Little Hero

by Emily Lim-Leh

A moving story of one boy’s growing-up years in post-war 1940s Singapore as he grapples with separation, loss and what it truly means to be a hero.   Seven-year-old Ying Xiong looks forward to a better life in post-war Singapore after the Japanese troops’ surrender in September 1945.   However, a new war erupts at home when Xiong’s father decides to return to his homeland in China. This tears the family apart when he takes Xiong’s two elder brothers back with him, whilst Xiong and his mother remain in Singapore.   Xiong navigates his childhood years alone in a poor neighbourhood as his mother ekes out a livelihood for them. He makes a friend in Kampung Silat, follows a fearsome teenage gangster in Silat Road and gets to know a brave police inspector who becomes his neighbour. Through all this, Xiong comes to realise what it takes to be a hero, which is also the meaning of his name Ying Xiong.   Little Hero is a touching work of fiction inspired by real-life events from the childhood years of the author's father in post-war 1940s Singapore and beyond.

102 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2024

Reviews

[Hwee Goh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m gonna go ahead and be the first to give this five stars. A rare, maybe the only, post-war kidlit title set in Singapore, based on true stories from the author’s father’s childhood. Full review to come!

[Vivian Teo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle grade book tells the story of Ying Xiong and his family navigating life in post-war 1940s Singapore. When Xiong's father returns to China, seven-year-old Xiong and his mother have to eke out a living in Singapore without Xiong's father and brothers. Xiong learns to make new friends and even meets dangerous gangsters, before finally understanding what it means to live up to his name Ying Xiong - hero.

I love stories set in olden day Singapore. They always bring me back to my younger days when I watched TCS (or even SBC - gasp!) drama series about Singapore in yesteryears, which I think children these days are likely unfamiliar with given the gamut of shows and books competing for their attention. This is a great story to expose your children to what it was like to live in pre-independent Singapore. I especially love that this story is inspired by real-life events from Emily's father's childhood years, and the author’s notes about what happened to her family members in real life gives a beautiful closure and ending to this story.

At almost 100 pages, this junior chapter book is not too daunting for younger ones. I'd recommend this book to those age 8 years and above. You can now preorder Little Hero at Amazon SG at
https://www.amazon.sg/Little-Hero-Emi... and Kinokuniya online at https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9... before its release on April 30 🤗

Thank you, Emily, for sending this advance reader copy over and congrats again on your new book! 🥳

[Sadie-Jane Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 002 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

I enjoyed this book so much. I also read the notes left by the author with interest.

What is more fascinating is that the author based this on stories shared by her father. I applaud @emilylimleh_writes on sharing her family's story so vividly.

As much as I would love to keep this signed copy for myself, this is a story that needs to be shared, so I am definitely going to bookfairy this. Enjoyed every page and the illustrations, too.

Thanks @hweezbooks for sending me this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#book002of350 #amreading #tbrpile #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #goodreads #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2025 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds

[David Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet middle grade childhood story. Loved the historical ties and haven't come across a similar book to it. Recommend reading it, and super super recommend getting your kid to read it if you have one