Crash Landing

by Li Charmaine Anne

Winner of the 2024 Governor General's Literary Award in Young People's Literature - Text.

This YA debut is a searing ode to queer identity, growing up in an immigrant community, and carving a place for yourself in the world with the help of your friends. Jay Wong is spending the last languid days of summer 2010 trying to land a kickflip and begging for something (anything!) to make her senior year different―to finally give her some stories worth telling. When she meets Ash Chan, it seems like she’s getting what she asked for. Ash is confident, intensely independent, and hell on a skateboard―nothing like anyone Jay knows and exactly how she wishes she could be. Offering to film Ash’s submission to an upcoming skate contest introduces Jay to a side of Vancouver she’s never seen and gives her the chance to push back against the expectations placed on her. But Ash has a secret, and Jay is increasingly desperate to figure it out. As things between them ride the fine line between friendship and something more, Jay has to decide just how much Ash will impact all the choices she still has to make about where she’s going and who she wants to become.

Genres: LGBT, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Queer, Family, Romance

296 pages, Paperback

Published April 16, 2024

About the author

Asian diaspora writer in the Pacific Northwest. Author of Crash Landing.

Reviews

[Truc · Rating 5 out of 5]

reading this for prompt #4 of this years asian readathon: read a debut book!

had the loveliest pleasure to meet charmaine in person briefly at their book launch last month. honestly my heart was so excited seeing a book representing the local vancouver experience, specifically from the perspective of a queer asian girl. it took me a second to get into it (my reading slump has reached half a year now, its baddd for m) but there was a point where things just clicked and suddenly i was speeding through the pages. it felt lighthearted and sweet, despite touching on heavier themes/subjects. the characters were flawed but so loveable. you couldnt help but root for them all. i think its so important to have representation of young queer girls who are ambitious, creative, and still figuring out what they want! i loved how complicated our characters felt too. there was a certain part in the story where i teared up because i was hit with a wave of emotion just wishing i had a book like this growing up. gosh! imagine how different i would be if i just saw a story that i could truly see myself in, especially since its set in vancouver too. giving this a 4.5!

also, i yelled so loud when we got that lucifer mention, i was ecstaticccc seeing all the references LMAO

[Jaimie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woohoo, a second book done for the library summer reading program!I picked up Crash Landing from the recommendation of the Skate Book Club newsletter, since the book sounded like it would hit a rare trifecta: fiction written by a queer Asian-Canadian skateboarder. While I can’t speak to the veracity of Li Charmaine Anne’s skateboarding lingo (it’s a well documented fact that I’m still not a skateboarder, and can’t be bothered to learn all the ridiculous trick terminology), it provided some unique colouring to back up the major themes in the story. Her semi-autobiographical (but not actually) protagonist takes a typical ride through adolescence with skateboard in hand, as she makes new friends, struggles with high school and parental pressures, and eventually learns that she has to forge her own path through the west coast concrete jungle that is Vancouver. The narration was a touch rough for my tastes overall, mimicking what I feel like might be a linguistic holdover or stylistic choice from the author’s mash-up of Canadian and immigrant Chinese culture, but I was quickly caught up in Jay’s story and wanted to read all about her adventures on streets that felt familiar. Li’s characters throughout are rich, well-developed, and grittingly real, which lends the story an easy readability and groundedness that does a lot to sell what could otherwise be a trite and easily forgettable coming of age story. As Jay finds her sight lines into a future driven by the unique outlook that skateboarding has provided her, it’s impossible not to cheer from the sidelines as she lands her footing - even after many failed attempts and falls.

[Monica Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrating the end of the semester by switching from reading dense academic books to ya fiction 🥰

[TrashDragon89 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It had very fun pop culture references, and most importantly, likeable, sweet, and interesting characters. I binge read it in two days and loved every page. This was an awesome debut novel and I will definitely be following Li Charmaine Anne for her future projects!

I will say that Ash’s “secret” about what happened at her old school drags on for way too long, especially since it turns out to not be that big of a deal (definitely not any type of plot twist moment like I was expecting) and doesn’t really affect the story in any big way after Jay finds out. I don’t think it was really needed because Jay and Ash are perfectly likeable and entertaining characters anyway, and the tension/mystery felt unnecessary and mostly just annoying rather than interesting. Other than that, I absolutely loved this book!

[Jordan MacKinnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read! I really really enjoyed the diverse cast and the unique storyline! Truly female skateboarders is such a niche idea and queer at that with Asain ethnicity! I just appreciated the story for that! I think what Jay is going through is so normal for teens, especially for those who parents hang on too tight and set too high of expectations! And there is countless of other things that I think teens and even adults can connect with and feel seen!

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like 3.5, pretty good

[Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! It's a fun, charming, emotional coming-of-age story that perfectly encapsulates growing up as a queer Asian teen in the 2010's. A must-read :)

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read that this book had won the GG Award, I did a fist pump at my desk and said, “Yay!” (Alone in one’s office, this reaction roughly equals, jumping around high-fiving everyone.)

This is a GREAT book. Lots of non-didactic content about the nuanced life experiences of individuals in the Chinese Canadian community. Through the protagonist, her girlfriend, sister, parents and other fully developed secondary characters, the author fleshes out how different first generation immigrants’ lives are from their children, but equally how ideas and customs vary – or evolve differently - from family to family. Chinese Canadians are not 100% homogenous, anymore than Canadians in general are. This book provides wonderful windows into the lives of these characters. For some, it may provide fantastic mirrors for the first time.

One mirror – for me – was to the life of a Canadian teenager! Remember being a teenager? Remember poor time management – “I’m late? Really?! Huhn…” Remember failing to plan for every possibility and thinking – without an iota of sarcasm, “What could go wrong?” Remember learning about your friends and friendships as the inevitable calamity struck? Remember the time you realized that getting caught by your parents wasn’t the worst possible outcome for you?

On a (perhaps) less momentous note, I’ve always thought skateboarding was kind of dumb. Like with the book "Exit Pursued by a Bear" (by Canadian E. K. Johnston) regarding cheerleading, if an author can make me care about something I previously thought was goofy, they are accomplished at their craft. "Crash Landing" gave me new respect for the sport of skateboarding.

There is so much to love about this book, oh and it’s a debut. Incredible! Bravo!!! I can’t wait to read more books by Li Charmaine Anne.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This got me out of a reading slump in an epic way. I could say so many wonderful things about this novel, but mostly, I wish this book had existed when I was a teen and reassured me of all the ways feeling weird and unsure could be awesome (especially with an openness to the world and the right friends).

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s year 12 for oldest sister Jay, and her immigrant Cantonese parents love younger sister Wendy’s plan to be a doctor but are puzzled by Jay’s interest in film. When talented skater Ash transfers in to Jay’s class, everything about her fascinates Jay, who takes up skating and hones her video skills by filming Ash so that she can enter a skating contest. Friendship with Ash causes Jay to question her gender identity, sexual preferences, and cultural values. Strong Vancouver BC setting. Fabulous cover. EARC from Edelweiss.

[Léa Taranto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun, voicey, engrossing and fast-paced local read that gave me ALL the feels. While the sapphic skatergirl first love storyline slays this novel also explores family, friend and societal dynamics with intersectional nuance. Read Jay's story and find yourself inspired to push back against expectations you may have lived with never questioning before, discovering parts of yourself you may have never had role models for, and learning that your parents are just as human as you are. I cannot reccomend Crash Landing enough.

[Wanning Luo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nostalgic coming-of-age throwback, with all the joy, angst, and everything in between. I love how the story represents people of colour as individuals first, with educational pieces on queer folks and social topics delicately interwoven. Such a relatable read, especially for a fellow Asian Canadian, but probably for anyone who is going through or has gone through growing up too. When is the movie coming out???

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this tender coming-of-age, Li Charmaine Anne opens readers up to a sushi buffet of skateboarding culture through the lens of queer Chinese diasporic teenagers figuring out who they are, who they love, and what they mean to each other. Taking place in the author's hometown of Vancouver, BC, Crash Landing is loud about its love for place and offers beautiful moments of young people learning to live and resist within its classist, racist structures. Skateboarding breaks down the coldness of the city, breaks down walls people have up against one another, and there is a freedom and art that both life and young queerness teach throughout this story that will touch many readers deeply.

I was especially moved by the honest and compassionate portrayal of Chinese immigrant family life of the 2010s, especially from across class backgrounds, life circumstances, and neighbourhoods, and its foretelling of the future. This book is a love letter to skateboarding, adolescence, and the place that one grew up in.

Congrats on the Governor's General award, Char!

[Wren Handman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crash Landing is a tender portrait of adolescence and all of the complexity that goes along with growing up. The characters are vibrant and very real, with humanizing flaws and the grace to overcome those flaws and be better for it.

It's a queer coming of age story that's about community, friendship, and figuring out who you are. It's a skateboarding story that's about not letting fear stop you from trying new things. It's a Chinese-Canadian story about family, found-family, and all the ways we're the same when it really counts.

I really loved the clear voice of the protagonist and how real and honest her story was. It's one of those literary novels that almost feels like a memoir because it's so rooted in a particular place and a particular time. I really got sucked in - ready the whole book in two days!

[Anna Qian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delightful coming-of-age tale that offers a fresh perspective, and valuably, one that wasn’t around in the mainstream when I was younger. The characters are wonderfully developed - no clear-cut villains or heroes, just young people from diverse personal backgrounds (and some older folks too) navigating through their last year of high school, growing and evolving.
While anyone who is familiar with Vancouver or was an Asian teen in the 2010's will find the familiar references extra charming (all those bubble tea flavors...!), the story’s appeal is by no means limited to that specific group. Themes of teen romance, family pressures, sibling dynamics (?spoiler - the sisters' evolution made me misty-eyed), and the rocky but rewarding path to self-discovery are universal and will resonate with readers from all walks of life. A lovely read & highly recommend!

[Michaela Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our teenage years are messy, full of love, and determination. Things rarely go smoothly and we all have had have our fair share of adventures and mishaps to find out what feels right in our souls. Crash Landing explores what this time of life feels like. From figuring out what you want to do in your life, the hobbies you wish to experience, and who you love. This story beautifully illustrates what it looks like to discover all your loves in life - both passions and people - and how the culture you live in shapes how you experience this love. Crash Landing is a beautiful story of coming out, to family, friends, and yourself and letting yourself experience and enjoy love in all the little ways life gives it to you.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a heart warming book. I genuinely loved the writing is was so flowing so familiar. It was a story for the sake of telling it was beautiful, the characters well well written and all played a role in jay's life. It really just showed the impact of friendships, finding yourself as a teen and school influencing your life as a whole. It was a great story, heartwarming and well written. I wish I could see what happened after Jay's gap year oml I NEED to see how ash and jay's story unfolds. Also I loved Davids' character development it was so good I loved how he just let himself unfold after such intense life academically over beautiful story. this isn't just a skateboarding story it's much more than that, culturally and just emotionally.

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite a bit of a drag at the beginning, and some of my least favourite tropes, this ends on a strong note! I liked Jay quite a bit, I just wish she treated her friends better, and her naivety made her feel younger than she is (although that could be part of the cultural background the author describes in the back of the book). This is an interesting one for me, because it is quite good, and has some strong and good themes, but there are too many things that disappointed me about it to give it a full five (some plot points felt like they were just dropped, and I wasn't a huge fan of some moments).

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a beautiful representation of a queer coming of age, and i truly wish i was able to have this when i was in high school; but it makes me even happier knowing that this will be able to reach someone who needs it. love all the odes to vancouver/lower mainland and also think this needs an on-screen adaptation IMMEDIATELY🫶🏽

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good coming of age story that touches on a lot of important issues for teens, gender, sexuality, parental expectations, abuse. It’s told in an accessible way that I will recommend to readers.

[T Chu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely read! I cried, laughed, and cried some more while reading Crash Landing. I wish my 15-year-old self had the chance to read this book

[Carla A · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid with a realistic feel. A good recommendation for reluctant readers - liner plot etc.

[Mary-Esther Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable.

[Grace Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

at one point I just could not put this book down. I loved the story and characters. this book just felt like something I needed in the moment.

[Xana Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

really amazing book