The Quail Club

by Carolyn Marsden

"A compelling sequel to THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS. . . . Handles a perennial topic with poignancy and grace." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

Oy lives in America now, but she loves learning traditional Thai dances almost as much as being in the Quail Club — five friends who meet after school to hatch and care for baby quail. When their teacher announces a talent show, Oy knows how proud her family would be to see her step onstage in her gold-threaded dress from Thailand. But bossy Liliandra vows to kick Oy out of the club if she won’t team up for a very different kind of dance. In this finely crafted novel, Carolyn Marsden explores what it takes to be a true friend and still be true to yourself.

Genres: Asia, Childrens, Cultural

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2006

About the author

Carolyn Marsden was born in Mexico City to missionary parents. She has been a writer all her life, but THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS is her first book. About THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS she says, "I wrote this story when my half-Thai daughter was being teased at school. As a parent and elementary school teacher, I watched her struggle to establish a cultural identity. I became fascinated with a conflict that is common to many children in our increasingly diverse United States." Carolyn Marsden has an MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College. After spending the last twenty-five years in Tucson, Arizona, Carolyn Marsden now lives by the ocean with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Monica Purwanti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still a good read but not as good as The Gold-Threaded Dress. It still gives good reflections on how tough it is to assimilate into a new place with clashing cultures. This book also has glossary in the back for the new Thai words used in the book, which I found lacking in The Gold-Threaded Dress.

In this sequel, Liliandra is still the bully girl, but we get a glimpse of her life to better understand her actions, why she is like that. I’m disappointed that even though knowing Frankie is Oy’s best friend, he doesn’t get an invite to the New Year’s celebration, but Oy invited Liliandra, who’s been always mean to Oy. Is it because Frankie is a boy? Why entertain the friendship notion between Oy and Frankie if he stays in the sidelines? It also doesn’t sit well with me that the repeated “Do this or you won’t be my friend anymore” goes unpunished. Oy accepts that it is the price she has to pay to belong to The Quail Club. That’s not okay, hence I’m a bit dissatisfied with the resolution.

[Penelopy · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good but it was a little boring 😴 it needs more pizazz it doesn't have anything big in it so I rate it 4 stars

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book at a liquidation store in town, as they were clearing it out for 50% off the last ticketed price. I am always looking for good, quick reads, so I picked this one up.

Synopsis: Oy lives in America now, but she loves to go to the back room of Pak's auto shop on Saturdays to learn traditional Thai dances. She loves it almost as much as being a member of the Quail Club - five friends who gather after school to hatch and care for baby quail. When the teacher announces a talent show, Oy knows how proud her family and Pak would be to see her step onstage in her beautiful gold-threaded dress from Thailand. But bossy Liliandra vows to kick her out of the Quail Club if she won't team up for a very different kind of dance. Someone will be disappointed. But who?

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I had been reading Radiance by Allison Noel and was unable to get into the story, so picked up this book and started reading. I ended up reading this entire book in one sitting, in a little over an hour. While definitely directed for a younger audience, I found that I could still relate to the book having been an outsider in school. I knew what Oy was feeling, trying to fit in with those around her, despite being different.

I thought that the overall message of the book was a great one, although it does not give a whole lot of advice for others who are in Oy's position and being bullied by others. I thought the author did a great job of explaining the cultural differences and dealing with peer pressure, as well as many of the cultural issues surrounding landed immigrants and the things they face on a daily basis.I loved how much culture was included in the book - and the glossary at the back that helped to define the Thai terms was a great addition.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for being a quick and light read, but lacking the depth of certain characters (the other members of the Quail Club?).

[Latricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A companion to the Gold-Threaded Dress, but I would not call it a sequal. I never got around to reading Gold-Threaded Dress and had no problem sinking right into Quail Club. It's set two years after Gold-threaded Dress and Oy is in 5th grade. She and three other girls have formed a club which watches a clutch of quail eggs waiting for them to hatch. When Oy hears about the 5th grade talent show, she wants to do a traditional Thai dance, but one of her friends wants to do an american dance together. Oy is worried that if she doesn't dance with her friend she will lose her friend and her place in the quail club. With advice from her mother, Oy comes up with a compromise for her friend. The book addresses a prolem many children of Asian/American families have of holding on to thier asian culture while fitting into american culture. Marsden does a great job of presenting a realistic problem and solving the problem with a solution that doesn't feel forced or preachy.

[Kyle]

2) For my alternate book talk I am choosing number two. Choose a character you'd like to have a as a friend and why. I would like to have Oy as a friend because she is kind of like me. Oy is a well behaved child who is stuck in a situation between choosing a dance that celebrates her heritage, which is Thai, or an American dance that would allow her to better her relationship with her friends. Oy struggles greatly between the dances as one, she thinks, will disappoint her parents and the other will disappoint her friend. Oy ends up choosing to invite her friend to do her Thai dance with her and it all works out for the best. Oy is a great friend that will stop at nothing to help her friends out and make everyone happy; that is kind of how I see myself sometimes. I will generally do anything for my friends even if it is not 100% what I want. So I think that Oy and I would be great friends.

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this companion book to The Gold-Threaded Dress much better - but still not enough to move it up to four stars. While this story has more substance as Oy continues making efforts to fit in and being accepted, I am still puzzled that she puts all her energy into becoming friends with what is apparently the school bully. I appreciate part of the message - people are often mean to someone else when they themselves are hurting and we therefore need to reach out to them - but wonder why other students at the school are of little importance. Nevertheless, it's a great addition to any multicultural collection and definitely a book that will be enjoyed by many of our readers.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel to The Gold-Threaded Dress continues the story of Oy, a Thai American girl. In this book Oy experiences conflict between American ways, which her friends enjoy, and Thai ways, which her family approves of. Can she please both groups of people? Although the answer to her dilemma occurred to me long before Oy herself thought of it, my interest was held because I liked the characters and empathized with Oy's friend Liliandra, who so badly needed a real friend as much as Oy did. I hope Marsden writes another book about Oy!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great multi-cultural book for beginning chapter book readers. I could relate to the tug and pull Oy had in the book with the experience of some of my immigrant friends. Do I go with the new culture or stay with my traditions, expectations, et al.

Quail Club

[Tiara Wang · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Quail Club is a very heart-warming story.From this,I learnt that we should respect different races and religions. Also,I learnt a few Thai language.Like,"Sawasdee ka?" or " Songkran".I like this book very much as it teaches us some facts about quails!!!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this title and its sequel for how it addresses the second generation immigrant who tries to acclimate to US culture while having the old country's culture at home. Great for school age kids in 3-5th grade.

[Paula Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book about friendship and the compromises involved in being friends. Oy immigrated to US when she was younger. At times she feels pressured to forget the ways of her native Thailand. This story follows Oy as she learns how to become a true Thai American and share her heritage with her friends.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/200...

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good follow-up to the Gold-Threaded Dress. Continues to explore Oy's assimilation in American culture. Interesting peek into American-Thai culture.

[Lindsey Fleck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia really enjoyed this quick read.

[Rayna Gausnell]

It is a very sweet book.

[Luiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

LIked it a lot! Talks a lot about friendship. Love the plot