up, porn, bullying, rape, immigrant parents who completely ignore you. These are all the fun topics addressed in the book. There was a rarely a light hearted or funny moment, and I didn't like any of the characters (why did she even have a family? We rarely saw her and I always forgot she had a brother). The only part I did like was learning about the history of Chinese people in San Francisco, especially Asian women. That was interesting and told in a creative way.
The book is a slow read and it's basically all about sex. Candace masturbates and while I'm not a prude, I really don't need to know about that or all the sleezy guys she hooks up with. It just wasn't interesting to read about because I wanted to scream at her about hwo dangerous her situation was. At the same time I felt really bad for her, she is bullied and her one and only friend, Ruby is a complete jerk. Someone who tears Candace down to make herself feel better. I was skpetical as to how gullible Candace's parents could be, they believed anything she said. This book did have a lot of twists and turns, I was completely surprised by Ruby's fate. I was annoyed that the change Candace was supposed to make didn't happen until the very end of the book. The whole story is a sort of build up I guess, but the result was just creepy. Sex/masturbation/hooking up, porn, bullying, rape, immigrant parents who completely ignore you. These are all the fun topics addressed in the book. There was a rarely a light hearted or funny moment, and I didn't like any of the characters (why did she even have a family? We rarely saw her and I always forgot she had a brother). The only part I did like was learning about the history of Chinese people in San Francisco, especially Asian women. That was interesting and told in a creative way.
November 25, 2010
Having loved Wong Keltner's first book, and not liking her 2nd, I got the third one, hoping that her followup was just a fluke, but it seems that Wong Keltner is a one book wonder.
This coming of age story puts a 14 year old 8th grader Candace Ong through a series of trials and tribulations as she loses her naivette and innocence without actually losing her innocence.
From losing a BFF friendship as her friend, Ruby, starts to slut around and fucking random guys at the age of 14...to not wanting to work as the "Egg Roll Girl" at her parent's chinese restaurant for the rest of her life.
To a eventual explosive death, to suicidal depressed thoughts to, a little "Sixth Sense"...to a runaway to a orgy porn house....Candace Ong is just going through life, seeing life not through the rosey colored glasses that a little girl would see, but to the harsh world/reality that we come to know as adults.
In a way, it is a good way to demonstrate that little girls and most people will just easily dismiss the crazy things that our parents say like, guys are out there to rape you, the world is not safe, blah blah blah, until they are actually put in to those situations. You have to experience it to believe it.
This books is more like the 2nd of Wong Keltner's books in the way of the crass nature of things, which isn't a bad thing...but i think it has to deal with the character of the book, that she's lost and has no direction....the book seems to just stumble along trying to get to the end.
And imagine, all of this happens to our lead character before she hits her awkward stage and the horror that is highschool.
This book doesn't have the charm that the first book had...the one that i loved.
This coming of age story puts a 14 year old 8th grader Candace Ong through a series of trials and tribulations as she loses her naivette and innocence without actually losing her innocence.
From losing a BFF friendship as her friend, Ruby, starts to slut around and fucking random guys at the age of 14...to not wanting to work as the "Egg Roll Girl" at her parent's chinese restaurant for the rest of her life.
To a eventual explosive death, to suicidal depressed thoughts to, a little "Sixth Sense"...to a runaway to a orgy porn house....Candace Ong is just going through life, seeing life not through the rosey colored glasses that a little girl would see, but to the harsh world/reality that we come to know as adults.
In a way, it is a good way to demonstrate that little girls and most people will just easily dismiss the crazy things that our parents say like, guys are out there to rape you, the world is not safe, blah blah blah, until they are actually put in to those situations. You have to experience it to believe it.
This books is more like the 2nd of Wong Keltner's books in the way of the crass nature of things, which isn't a bad thing...but i think it has to deal with the character of the book, that she's lost and has no direction....the book seems to just stumble along trying to get to the end.
And imagine, all of this happens to our lead character before she hits her awkward stage and the horror that is highschool.
This book doesn't have the charm that the first book had...the one that i loved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2017
"I want candy" is written by Kim Wong Keltner. This book talks about a 14 year old teenager her name is Candace Ong she is half Chinese. She had to work in an eggroll wonderland, her best friend's name is Ruby. There's a lot of 80's references from Facts of Life to David Bowie. Candace pass through many things that you can't imagine in the book she said, "I can't do everything myself, I still need time to do things." She is not ready to live alone even if she wanted. She can spend a whole summer in the kitchen cooking and baking. To be honest this book doesn't gets interesting at any time, the cover gets your attention that's why you want to read it. It doesn't talk about candy, it just says that Candace likes candy and that's all. This book needs more action, because it only has bad things. This book doesn't help you in anything, I had to finish it but I didn't like it. This book is more young adult than fiction, it needs more effort. She loves eating candy like pop rocks and jelly beans, she talks like an adult and is not the language is of how she responds to everyone even her best friend, her boss, her grandparents, her parents. Candace is more responsible than Ruby and she knows what she's doing. Candace when she has opportunities to work in other place she could do it, if she gets another job but she has to move from San Francisco she would do it. This book is more for teenagers or like eleventh graders. I don't recommend this book, because sometimes it was boring and it talks about girls a lot. This book is not like others, to read this book you need to have a really good imaginary to imagine.
March 27, 2022
Can't count how many times I've read this snarky, coming-of-age point of view of a Chinese American girl in California. Funny, jealous, real, and sometimes a bit paranormal, this is one of my favorites.
March 6, 2014
Another 'vacation' paperback I ran across last month.
And, while this is not anything close to something I'd pick out for myself, I enjoyed reading it.
It was jumpy, not deep, and no real ending - but, my mind was set on Scatter-Brain - so I was picking it up and putting it down and picking it back up... It was fate that me & I Want Candy came together at the perfect time.
It's a first person story about a teenage girl who works with her parents in a Chinese restaurant, and live above it. It's not all typical teenage stuff, though.
Some is, there's a bitchy 'best' friend who treats her like crap. They start to grow apart when the b/f starts getting into guys, smoking, and treating her worse than before.
A collection of semi-random events.
If you have the opportunity, (like I did), pick it up. I read it in a day, day & a half.
And, while this is not anything close to something I'd pick out for myself, I enjoyed reading it.
It was jumpy, not deep, and no real ending - but, my mind was set on Scatter-Brain - so I was picking it up and putting it down and picking it back up... It was fate that me & I Want Candy came together at the perfect time.
It's a first person story about a teenage girl who works with her parents in a Chinese restaurant, and live above it. It's not all typical teenage stuff, though.
Some is, there's a bitchy 'best' friend who treats her like crap. They start to grow apart when the b/f starts getting into guys, smoking, and treating her worse than before.
A collection of semi-random events.
If you have the opportunity, (like I did), pick it up. I read it in a day, day & a half.
September 30, 2009
Candace's parents run a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco and Candace wants out. All her life, she's been frying eggrolls and working without complaint. But now, at the age of 14, Candace is sick. Her so-called best friend Ruby is experienced in things that Candace only dreams about. She's so anxious to get out of her parents' house that she'll do anything. Won't she? Maybe? Maybe not. This adult fiction novel is one heck of a coming-of-age story that explains what it's like to be Chinese American. Or just what it's like to grow up. Highly recommended for junior or senior girls.
September 12, 2010
From the cover, I expected a breezy coming of age story of a girl I would grow to love. Ugh.
The book began nicely enough about an ugly duckling who had a pet duck, a pet duck which her mom made as a surprise dinner one day. Candace worked in her family's restaurants mainly as the "egg roll girl". It was a coming of age story filled with all kinds of stomach clenching scenes.
I rushed through the story not really enjoying the journey. If it were much longer, it could have really depressed me. But I did get through the book so it must have grabbed my attention enough.
March 19, 2012
This is why I should stay out of the adult section of the library.
Like many others, I grabbed this book expecting a fun, quick read.
That is not what I got.
However, this book kept me interested enough to keep reading. I will warn you, though-it's EXTREMELY graphic. It follows Candace Ong through her journey to escape the terrible fate of being the "Eggroll Girl" at Eggroll Wonderland, her family's restaurant, for the rest of her life. It's definitely funny, but it's pretty intense. Once again, it's NOT meant for teens...
Like many others, I grabbed this book expecting a fun, quick read.
That is not what I got.
However, this book kept me interested enough to keep reading. I will warn you, though-it's EXTREMELY graphic. It follows Candace Ong through her journey to escape the terrible fate of being the "Eggroll Girl" at Eggroll Wonderland, her family's restaurant, for the rest of her life. It's definitely funny, but it's pretty intense. Once again, it's NOT meant for teens...
December 2, 2008
well, i read most of it. i'm reviewing so many books lately, i couldn't get myself to finish this. it's totally amusing, the main character is more tough than she cares to admit, swears a lot, and is dealing with immigrant parents and a history of mental illness in her family, as well as sexual encounters and drifting away from someone who used to be her best friend. it's not amazing literature, and the references may be too obscure for today's teens. darn.
May 7, 2008
Didn't get past first 40 pages...there's too much description of minutiae and cultural references to 80's phenomenon and not enough character development or plot for me, so I just put it down.I was hoping for so much more...especially because it's about a Chinese-American teen of immigrant parents in San Francisco...
June 4, 2008
This is one of those rare times where I just don't know what to make of a book. It was okay... nothing great. I'm not really sure what it is supposed to be. Young adult fiction? The 14 year old central character tells me it could be; the strong sexual content tells me otherwise. Chick lit? General fiction? I never did figure it out.
May 5, 2008
Adolescent Chinese girl comes of age in the early 80s. Meandering plot and mean-girl behavior were interesting at first, but soon the author took a magical realism turn--for the worst! Fell apart for me after that, but I did enjoy the nasty-as-you-wanna-be voice.
January 2, 2009
Fun book to read about a coming-of-age Asian American girl in San Francisco; the language was really casual, which made the book more entertaining to read. A lot of interesting twists in the story; Keltner is a sassy writer.
June 30, 2008
i learned it is fun to read dumb books when you're on vacation at the beach. this is a good one for that. mariryn, you might like this one, as it is about chinese people like yourself. there are no mexicans in it, though. you can't have everything.
November 20, 2008
My inability to quit a read once I've started is the only reason I finished this book. It was dificult to believe in Candice and her life; especially in the end. I thought the description of the book was mis-leading and I do not recommend it!
July 23, 2010
I loved it, very quirky and all over the place. Definitely not young adult.. very vulgar, crude, funny... my type of book. Love the 80s lyric and pop culture references though, and part of the book just takes a complete twist that you wonder if you are reading the same thing.
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