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A Yellow House
Ten-year-old Singaporean Maya is lonely; her grandmother is dead, her mother is focused on her career and her best friend has become a bully. When Aunty M, a domestic worker from Indonesia, joins the family to take care of Maya and her baby sister, Maya is ready to hate her.
Aunty M smiles a lot, but says little. However, after Aunty M and Maya rescue a fellow maid living in the same building and beaten by her employer, Maya discovers a side of Singapore hitherto unknown to her. She and Aunty M grow closer as they meet more and more women in need.
What will happen when Mama finds out about Maya and Aunty M’s growing involvement with the aunties? Will Maya lose Aunty M too? After all, Mama did say she hates busybodies….
This poignant coming-of-age story, told in the voice of inquisitive Maya, explores the plight of migrant domestic workers in Singapore and the relationships they form with the families they work for.
Aunty M smiles a lot, but says little. However, after Aunty M and Maya rescue a fellow maid living in the same building and beaten by her employer, Maya discovers a side of Singapore hitherto unknown to her. She and Aunty M grow closer as they meet more and more women in need.
What will happen when Mama finds out about Maya and Aunty M’s growing involvement with the aunties? Will Maya lose Aunty M too? After all, Mama did say she hates busybodies….
This poignant coming-of-age story, told in the voice of inquisitive Maya, explores the plight of migrant domestic workers in Singapore and the relationships they form with the families they work for.
- GenresFictionContemporary
368 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2018
5 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Karien van Ditzhuijzen
7 books14 followersAfter a childhood of moving around Asia, the Middle East and Europe, Karien van Ditzhuijzen moved to Singapore in 2012. Karien has a degree in chemical engineering, but gave up her career developing ice cream recipes to become a writer. She now dedicates her life (in no particular order) to advocating migrant workers’ rights, her family, her pet chicken and being entertained by monkeys while writing at the patio of her jungle house.
In 2013 Karien joined Singaporean charity HOME to support domestic workers staying at their shelter. In 2014 she founded the MyVoice blog; a place for migrant workers to share their stories. Karien created and edited the book ‘Our Homes, Our Stories’, an anthology of 28 real-life stories written by migrant domestic workers, which was published in March 2018.
As a freelance writer and blogger Karien contributes to several publications in Singapore and the Netherlands. In 2012 she published a children’s book in Dutch recounting her childhood in Borneo.
Her fist novel, ‘A Yellow House’ is published by Monsoon Books in 2018.
www.bedu-mama.com
www.myvoiceathome.org
In 2013 Karien joined Singaporean charity HOME to support domestic workers staying at their shelter. In 2014 she founded the MyVoice blog; a place for migrant workers to share their stories. Karien created and edited the book ‘Our Homes, Our Stories’, an anthology of 28 real-life stories written by migrant domestic workers, which was published in March 2018.
As a freelance writer and blogger Karien contributes to several publications in Singapore and the Netherlands. In 2012 she published a children’s book in Dutch recounting her childhood in Borneo.
Her fist novel, ‘A Yellow House’ is published by Monsoon Books in 2018.
www.bedu-mama.com
www.myvoiceathome.org
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 23, 2019
'A Yellow House’ is the debut novel from Singapore-based author, Karien Van Ditzhuijzen. We see events through the eyes of Maya, a ten year old girl of mixed heritage, living in modern day Singapore with her parents, younger sister and the family’s live-in domestic helper.
We learn something of their cuisine and lifestyle; Singapore is a small island with a large population which necessitates the majority of citizens living in apartment blocks with adjoining concrete play areas where children meet up and their carers or ‘aunties’ gather to gossip.
Maya is clearly still grieving the loss of her grandmother who had previously taken care of her. She is therefore extremely hostile to Merpati, the new Indonesian domestic worker whom her parents employ, to coincide with her mother returning to work.
Maya is determined to hate Merpati but little by little she is drawn into her world. She quickly finds out there is a micro-community of underprivileged workers living in the apartment blocks, some of whom are treated little better than slaves by their employers. Merpati, or ‘Aunty M’ as she becomes known, seems extremely quiet and subservient but Maya finds their domestic worker has more depth to her character than she could possibly imagine.
This is a novel of parallels. We witness how alone and excluded Maya feels when she is bullied by her cohort. We see her shame and humiliation when she tries desperately to fit in, yet she doesn’t see that her initial rejection of Aunty M is equally unkind. Many migrant workers hate their jobs because of their employers’ unacceptable behaviour. Though a successful career woman, Maya’s mother also hates her job for the same reason. The big different is that Maya’s mother has the option to resign. Aunty M’s friends have no such luxury because they are virtually bonded to the families they serve, with some risking life and limb to escape.
When I read the synopsis of this novel, I wasn’t at all sure it was something with which I would engage but my initial scepticism soon gave way to intrigue. This is a thought-provoking, eye-opening read which will shock some people but will hopefully be a vehicle for more awareness of the lives of the vulnerable and voiceless. Writing as an adult from the perspective of a child isn’t easy but the author has managed to capture the personality of Maya very well.
We see Maya re-evaluate her attitude as she transfers her energy from self-centred woes to caring about those less fortunate than herself. She grows in confidence as she makes a friend in Cat, a new student at her school and we also witness the changing dynamic between Maya and her family.
This multi-layered story is rich in symbolism and altruism as it lays bare many of life’s inequalities. I’m not sure either the synopsis or the cover design do this book any great favours but if readers stick with it, they’ll be rewarded by discovering the significance of the title and learning something of a culture with which they may be unfamiliar. I award ‘A Yellow House’ four stars.
We learn something of their cuisine and lifestyle; Singapore is a small island with a large population which necessitates the majority of citizens living in apartment blocks with adjoining concrete play areas where children meet up and their carers or ‘aunties’ gather to gossip.
Maya is clearly still grieving the loss of her grandmother who had previously taken care of her. She is therefore extremely hostile to Merpati, the new Indonesian domestic worker whom her parents employ, to coincide with her mother returning to work.
Maya is determined to hate Merpati but little by little she is drawn into her world. She quickly finds out there is a micro-community of underprivileged workers living in the apartment blocks, some of whom are treated little better than slaves by their employers. Merpati, or ‘Aunty M’ as she becomes known, seems extremely quiet and subservient but Maya finds their domestic worker has more depth to her character than she could possibly imagine.
This is a novel of parallels. We witness how alone and excluded Maya feels when she is bullied by her cohort. We see her shame and humiliation when she tries desperately to fit in, yet she doesn’t see that her initial rejection of Aunty M is equally unkind. Many migrant workers hate their jobs because of their employers’ unacceptable behaviour. Though a successful career woman, Maya’s mother also hates her job for the same reason. The big different is that Maya’s mother has the option to resign. Aunty M’s friends have no such luxury because they are virtually bonded to the families they serve, with some risking life and limb to escape.
When I read the synopsis of this novel, I wasn’t at all sure it was something with which I would engage but my initial scepticism soon gave way to intrigue. This is a thought-provoking, eye-opening read which will shock some people but will hopefully be a vehicle for more awareness of the lives of the vulnerable and voiceless. Writing as an adult from the perspective of a child isn’t easy but the author has managed to capture the personality of Maya very well.
We see Maya re-evaluate her attitude as she transfers her energy from self-centred woes to caring about those less fortunate than herself. She grows in confidence as she makes a friend in Cat, a new student at her school and we also witness the changing dynamic between Maya and her family.
This multi-layered story is rich in symbolism and altruism as it lays bare many of life’s inequalities. I’m not sure either the synopsis or the cover design do this book any great favours but if readers stick with it, they’ll be rewarded by discovering the significance of the title and learning something of a culture with which they may be unfamiliar. I award ‘A Yellow House’ four stars.
July 9, 2018
Coming-of-age novel set in SINGAPORE, charting the plight of the domestic worker
Singapore: “Everything was clean and organised. Not a blade of grass was out of place. Lakes in Singapore were ponds, filled with water we had to drink and were not allowed to play in. The only thing towering above the land were the stacks and stacks of apartment blocks and high-rise condos..”
This is a story told through the eyes of 10 year old Maya, who lives with her parents and baby sister in a condo in the city. A new domestic worker – often derogatorily titled maid – appears in their lives, Merpati, or Aunty M, from Java. Maya is witness to the lives of some of the domestic workers whose lives are blighted by abuse in this glittering city – and everywhere in the world where one group of people pays a pittance to have a servant on hand. It is both a fascinating novel and shocking and sobering, that maltreatment of peoples occurs right under the noses of ordinary people. Just think of the teams of Eastern Europeans who often work at car wash outlets across the UK, how many of us have considered their circumstances! Unless you have an employer who cares and treats others with respect, then this will continue to happen.
Aunty M becomes involved in an organisation trying to address the abuse of migrant workers and some of the stories, as seen through Maya’s young eyes are truly concerning. Servants are being starved, have their hair shorn (because the ma’am of the house doesn’t want competition), beaten, and given hours of work that mean little sleep and often no time off. These are stories, REAL stories of exploitation and humiliation.
Maya herself is growing up in a family where achievement and work are of paramount importance and thus her mother struggles to find enough time to balance work and motherhood. Maya is also struggling with bullying at her international school (exacerbated by an unfortunate cockroach incident which becomes the animal by which she is defined) and thus she finds refuge amongst Aunty M’s disparate group of friends, trying to help out and advise.
The style of writing is quite compelling, a coming-of-age story that leads the reader into the twilight world of servitude and abuse in the 21st Century, in one of the most prosperous nations in the world. It is beautifully told through the eyes of a young girl whose growing awareness of inequality and injustice in the world feels raw and heart felt.
The Yellow House of the title is the dream building Merpati would like to build in her home country, when she has saved sufficient money.
Singapore: “Everything was clean and organised. Not a blade of grass was out of place. Lakes in Singapore were ponds, filled with water we had to drink and were not allowed to play in. The only thing towering above the land were the stacks and stacks of apartment blocks and high-rise condos..”
This is a story told through the eyes of 10 year old Maya, who lives with her parents and baby sister in a condo in the city. A new domestic worker – often derogatorily titled maid – appears in their lives, Merpati, or Aunty M, from Java. Maya is witness to the lives of some of the domestic workers whose lives are blighted by abuse in this glittering city – and everywhere in the world where one group of people pays a pittance to have a servant on hand. It is both a fascinating novel and shocking and sobering, that maltreatment of peoples occurs right under the noses of ordinary people. Just think of the teams of Eastern Europeans who often work at car wash outlets across the UK, how many of us have considered their circumstances! Unless you have an employer who cares and treats others with respect, then this will continue to happen.
Aunty M becomes involved in an organisation trying to address the abuse of migrant workers and some of the stories, as seen through Maya’s young eyes are truly concerning. Servants are being starved, have their hair shorn (because the ma’am of the house doesn’t want competition), beaten, and given hours of work that mean little sleep and often no time off. These are stories, REAL stories of exploitation and humiliation.
Maya herself is growing up in a family where achievement and work are of paramount importance and thus her mother struggles to find enough time to balance work and motherhood. Maya is also struggling with bullying at her international school (exacerbated by an unfortunate cockroach incident which becomes the animal by which she is defined) and thus she finds refuge amongst Aunty M’s disparate group of friends, trying to help out and advise.
The style of writing is quite compelling, a coming-of-age story that leads the reader into the twilight world of servitude and abuse in the 21st Century, in one of the most prosperous nations in the world. It is beautifully told through the eyes of a young girl whose growing awareness of inequality and injustice in the world feels raw and heart felt.
The Yellow House of the title is the dream building Merpati would like to build in her home country, when she has saved sufficient money.
April 30, 2020
Rating: 2.5 stars
This book gave me a mild headache.
There are quite a number of running themes in it: the problems of domestic workers is a prominent one, but it also brings up inter-racial families, bullying and even Singapore's changing landscape and mindsets. These all have relevance in Singapore today, but apart from the domestic worker aspect, many were left underdeveloped, which was kind of expected since there were too many issues to properly unpack in just 368 pages.
Additionally, Ditzhuijzen's way of delivering was unnatural throughout the story; Maya's thought processes were too mature for her age, and while Ditzhuijzen made attempts to convey the different viewpoints of several characters on the central issue, they weren't seamlessly integrated into the story and felt more like statements rather than normal conversation. There were several parts where I sighed again at having to read such soulless exchanges.
The characters themselves also felt pretty flat despite there being written character development in the story. I don't know how else to say it. They learnt and grew as characters, but for some reason, they never felt real and genuine. Perhaps the writing felt too clunky for me to visualise that sense of growth itself.
While I love the book's purpose—showcasing the complexity of the problems of domestic workers—the way the plot and characters were written left much to be desired. I'd still recommend this if you're interested in knowing the intricate problems these workers face (the picture Ditzhuijzen paints in this story should be pretty accurate since she herself works at HOME, a local charity supporting low wage migrant workers), but don't keep your hopes up on the way it's delivered.
This book gave me a mild headache.
There are quite a number of running themes in it: the problems of domestic workers is a prominent one, but it also brings up inter-racial families, bullying and even Singapore's changing landscape and mindsets. These all have relevance in Singapore today, but apart from the domestic worker aspect, many were left underdeveloped, which was kind of expected since there were too many issues to properly unpack in just 368 pages.
Additionally, Ditzhuijzen's way of delivering was unnatural throughout the story; Maya's thought processes were too mature for her age, and while Ditzhuijzen made attempts to convey the different viewpoints of several characters on the central issue, they weren't seamlessly integrated into the story and felt more like statements rather than normal conversation. There were several parts where I sighed again at having to read such soulless exchanges.
The characters themselves also felt pretty flat despite there being written character development in the story. I don't know how else to say it. They learnt and grew as characters, but for some reason, they never felt real and genuine. Perhaps the writing felt too clunky for me to visualise that sense of growth itself.
While I love the book's purpose—showcasing the complexity of the problems of domestic workers—the way the plot and characters were written left much to be desired. I'd still recommend this if you're interested in knowing the intricate problems these workers face (the picture Ditzhuijzen paints in this story should be pretty accurate since she herself works at HOME, a local charity supporting low wage migrant workers), but don't keep your hopes up on the way it's delivered.
September 23, 2018
"When people look back they like to think everything was better in the past.
They apply a rose-coloured filter.Like, they see it as an Instagram shot."
Ditzhuijzen treats her readers like a ten year old who is new to this world full of problems at every level and slowly starts revealing everything in a very organic manner. Set in Singapore the book starts by introducing the reader to,Merpati, the new domestic worker in the house of our protagonist,Maya, who dislikes her even before meeting her because for her Merpati is replacing her late grandmother who she dearly loved.
Maya is a very curious child, who tries to observe and understand things, it is through her that the reader is able to get to the root of a lot of problems discussed in this book because of her curiosity she asks the questions which needs to be asked. The main plot of this book is the plight of domestic workers, which Ditzhuijzen was able to discuss very well because I as an inhabitant of this world and a reader have never known about it. This book is a coming of age novel, which means it not only shows us the development of maturity in our protagonist but also develops the knowledge of the reader.
"--but with us, the things that weren't said were the loudest." One of the sub-plots which I think was really well handled was the relationship the 'tech-gen' have with their parents. Maya is a child of a father who is a lawyer, a Britisher living in Singapore, and a mother who is trying her best to beat patriarchy but is also suffering from the recent loss of a parent, and how Maya just can't understand the complex relationship with her parents, where she feels ignored.
Feminism is another sub-plot discussed in a very subtle way. Merpati has left her family in Indonesia to earn money and support her children, yet her children are angry with her for leaving them. In the same way, Maya is angry with her mother for being obsessed with her job but later on when Maya finally understands the reason it is explained beautifully in the following paragraph,
" Mama's job was different from the jobs of the aunties. They worked because they had to--obviously,nobody would do that job if they had a choice. Mama worked because she wanted to.I understood it now,feminism and all that, and it wasn't about being financially independent. Mama was wrong about that.It wasn't about the money.I'd seen aunty M grow from a shy,meek servant to a strong and independent women when she started running the helpdesk and the helpdesk didn't even pay her."
Last but not the least, another very important topic discussed by Ditzhuijzen was bullying. Maya in a desperate moment to impress and prove herself does something which makes her the center of attention for all the bullies and she goes into a mental cocoon. She herself doesn't even know that she is depressed, but her helping other domestic workers, getting a purpose in life, helps her in coming out of her depression.
"And every time we made someone else feel better, I felt a little better too.And when I felt better in myself, people at school seemed to treat me better. It was like a spiral so deep down, that there was no way for it to go but up."
In a nutshell, Ditzhuijzen has discussed a lot of topics which are very necessary in today's time and needs to be talked about, because if not now then when?
My Verdict : 4.5/5
They apply a rose-coloured filter.Like, they see it as an Instagram shot."
Ditzhuijzen treats her readers like a ten year old who is new to this world full of problems at every level and slowly starts revealing everything in a very organic manner. Set in Singapore the book starts by introducing the reader to,Merpati, the new domestic worker in the house of our protagonist,Maya, who dislikes her even before meeting her because for her Merpati is replacing her late grandmother who she dearly loved.
Maya is a very curious child, who tries to observe and understand things, it is through her that the reader is able to get to the root of a lot of problems discussed in this book because of her curiosity she asks the questions which needs to be asked. The main plot of this book is the plight of domestic workers, which Ditzhuijzen was able to discuss very well because I as an inhabitant of this world and a reader have never known about it. This book is a coming of age novel, which means it not only shows us the development of maturity in our protagonist but also develops the knowledge of the reader.
"--but with us, the things that weren't said were the loudest." One of the sub-plots which I think was really well handled was the relationship the 'tech-gen' have with their parents. Maya is a child of a father who is a lawyer, a Britisher living in Singapore, and a mother who is trying her best to beat patriarchy but is also suffering from the recent loss of a parent, and how Maya just can't understand the complex relationship with her parents, where she feels ignored.
Feminism is another sub-plot discussed in a very subtle way. Merpati has left her family in Indonesia to earn money and support her children, yet her children are angry with her for leaving them. In the same way, Maya is angry with her mother for being obsessed with her job but later on when Maya finally understands the reason it is explained beautifully in the following paragraph,
" Mama's job was different from the jobs of the aunties. They worked because they had to--obviously,nobody would do that job if they had a choice. Mama worked because she wanted to.I understood it now,feminism and all that, and it wasn't about being financially independent. Mama was wrong about that.It wasn't about the money.I'd seen aunty M grow from a shy,meek servant to a strong and independent women when she started running the helpdesk and the helpdesk didn't even pay her."
Last but not the least, another very important topic discussed by Ditzhuijzen was bullying. Maya in a desperate moment to impress and prove herself does something which makes her the center of attention for all the bullies and she goes into a mental cocoon. She herself doesn't even know that she is depressed, but her helping other domestic workers, getting a purpose in life, helps her in coming out of her depression.
"And every time we made someone else feel better, I felt a little better too.And when I felt better in myself, people at school seemed to treat me better. It was like a spiral so deep down, that there was no way for it to go but up."
In a nutshell, Ditzhuijzen has discussed a lot of topics which are very necessary in today's time and needs to be talked about, because if not now then when?
My Verdict : 4.5/5
June 2, 2020
"Singapore is obsessed with survival and success. Our society has become competitive, we have neglected kindness and helpfulness. Many of us have become used to being cold and apathetic to the plight of others. Or are we just too busy working all the time to even see?”
The Indonesian domestic workers are one of those most wanted and are in incredibly demand in countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East. Yet their life in other people’s country is not as easy as what it seems. Many of them experience abuse, violence and humiliation from their employer. Karien as a writer is able to capture this issue and turn it into a beautiful writing through her novel.
The novel tells a story about a little girl named Maya. She has to undergo such difficult time at school and at home. Her mama is an ambitious lady who is always busy at work. Her close friends start bullying her at school. She is also longing for the presence of her grandma. This kind of thing keeps going on until Aunt Merpati whom she refers as Aunt M comes to her house as her Ah Mah (maid).
Maya does not like Aunt M at first. She thinks that she is big enough to handle everything even to take a good care of Chloe, her little sister. Yet little did she knows, she will later experience a new world and becomes Aunt M’s ally to help for those domestic workers who are in trouble.
Karien pictures the condition of the domestic workers particularly the Indonesian and Philippinas domestic workers. She portrays the cruelty and violence towards those workers through a character named Sri, for instance. Sri is kept all the time at home by her employer. The employer often hits her when she makes a mistake. Maya and Aunt M once find her laying on the ground with bruises and wound; and they will have to bring her to the shelter. Sri will have to undergo a legal battle with her employer later. It is one of the things that those domestic workers often experience.
I really think that this novel is worth reading. It provides the readers with such insights and will bring them to different perspectives in seeing and appreciating the domestic workers. A light but very entertaining and enlightening reading.
Full review is available at https://literatureisliving.wordpress....
IG: @descanto
July 30, 2024
this book covered the way in which domestic workers in Singapore, primarily from Indonesia, were treated which was a really important topic to learn more about and it was interesting learning more about Singapore culture as well. i loved how it was narrated by 10 year old Maya but i definitely think it was unrealistic for her to be grappling with all these complex issues at that age. but overall enjoyable and important read!
July 31, 2018
Maya is very lovable and with her 10 years she tries to make sense of some very illogical rules and regulations in Singapore with regards to foreign domestic workers. She has all the questions I had when I got to Singapore and therefore I could totally relate to her. She is of course only 10, so she has other issues that she struggles with (being bullied for instance). The story is more than just about helpers and the rules, it's about human beings trying to make the best of a not always great situation.
I really enjoyed reading the book and I would totally recommend it to anyone :-)
I really enjoyed reading the book and I would totally recommend it to anyone :-)
August 30, 2021
On the quest of reading more Asian literature, and this book doesn't disappoint. It's basically To Kill a Mockingbird coming-of-age set in Singapore with less PC parents and more empowered helpers.
Maya is a 10-year-old Singaporean dealing with the loss of her beloved grandmother, bullies at school, her busy dad, and her career-woman mother who returns to her work with post-partum depression. Against this backdrop, Aunty M enters her life. Aunty M is an Indonesian migrant worker who works as her maid. Initially despising her, Maya grows to like Aunty M, and helps Aunty M saving abused migrant workers living in their condo (all are Indonesian, Filipina, and Burmese) and running a helpdesk at a migrant organization. In addition to helping Aunty M, she and her new friend Cat also play amateur sleuth, investigating the complexity of migration, identity, feminism, and privilege in Singapore.
I love how realistic this book is, without any white savior complex (or its equivalent). I love that as much as Maya wants to help the adult, she's still a kid, with tantrums and anger and loneliness, with selfishness and reluctance to share. I love that as good as Aunty M at her work and taking care of Maya, she still sees it as job she does for money, she loves her kids back home more than Maya and wants to go back home. Aunty M has free Sunday off, and she uses that day for herself, without caring for Maya. I love that Maya's parents are flawed and complex, navigating through women at workplace and Asian work ethic issues with delicateness. I love that both the aunties and the employers are really nuanced, some are cruel, some are terribly abused, some are ok. I love that this book acknowledges the power imbalance between employers and migrant maids, but also highlights that the maids are heroines instead of victims.
Overall, a realistic portrayal of the plight of migrant workers in Singapore, thoroughly researched, and told with such innocence through Maya's perspective. Some other reviews have concerns about Maya being too mature for her age, but my Singaporean born-and-raised cousin is also ten and, living in a bubble as she is, she's smart, sharp, and critical, so I don't have a doubt about Maya's maturity.
Maya is a 10-year-old Singaporean dealing with the loss of her beloved grandmother, bullies at school, her busy dad, and her career-woman mother who returns to her work with post-partum depression. Against this backdrop, Aunty M enters her life. Aunty M is an Indonesian migrant worker who works as her maid. Initially despising her, Maya grows to like Aunty M, and helps Aunty M saving abused migrant workers living in their condo (all are Indonesian, Filipina, and Burmese) and running a helpdesk at a migrant organization. In addition to helping Aunty M, she and her new friend Cat also play amateur sleuth, investigating the complexity of migration, identity, feminism, and privilege in Singapore.
I love how realistic this book is, without any white savior complex (or its equivalent). I love that as much as Maya wants to help the adult, she's still a kid, with tantrums and anger and loneliness, with selfishness and reluctance to share. I love that as good as Aunty M at her work and taking care of Maya, she still sees it as job she does for money, she loves her kids back home more than Maya and wants to go back home. Aunty M has free Sunday off, and she uses that day for herself, without caring for Maya. I love that Maya's parents are flawed and complex, navigating through women at workplace and Asian work ethic issues with delicateness. I love that both the aunties and the employers are really nuanced, some are cruel, some are terribly abused, some are ok. I love that this book acknowledges the power imbalance between employers and migrant maids, but also highlights that the maids are heroines instead of victims.
Overall, a realistic portrayal of the plight of migrant workers in Singapore, thoroughly researched, and told with such innocence through Maya's perspective. Some other reviews have concerns about Maya being too mature for her age, but my Singaporean born-and-raised cousin is also ten and, living in a bubble as she is, she's smart, sharp, and critical, so I don't have a doubt about Maya's maturity.
April 6, 2019
Mixed feelings about the book. I think the age of the protagonist vs the espoused maturity/ language and thinking was problematic. The very explicit swearing at the beginning (roachc&$t) will result in censure for the target group 10-12 as will the length.
There’s a lot going on in this book - themes that need to be unpacked through for example literature circles- death of a family member/ multicultural marriage / expatriation / 3rd culture leaving own children behind to look after rich peoples kids / feminism as a right to self-actualisation vs as having a voice / mixed race children / worker rights / employee rape
So yes, worth a place in a collection but needed additional editing as there was a lot of “telling” that had to happen to explain context for the non-SE/Asian expat audience. Some of that should have been in end notes rather than main body.
And protagonist should have been at least 12.
There’s a lot going on in this book - themes that need to be unpacked through for example literature circles- death of a family member/ multicultural marriage / expatriation / 3rd culture leaving own children behind to look after rich peoples kids / feminism as a right to self-actualisation vs as having a voice / mixed race children / worker rights / employee rape
So yes, worth a place in a collection but needed additional editing as there was a lot of “telling” that had to happen to explain context for the non-SE/Asian expat audience. Some of that should have been in end notes rather than main body.
And protagonist should have been at least 12.
February 15, 2021
“A Yellow House” by Karien van Ditzhuijzen explores the lives of migrant domestic workers in Singapore through the eyes of 10-year-old Maya. As Maya gets to know her own domestic worker, Aunty M, she becomes aware of other workers who are abused or mistreated by their employers. The pair team up to help these women reclaim their lives.
Meanwhile, Maya must deal with her own problems: grief over the death of her grandma, how to get her workaholic mother’s attention, and being bullied at school. And how will her mother react when she finds out what Aunty M and Maya have been up to?
This coming-of-age story raises questions about inequality in the employer-worker relationship. Drawing from the author’s knowledge of real-life cases, it is informative as much as a good read.
Meanwhile, Maya must deal with her own problems: grief over the death of her grandma, how to get her workaholic mother’s attention, and being bullied at school. And how will her mother react when she finds out what Aunty M and Maya have been up to?
This coming-of-age story raises questions about inequality in the employer-worker relationship. Drawing from the author’s knowledge of real-life cases, it is informative as much as a good read.
September 25, 2019
Coming to an age novel looking into a Singapore society through the eyes of ten-year-old Maya. She gets involved in helping foreign domestic workers.
A Yello House talking about social issues as well as a young person's personal choices and dilemmas. What unfolds is a multicultural Singapore with class differences, intensely competitive ambience and a lot of good food. Karien van Ditzhuijzen is looking and finding a way to look at social issues from the perspective of multiple people involved.
A Yellow House is suitable for an younger readers as it deals with the issues that young people would be able to relate. However, there is no reason why grownups couldn't enjoy this story.
A Yello House talking about social issues as well as a young person's personal choices and dilemmas. What unfolds is a multicultural Singapore with class differences, intensely competitive ambience and a lot of good food. Karien van Ditzhuijzen is looking and finding a way to look at social issues from the perspective of multiple people involved.
A Yellow House is suitable for an younger readers as it deals with the issues that young people would be able to relate. However, there is no reason why grownups couldn't enjoy this story.
November 19, 2018
This book is most likely to be of interest to expats, specifically those who have lived in Asia and/or have had exposure to domestic workers.
While I found it to be an endearing coming of age novel, at times it dragged a bit and at 368 pages, it felt quite long.
I also must admit that the last two pages completely baffled me. I must have missed something somewhere, because I did not follow that ending at all.
While I found it to be an endearing coming of age novel, at times it dragged a bit and at 368 pages, it felt quite long.
I also must admit that the last two pages completely baffled me. I must have missed something somewhere, because I did not follow that ending at all.
February 11, 2020
A yellow house is written by a Dutch writer talked about relationship between a ten years old girl with her domestic worker from Indonesia. The story comes from child perspective about immigrant worker problems, justice, prejudice and also raised the racism and identity problem in Singapore. Maya-the girl has an Ang Moh father (bule in Indonesia) and mixed blood mother (Chinese Peranakan-India), so looked at her physic, she got bullied at the school and always questioning her identity.
April 14, 2021
This is such an excellent book for that difficult age between kid and teenager. It's also a great eye opener for adults, especially those of us who live in Singapore and are so accustomed to having live-in domestic help we hardly notice their presence.
Thank you Karien for showing us in their 360 degree humanity, in this engaging story with its fully realized and accurately portrayed characters.
Thank you Karien for showing us in their 360 degree humanity, in this engaging story with its fully realized and accurately portrayed characters.
September 20, 2018
It's an easy-to read novel that will teach you more than many non-fiction books.
This book gives a balanced and thorough view of domestic workers lives in Singapore and by extension in Asia.
Despite discussing such a tough society issue, this book is truly enjoyable to read and you will learn a lot as well about Singapore society and history.
This book gives a balanced and thorough view of domestic workers lives in Singapore and by extension in Asia.
Despite discussing such a tough society issue, this book is truly enjoyable to read and you will learn a lot as well about Singapore society and history.
August 1, 2023
I reallly liked this book
I loved the book being told from a child’s perspective and the overall relationship she had with her aunty and other aunties
Interesting to learn this about singapore and the perspective from auntys but also employers. A small and interesting insight into singaporean people/culture
I loved the book being told from a child’s perspective and the overall relationship she had with her aunty and other aunties
Interesting to learn this about singapore and the perspective from auntys but also employers. A small and interesting insight into singaporean people/culture
May 23, 2019
I feel that you would need to have experienced time in Singapore to appreciate the book. At times it’s hard to believe that the protagonist is only 10 years old. I read it when my daughter was 10 and the things she says and does in the book seem too advanced for her age.
July 29, 2018
Excellent, well written
November 27, 2018
Good read on FFWs in Singapore
September 1, 2019
3.5 stars
December 10, 2019
An enjoyable and informative story about the lives of maids in Singapore.
August 29, 2020
made me miss Singapore so much <3
and I'd love to have a house like Cat's
and I'd love to have a house like Cat's
December 23, 2018
A Yellow House is a coming-of-age novel about a young girl Maya as she explores the world of domestic workers in the present day Singapore.
This might seem to be a spoiler to some readers but I feel it is important to state that the title A Yellow House refers to the dream house of the domestic workers- the house for which they've left their own homes behind.
While the novel is chiefly centred around Maya and Aunty M, the novelist has very deftly addressed several important issues of the contemporary world.
The novelist presents today's Singapore which through the eyes of young Maya appears in the picture of "stacks and stacks of apartment blocks and high rise condos." This is a picture which speaks for itself for we're all living in a world driven by money. Maya's father gives voice to the frustration arising out of leading such a life.
"I'm sick of it all. The long work hours, the materialism. Rules everywhere. There are too many rules, written and unwritten."
The author also takes a dig at how the corporate world has to come to affect our lives and relationships. Maya's mother is the one who's striving hard to win this race of the corporate world. She seems to be losing her individuality and is quite distanced from the ordinary world of joys.
"Why is everything just a photo for you? Just learn to enjoy."
Another important aspect highlighted in this novel is that of Asian countries trying to break away from the hegemony of the US & other western countries. While admiring the flagship Marina Bay Sands Building of Singapore, Maya is elated to think that "the architect was American, but someone in this country must have come up with the idea. Someone here had made it happen."
Maya's mother is a feminist and she instills her ideas in Maya. It is interesting to see how young Maya tries make out a definition of feminism of her own. One can also see how feminism has started affecting the marital relationship these days.
The novelist also explores Child psychology in a very provocative manner. Issues of modern world like identity crisis are also highlighted by the novelist. Maya considers herself a "stuck-up Singaporean" because of her mixed ancestry.
The focus however remains on the domestic workers and their plight. It is quite sad that these women find themselves in a double trap. They are trapped by their employers, in the first place. And if they try to seek justice against their cruel employers, then they get trapped in the legal procedures because of delays in the justice.
The fact that these events are inspired from what the novelist has witnessed in her own life makes the novel even more appealing. The readers end up sympathising with these workers.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book. It a page turner and I would highly recommend it.
My Rating: ****(4/5)
*I was kindly sent a copy by the Publisher in exchange for a review. Views expressed are entirely personal & unbiased.*
This might seem to be a spoiler to some readers but I feel it is important to state that the title A Yellow House refers to the dream house of the domestic workers- the house for which they've left their own homes behind.
While the novel is chiefly centred around Maya and Aunty M, the novelist has very deftly addressed several important issues of the contemporary world.
The novelist presents today's Singapore which through the eyes of young Maya appears in the picture of "stacks and stacks of apartment blocks and high rise condos." This is a picture which speaks for itself for we're all living in a world driven by money. Maya's father gives voice to the frustration arising out of leading such a life.
"I'm sick of it all. The long work hours, the materialism. Rules everywhere. There are too many rules, written and unwritten."
The author also takes a dig at how the corporate world has to come to affect our lives and relationships. Maya's mother is the one who's striving hard to win this race of the corporate world. She seems to be losing her individuality and is quite distanced from the ordinary world of joys.
"Why is everything just a photo for you? Just learn to enjoy."
Another important aspect highlighted in this novel is that of Asian countries trying to break away from the hegemony of the US & other western countries. While admiring the flagship Marina Bay Sands Building of Singapore, Maya is elated to think that "the architect was American, but someone in this country must have come up with the idea. Someone here had made it happen."
Maya's mother is a feminist and she instills her ideas in Maya. It is interesting to see how young Maya tries make out a definition of feminism of her own. One can also see how feminism has started affecting the marital relationship these days.
The novelist also explores Child psychology in a very provocative manner. Issues of modern world like identity crisis are also highlighted by the novelist. Maya considers herself a "stuck-up Singaporean" because of her mixed ancestry.
The focus however remains on the domestic workers and their plight. It is quite sad that these women find themselves in a double trap. They are trapped by their employers, in the first place. And if they try to seek justice against their cruel employers, then they get trapped in the legal procedures because of delays in the justice.
The fact that these events are inspired from what the novelist has witnessed in her own life makes the novel even more appealing. The readers end up sympathising with these workers.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book. It a page turner and I would highly recommend it.
My Rating: ****(4/5)
*I was kindly sent a copy by the Publisher in exchange for a review. Views expressed are entirely personal & unbiased.*
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