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Chinglish
It is difficult trying to talk in our family cos:
a) Grandparents don’t speak English at all
b) Mum hardly speaks any English
c) Me, Bonny and Simon hardly speak Chinese
d) Dad speaks Chinese and good English – but doesn’t like talking
In other words, we all have to cobble together tiny bits of English and Chinese into a rubbish new language I call 'Chinglish'. It is very awkward.
Jo Kwan is a teenager growing up in 1980s Coventry with her annoying little sister, too-cool older brother, a series of very unlucky pets and utterly bonkers parents. But unlike the other kids at her new school or her posh cousins, Jo lives above her parents' Chinese takeaway. And things can be tough – whether it's unruly customers or the snotty popular girls who bully Jo for being different. Even when she does find a BFF who actually likes Jo for herself, she still has to contend with her erratic dad's behaviour. All Jo dreams of is breaking free and forging a career as an artist.
Told in diary entries and doodles, Jo's brilliantly funny observations about life, family and char siu make for a searingly honest portrayal of life on the other side of the takeaway counter.
a) Grandparents don’t speak English at all
b) Mum hardly speaks any English
c) Me, Bonny and Simon hardly speak Chinese
d) Dad speaks Chinese and good English – but doesn’t like talking
In other words, we all have to cobble together tiny bits of English and Chinese into a rubbish new language I call 'Chinglish'. It is very awkward.
Jo Kwan is a teenager growing up in 1980s Coventry with her annoying little sister, too-cool older brother, a series of very unlucky pets and utterly bonkers parents. But unlike the other kids at her new school or her posh cousins, Jo lives above her parents' Chinese takeaway. And things can be tough – whether it's unruly customers or the snotty popular girls who bully Jo for being different. Even when she does find a BFF who actually likes Jo for herself, she still has to contend with her erratic dad's behaviour. All Jo dreams of is breaking free and forging a career as an artist.
Told in diary entries and doodles, Jo's brilliantly funny observations about life, family and char siu make for a searingly honest portrayal of life on the other side of the takeaway counter.
373 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2019
61 people are currently reading
1041 people want to read
About the author
Sue Cheung
8 books21 followersSue Cheung was born in the Midlands to Chinese parents who emigrated to England in the 1960s and opened up a restaurant. Her passion for drawing led to her winning a scholarship to The London College of Fashion. Afterwards she completed a course in advertising & illustration and got a job in an agency sketching storyboards, visualising press and billboard ads and illustrating. She eventually worked her way up and spent many years in London as an Art Director before finally moving to the south coast to write and illustrate children’s books. She has done 120 scuba dives around the world, has two rescue cats with issues, plays guitar badly and can do headstands on demand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
October 21, 2019
Book reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
1984, thirteen-year-old Jo Kwan’s parents have bought a Chinese takeaway in Coventry, meaning that she no longer has to reside above the horrid butcher’s shop in Hull and that she will now be living in the same city as her older brother, who lives with their Grandparents.
Unfortunately, things don’t go quite according to plan. The shop is only small which means the accommodation above is tiny too, just two-bedrooms and no living-room. This is not good, she now will have to share a bedroom with her little sister Bonny who is a real hand full.
With Grandparents who don’t speak any English, a Mother who barely speaks English, a Father who just doesn’t speak and Jo and her siblings not being able to speak Chinese this is the start of the wild, unpredictable and often hilarious goings-on in Jo’s life.
Having lived through the 80s, although a lot younger than Jo, I turned seven towards the end of 1984, this book brought back lots of memories of the era. It was a wonderful look at life through the eyes of Jo and her family. With pop stars, music, TV shows, radio shows, magazines, and movies all getting a mention it was hard not to feel nostalgic.
The book is told in diary format as Jo decided she was going to document all the good and hilarious things that happened in her life, although a few not so funny moments are recorded too including racism, bullying, and child abuse. As well as these topics she also wrote the usual diary entries from girls her age, clothes, body problems, friends and money issues.
From hoovering up hamsters to having a goat as a lawnmower it’s not only humans who make it into her story. Along with Jo’s family, her neighbours, school friends, and customers also get discussed in her diary too.
The book sees Jo grow and how her life changes as it spans four years of her life. It was enjoyable, poignant, and often had laugh-out-loud moments surrounded by the realism of what Jo’s teenage life was like as a Chinese girl living in a mainly white society.
There are amazing and very funny illustrations throughout the book and they really do bring Jo’s past to life. The book does carry an important message for teenagers though, about being yourself, following your dreams and never giving up.
The story was enjoyable the whole way through mainly down to not only the context of Jo’s diary but how connective and touching author Sue Cheung’s words felt.
1984, thirteen-year-old Jo Kwan’s parents have bought a Chinese takeaway in Coventry, meaning that she no longer has to reside above the horrid butcher’s shop in Hull and that she will now be living in the same city as her older brother, who lives with their Grandparents.
Unfortunately, things don’t go quite according to plan. The shop is only small which means the accommodation above is tiny too, just two-bedrooms and no living-room. This is not good, she now will have to share a bedroom with her little sister Bonny who is a real hand full.
With Grandparents who don’t speak any English, a Mother who barely speaks English, a Father who just doesn’t speak and Jo and her siblings not being able to speak Chinese this is the start of the wild, unpredictable and often hilarious goings-on in Jo’s life.
Having lived through the 80s, although a lot younger than Jo, I turned seven towards the end of 1984, this book brought back lots of memories of the era. It was a wonderful look at life through the eyes of Jo and her family. With pop stars, music, TV shows, radio shows, magazines, and movies all getting a mention it was hard not to feel nostalgic.
The book is told in diary format as Jo decided she was going to document all the good and hilarious things that happened in her life, although a few not so funny moments are recorded too including racism, bullying, and child abuse. As well as these topics she also wrote the usual diary entries from girls her age, clothes, body problems, friends and money issues.
From hoovering up hamsters to having a goat as a lawnmower it’s not only humans who make it into her story. Along with Jo’s family, her neighbours, school friends, and customers also get discussed in her diary too.
The book sees Jo grow and how her life changes as it spans four years of her life. It was enjoyable, poignant, and often had laugh-out-loud moments surrounded by the realism of what Jo’s teenage life was like as a Chinese girl living in a mainly white society.
There are amazing and very funny illustrations throughout the book and they really do bring Jo’s past to life. The book does carry an important message for teenagers though, about being yourself, following your dreams and never giving up.
The story was enjoyable the whole way through mainly down to not only the context of Jo’s diary but how connective and touching author Sue Cheung’s words felt.
June 22, 2020
Ok where was this book when I was 14? Reading this book made me all the more aware of why diversity in literature is needed. I was born and raised in London but am half Chinese, half English. I have often been made to feel somewhat other in my life and never in my teenage years did I ever read any fiction where I could really relate to a character’s family life. What I was reading was what I aspired for my life to be like (i.e. a normal white teenage girl’s life) and was not my actual life or experience.
Whilst the family in Chinglish is not similar to my own (we do not own a chinese takeaway, my dad is English and he is not abusive), many of the protagonist’s experiences at school and with her peers are. I have bookmarked a number of passages where Jo described incidences that have echoed those in my own life. (“where are you REALLY from?”) and they are not ones I have ever seen in teen literature before. I feel certain that had I read books like this as a teenager I would’ve been more accepting of my wonderful (not weird) cultural background a lot sooner.
I’ll rewind now and explain what the book is about: It’s 1984 and we meet Jo, a teenage girl who has just moved to Coventry with her Chinese family. They live above the Chinese takeaway they own and it’s all her parents care about. Communication in their family is difficult as Jo’s parents and grandparents don’t speak English and Jo and her siblings barely speak Chinese. Chinglish is written in diary form and Jo explains the ups and downs of her new life in Coventry - school, friends and family.
I think it’s pretty clear that I loved Chinglish. I found Jo, the leading lady, to be highly relatable and her desire for “normal” parents (English parents) is something I understand. Reading this book made me feel less alone and I feel sad that 14-year-old Laura never had the chance to read books like this. That teenager never had the chance to read about chicken feet on the dinner table or strange herbal remedies. Weird to most readers I’m sure, but these are things I found relatable and amusing.
One criticism I have of the book is that it’s aim is not at all clear. Around half way through there is a major plot twist and the story becomes much darker. There are many references to domestic abuse and we never find out the outcome of this. I feel the ending was a little abrupt and unexpected and I wanted a little more. The loose ends are especially disconcerting since this is mostly autobiographical and many events would be deeply traumatising! This book definitely lends itself to becoming a series as there are lots of characters’ stories which remain unfinished.
If you’re of Chinese descent, I highly recommend reading this book. You will be able relate and you will laugh. It may well be the book you longed for as a teenager. If you’re unfamiliar with Chinese culture or the immigrant experience, I recommend reading this book. You’ll learn and you will laugh.
Yes 👏 For 👏 Diverse 👏 Literature 👏
Many thanks to Anderson Press for providing a review copy.
Find more book recommendations and book content on whatshotblog.com and @whatshotblog.
Whilst the family in Chinglish is not similar to my own (we do not own a chinese takeaway, my dad is English and he is not abusive), many of the protagonist’s experiences at school and with her peers are. I have bookmarked a number of passages where Jo described incidences that have echoed those in my own life. (“where are you REALLY from?”) and they are not ones I have ever seen in teen literature before. I feel certain that had I read books like this as a teenager I would’ve been more accepting of my wonderful (not weird) cultural background a lot sooner.
I’ll rewind now and explain what the book is about: It’s 1984 and we meet Jo, a teenage girl who has just moved to Coventry with her Chinese family. They live above the Chinese takeaway they own and it’s all her parents care about. Communication in their family is difficult as Jo’s parents and grandparents don’t speak English and Jo and her siblings barely speak Chinese. Chinglish is written in diary form and Jo explains the ups and downs of her new life in Coventry - school, friends and family.
I think it’s pretty clear that I loved Chinglish. I found Jo, the leading lady, to be highly relatable and her desire for “normal” parents (English parents) is something I understand. Reading this book made me feel less alone and I feel sad that 14-year-old Laura never had the chance to read books like this. That teenager never had the chance to read about chicken feet on the dinner table or strange herbal remedies. Weird to most readers I’m sure, but these are things I found relatable and amusing.
One criticism I have of the book is that it’s aim is not at all clear. Around half way through there is a major plot twist and the story becomes much darker. There are many references to domestic abuse and we never find out the outcome of this. I feel the ending was a little abrupt and unexpected and I wanted a little more. The loose ends are especially disconcerting since this is mostly autobiographical and many events would be deeply traumatising! This book definitely lends itself to becoming a series as there are lots of characters’ stories which remain unfinished.
If you’re of Chinese descent, I highly recommend reading this book. You will be able relate and you will laugh. It may well be the book you longed for as a teenager. If you’re unfamiliar with Chinese culture or the immigrant experience, I recommend reading this book. You’ll learn and you will laugh.
Yes 👏 For 👏 Diverse 👏 Literature 👏
Many thanks to Anderson Press for providing a review copy.
Find more book recommendations and book content on whatshotblog.com and @whatshotblog.
May 19, 2020
At first, I quite enjoyed this quirky novel that read like younger YA and reminded me of the Georgia Nicholson books with its lightheartedness and diary entries.
But it quickly became apparent that the book also dealt with some heavy topics, that became more and more prevalent the further the book went on.
Ultimately, I just didn't know what this book was trying to achieve by portraying such horrible abuse in such a quirky format. The result was that any real emotional depth went missing, and it just seemed like the subject matter wasn't taken seriously. It really felt like this book was having some sort of identity crisis.
Rep: Chinese MC
CWs: parental abuse & neglect, violence, animal death & abuse, (internalized) racism and racist slurs
But it quickly became apparent that the book also dealt with some heavy topics, that became more and more prevalent the further the book went on.
Ultimately, I just didn't know what this book was trying to achieve by portraying such horrible abuse in such a quirky format. The result was that any real emotional depth went missing, and it just seemed like the subject matter wasn't taken seriously. It really felt like this book was having some sort of identity crisis.
Rep: Chinese MC
CWs: parental abuse & neglect, violence, animal death & abuse, (internalized) racism and racist slurs
April 3, 2020
A diary about a teen girl who, through diary entries, will tell us all about her family, the takeaway, her friends, being Chinese-English, and more. But it wasn't what I expected.
There is child abuse, negligence, animal abuse, racism, bullying, underage smoking (8-year old smoking), and I just didn't expect it. Going by the blurb I found this was a funny, silly diary about a Chinese-English girl who tries to find a place in the world while juggling her Chinese and English identity and never feeling truly home. Then there is a takeaway and I was curious to see how that one would come in the story. So yeah, it was a pretty OK-ish book with good moments, I am glad I had the chance to read it. But it just didn't work for me with the quirky/fun-ish writing and then all the darkness.
Meet Jo, Joanne, or her Chinese name: Yenzi. She is a 13/14 year old girl at the beginning of the book and has just moved to a new home. It isn't a big home and she is having a hard time with it. I could imagine, you don't just stuff 4 people in a tiny house with just 2 rooms. Plus, new people to befriend. But there is a brighter spot in the horizon, her grandparents and her brother are living closer by. Throughout the book we see her grow up, she goes from around 14 to 16+. We see her struggle in life and in school. The only thing that makes her truly happy is art! Yep, this girl can draw and I just loved seeing how with each year she got better at it. It was a fun progress and I was rooting for her each time she set new goals and entered competitions.
I loved Tina, especially in the beginning and then later again. She is a real friend to Jo and one of the girls who really stands by her side. I just loved her style and I loved that she wasn't afraid to tell the bullies a piece of her thoughts. It was great to see her celebrate Jo's birthday, as nobody really celebrated that in Jo's house.
Gurdeep was a bit weird, I wonder if the girl herself noticed or not. :P I had a big laugh though how she grew up and turned out to be.
I was a bit shocked at the child abuse, the book quite made it seem like this would be a funny, light-hearted book about a girl finding her place in the world, how the takeaway worked, how her family was. But right from the start we have negligence, Bonnie (the youngest at that part of the book) is smoking, stealing (well her brother and sister do it as well), selling stolen stuff and more. Jo, our MC, has to take care of her sister making sure she has clothes and food. This was already pretty, OMG parents whut? But then later on the book gets REAL dark when we find out why they moved, why Simon (the brother) left the house, and see various terrible abuse happen by the hands of the father which was just OMG, holy NOPE.
I really wasn't a fan of the parents. You have lived in a country for years, LEARN THE FREAKING LANGUAGE. >< I don't give a dip that you have work, just find someone to help (and not your freaking kids thank you). It will make everything easier and maybe you will feel happier.
Plus, the parents apparently didn't give a fig that the kids were trying hard to set their own paths, Simon got a lot of hate because of his future plans.
Later on there is a new addition to the family, and I was just NOPING all the way. Why the hell? You already can't handle the two kids you have and are already neglecting them and you know how the father is, what in the hell possessed you to do this?
Just want to vent about the animal abuse and how it was all done about in a humorous (in my eyes at least) way.
A big -1 star for the animal abuse. 1). you don't hoover up a hamster and then just not take it to a fucking vet or someone who knows about animals. You don't just throw it back in the cage and just hope it may come to live again. 2). you then don't proceed to go to the park and release a fucking tame animal who is still traumatised and sick. 3). You don't get a new hamster and then proceed to have your dad take it on walks and thus losing it. 4). You don't take goats as they may be easier to care for and give them all sorts of shitty food to eat. And you don't rip apart two animals who have been together for ages like that. 5). You don't get a dog if you have failed to care for all the above and then proceed to feed it fucking donuts? And other junk food? Don't give it training or whatever? 6). And just no to the bird. 7). Someone needs to fire that pet store owner of the first hamster for letting a freaking 8 year old just buy it on a whim.
This really ruined the book for me. I hate animal abuse and I was already seriously pissed at the poor hamsters being treated like absolutely shit, but then other animals showed up and my frustration and anger at these people grew and grew.
Would I recommend this one? Eh, not sure. Again, maybe if it was less quirky/funny written and more serious + the blurb updated and some warnings added I may have given it a different rating. Then again, if I had known about the abuse I may have just not tried it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
There is child abuse, negligence, animal abuse, racism, bullying, underage smoking (8-year old smoking), and I just didn't expect it. Going by the blurb I found this was a funny, silly diary about a Chinese-English girl who tries to find a place in the world while juggling her Chinese and English identity and never feeling truly home. Then there is a takeaway and I was curious to see how that one would come in the story. So yeah, it was a pretty OK-ish book with good moments, I am glad I had the chance to read it. But it just didn't work for me with the quirky/fun-ish writing and then all the darkness.
Meet Jo, Joanne, or her Chinese name: Yenzi. She is a 13/14 year old girl at the beginning of the book and has just moved to a new home. It isn't a big home and she is having a hard time with it. I could imagine, you don't just stuff 4 people in a tiny house with just 2 rooms. Plus, new people to befriend. But there is a brighter spot in the horizon, her grandparents and her brother are living closer by. Throughout the book we see her grow up, she goes from around 14 to 16+. We see her struggle in life and in school. The only thing that makes her truly happy is art! Yep, this girl can draw and I just loved seeing how with each year she got better at it. It was a fun progress and I was rooting for her each time she set new goals and entered competitions.
I loved Tina, especially in the beginning and then later again. She is a real friend to Jo and one of the girls who really stands by her side. I just loved her style and I loved that she wasn't afraid to tell the bullies a piece of her thoughts. It was great to see her celebrate Jo's birthday, as nobody really celebrated that in Jo's house.
Gurdeep was a bit weird, I wonder if the girl herself noticed or not. :P I had a big laugh though how she grew up and turned out to be.
I was a bit shocked at the child abuse, the book quite made it seem like this would be a funny, light-hearted book about a girl finding her place in the world, how the takeaway worked, how her family was. But right from the start we have negligence, Bonnie (the youngest at that part of the book) is smoking, stealing (well her brother and sister do it as well), selling stolen stuff and more. Jo, our MC, has to take care of her sister making sure she has clothes and food. This was already pretty, OMG parents whut? But then later on the book gets REAL dark when we find out why they moved, why Simon (the brother) left the house, and see various terrible abuse happen by the hands of the father which was just OMG, holy NOPE.
I really wasn't a fan of the parents. You have lived in a country for years, LEARN THE FREAKING LANGUAGE. >< I don't give a dip that you have work, just find someone to help (and not your freaking kids thank you). It will make everything easier and maybe you will feel happier.
Plus, the parents apparently didn't give a fig that the kids were trying hard to set their own paths, Simon got a lot of hate because of his future plans.
Later on there is a new addition to the family, and I was just NOPING all the way. Why the hell? You already can't handle the two kids you have and are already neglecting them and you know how the father is, what in the hell possessed you to do this?
Just want to vent about the animal abuse and how it was all done about in a humorous (in my eyes at least) way.
A big -1 star for the animal abuse. 1). you don't hoover up a hamster and then just not take it to a fucking vet or someone who knows about animals. You don't just throw it back in the cage and just hope it may come to live again. 2). you then don't proceed to go to the park and release a fucking tame animal who is still traumatised and sick. 3). You don't get a new hamster and then proceed to have your dad take it on walks and thus losing it. 4). You don't take goats as they may be easier to care for and give them all sorts of shitty food to eat. And you don't rip apart two animals who have been together for ages like that. 5). You don't get a dog if you have failed to care for all the above and then proceed to feed it fucking donuts? And other junk food? Don't give it training or whatever? 6). And just no to the bird. 7). Someone needs to fire that pet store owner of the first hamster for letting a freaking 8 year old just buy it on a whim.
This really ruined the book for me. I hate animal abuse and I was already seriously pissed at the poor hamsters being treated like absolutely shit, but then other animals showed up and my frustration and anger at these people grew and grew.
Would I recommend this one? Eh, not sure. Again, maybe if it was less quirky/funny written and more serious + the blurb updated and some warnings added I may have given it a different rating. Then again, if I had known about the abuse I may have just not tried it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
December 5, 2021
Maybe don't make light of child abuse and animal cruelty (the author even acknowledges that all her "unfortunate pets" are real) if you wanna discuss racism.
✨ "It's a bit weird though, cos I always feel Chinese when I'm with English people and English when I'm Chinese people. It's never one or the other. It's a bit crap."
Based on the author's real life and "woven together with fiction," this book is told through the POV of a girl from 13 ages to 16 (Year 1984 to 1987). The diary format and illustrations made this a fun and easy read initially. I really felt for the protagonist, who experiences a lot of upheaval and racism in her life. Some scenes that pained me:
- Being asked the dreaded 'where are you from?' even though most people don't see what's wrong with it
- Looking into the mirror to check her eyes after being called 'chinky' by peers who pull their eyes into slits
- Actually thinking that she smelt like soya sauce after being made fun of and washing all of her clothes
I was really invested in her life and kept rooting for her. The entire story itself was wholesome and I enjoyed it. And while I would normally give a 4-star rating for this level of enjoyment, the animal cruelty and child abuse in the book makes me very uncomfortable and warrants 0 stars.
Other reviews have talked about this at length but at a glance:
Domestic and child abuse:
- Holding your wife in a headlock
- Pointing a knife at her throat while in said headlock
- Throwing your son into a nettle field
- Shoving your daughter's head into the toilet bowl
- Flushing said toilet bowl
- Punching her in the back
- Kicking your 2-year-old daughter around like a football
Animal abuse:
- Forgetting about your hamster in its ball, covered in poo
- Vaccuming said hamster and then dumping it back in its cage
- Releasing it into the "wild" at the mercy of dogs
- Getting another hamster
- Taking said hamster for a walk on a leash and letting it to escape
- Feeding your goats trash like mooncakes and Weetabix
- Having one goat "explode" due to a bloated stomach from junk food
- Getting a dog and a bird and subjecting them to more horrors
An overall 3-star rating is very generous.
✨ "It's a bit weird though, cos I always feel Chinese when I'm with English people and English when I'm Chinese people. It's never one or the other. It's a bit crap."
Based on the author's real life and "woven together with fiction," this book is told through the POV of a girl from 13 ages to 16 (Year 1984 to 1987). The diary format and illustrations made this a fun and easy read initially. I really felt for the protagonist, who experiences a lot of upheaval and racism in her life. Some scenes that pained me:
- Being asked the dreaded 'where are you from?' even though most people don't see what's wrong with it
- Looking into the mirror to check her eyes after being called 'chinky' by peers who pull their eyes into slits
- Actually thinking that she smelt like soya sauce after being made fun of and washing all of her clothes
I was really invested in her life and kept rooting for her. The entire story itself was wholesome and I enjoyed it. And while I would normally give a 4-star rating for this level of enjoyment, the animal cruelty and child abuse in the book makes me very uncomfortable and warrants 0 stars.
Other reviews have talked about this at length but at a glance:
Domestic and child abuse:
- Holding your wife in a headlock
- Pointing a knife at her throat while in said headlock
- Throwing your son into a nettle field
- Shoving your daughter's head into the toilet bowl
- Flushing said toilet bowl
- Punching her in the back
- Kicking your 2-year-old daughter around like a football
Animal abuse:
- Forgetting about your hamster in its ball, covered in poo
- Vaccuming said hamster and then dumping it back in its cage
- Releasing it into the "wild" at the mercy of dogs
- Getting another hamster
- Taking said hamster for a walk on a leash and letting it to escape
- Feeding your goats trash like mooncakes and Weetabix
- Having one goat "explode" due to a bloated stomach from junk food
- Getting a dog and a bird and subjecting them to more horrors
An overall 3-star rating is very generous.
June 9, 2021
I picked up this book because I thought it would be a fun read and something I could relate to.
Jo's story is definitely more dramatic than my story growing up in the UK but it was still relatable in some degree. I don't think I know any Asian who has grown up here who doesn't have some sort of story about bullying or feeling out of place.
My heart broke for Jo as the story progressed. I literally thought it was going to be a mostly happy-go-lucky story but as the story goes on it takes a dark turn.
I wish we had gotten more closure on some issues in regards to her family but I suppose that wasn't really the point of the story.
Also think it was wild how all this dark stuff was going on and then next thing you know everything is all okay again? I mean I guess I understand from a teen point of view that's how extreme life is. One second it's awful and the next it's not but there was a lot in there that shouldn't have really been glossed over towards the end.
I'm glad things worked out for Jo in the end though. Because I don't think I would've been able to take it if she never made it out of her situation.
Still, a good story that I enjoyed. And I do think it was important that this wasn't just another lighthearted story because we need to hear these stories that have some grit to them.
Also probably could have done without all the UR (unknown reason) it annoyed me a lot lol.
I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for something to read!
Jo's story is definitely more dramatic than my story growing up in the UK but it was still relatable in some degree. I don't think I know any Asian who has grown up here who doesn't have some sort of story about bullying or feeling out of place.
My heart broke for Jo as the story progressed. I literally thought it was going to be a mostly happy-go-lucky story but as the story goes on it takes a dark turn.
I wish we had gotten more closure on some issues in regards to her family but I suppose that wasn't really the point of the story.
Also think it was wild how all this dark stuff was going on and then next thing you know everything is all okay again? I mean I guess I understand from a teen point of view that's how extreme life is. One second it's awful and the next it's not but there was a lot in there that shouldn't have really been glossed over towards the end.
I'm glad things worked out for Jo in the end though. Because I don't think I would've been able to take it if she never made it out of her situation.
Still, a good story that I enjoyed. And I do think it was important that this wasn't just another lighthearted story because we need to hear these stories that have some grit to them.
Also probably could have done without all the UR (unknown reason) it annoyed me a lot lol.
I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for something to read!
August 16, 2019
Big thank you to @definitely books for sending me a ARC of Chinglish. This book will be in all good bookstores in September 2019! #chinglishbook
I speak Chinglish with my family. I am a Chinese from Malaysia. I am a Chinese-Malaysian. Hence,I can relate to this book a lot. Chinglish is an almost entirely true story by Sue Cheung. It tells the story of Jo Kwan living in the UK with her Chinese family. They are not well off, thus they need to save money on redundant things. Her family owns a Chinese takeaway shop. Jo is in High School and she like everyone wants to fit in and not get targeted.
Her story is written in a diary format which I found quite interesting as you don't see that often in YA. It brought me the nostalgia of reading middle-grade books like Dork Diaries and The Diaries of a Whimpy Kid. Her story felt more personal in this format, it was like sneakingly reading my friend's diary to know more about her underneath all those walls. Never do that in real life though! Reading Jo's story made me want to stand up for the unfairness in her life, especially for the way her parents treated her and her siblings. They made them feel unloved and unwanted. Her parents also do not see the importance of education, they want Jo to quit school and start learning the ropes in the family business. My proud girl, Jo did succeed in school. Moreover, she encouraged her sister to do the same. To quote her "Doing well in school is how you can get out of here" , "here" being the toxic, abusive family environment they live in. The doodles which added comic amusement in the book was very fun to read, it added a touch of personality to the pages.
I also wish to point out that the book deals with wth mental illness, bullying, and abuse. I hate to applaud the author for putting all of that into the book in a light-hearted way but still impactful. The message was powerful and clear in this book - Be whoever you want to be, do not change a trait of yourself just to fit in and be normal, love yourself enough to stay the same even though others strive to pull you down and always, always believe that there will be better days.
Thank you so much to @definitelybooks once more for sending me this ARC, I am delighted to have the opportunity to read it.
I speak Chinglish with my family. I am a Chinese from Malaysia. I am a Chinese-Malaysian. Hence,I can relate to this book a lot. Chinglish is an almost entirely true story by Sue Cheung. It tells the story of Jo Kwan living in the UK with her Chinese family. They are not well off, thus they need to save money on redundant things. Her family owns a Chinese takeaway shop. Jo is in High School and she like everyone wants to fit in and not get targeted.
Her story is written in a diary format which I found quite interesting as you don't see that often in YA. It brought me the nostalgia of reading middle-grade books like Dork Diaries and The Diaries of a Whimpy Kid. Her story felt more personal in this format, it was like sneakingly reading my friend's diary to know more about her underneath all those walls. Never do that in real life though! Reading Jo's story made me want to stand up for the unfairness in her life, especially for the way her parents treated her and her siblings. They made them feel unloved and unwanted. Her parents also do not see the importance of education, they want Jo to quit school and start learning the ropes in the family business. My proud girl, Jo did succeed in school. Moreover, she encouraged her sister to do the same. To quote her "Doing well in school is how you can get out of here" , "here" being the toxic, abusive family environment they live in. The doodles which added comic amusement in the book was very fun to read, it added a touch of personality to the pages.
I also wish to point out that the book deals with wth mental illness, bullying, and abuse. I hate to applaud the author for putting all of that into the book in a light-hearted way but still impactful. The message was powerful and clear in this book - Be whoever you want to be, do not change a trait of yourself just to fit in and be normal, love yourself enough to stay the same even though others strive to pull you down and always, always believe that there will be better days.
Thank you so much to @definitelybooks once more for sending me this ARC, I am delighted to have the opportunity to read it.
June 19, 2019
DISCLAIMER: I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Anderson Press who reached out to me and asked me to review Chinglish. I am honoured to have been given the opportunity.
“How do you explain you don’t speak Chinese when you parents are Chinese, you look Chinese and you live in a Chinese takeaway?!”
When I was asked if I wanted an advanced reading copy of this book for review I knew I needed to get my hands on it. Instantly the synopsis drew me, I thought that it would be a great light hearted and funny book .. something I definitely need in my life.
Chinglish succeeded in making me laugh. I absolutely loved Jo, I thought she was hilarious. I felt such a connection with her character and really felt like I was on the emotional rollercoaster she calls life with her. Whilst it made me laugh, I also liked the way that Sue explored important topics that were key for the YA audience. She knew when to have a joke but also when to reach out and make a connection with the audience in relation to key topics. Topics such as diversity, child abuse, domestic violence and bullying to name a few.
I found this book really easy to read which is another reason I enjoyed my time reading it. The fact that it is written in a diary form really helped with this, I enjoyed the format and definitely found it difficult to put down. Another unique YA technique that I found great in this book was the use of illustrations and diagrams. This really helped me to stay engaged with the book and most of the illustrations made me laugh. I really looked forward to the next one throughout.
This book portrayed certain messages that I believe are so important for its target audience. I feel like it teaches teenagers that it is okay to be who you are, that you should not change and embrace the differences between you and your peers. Another important message is to always follow your dreams. Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t do something, if you have your heart set on something .. go for it and if you fail .. go for it again.
Overall, I did enjoy my time reading this book and I am glad that I got the opportunity to read it. This book is released in September 2019 and I would recommend that you pick this book up!
“How do you explain you don’t speak Chinese when you parents are Chinese, you look Chinese and you live in a Chinese takeaway?!”
When I was asked if I wanted an advanced reading copy of this book for review I knew I needed to get my hands on it. Instantly the synopsis drew me, I thought that it would be a great light hearted and funny book .. something I definitely need in my life.
Chinglish succeeded in making me laugh. I absolutely loved Jo, I thought she was hilarious. I felt such a connection with her character and really felt like I was on the emotional rollercoaster she calls life with her. Whilst it made me laugh, I also liked the way that Sue explored important topics that were key for the YA audience. She knew when to have a joke but also when to reach out and make a connection with the audience in relation to key topics. Topics such as diversity, child abuse, domestic violence and bullying to name a few.
I found this book really easy to read which is another reason I enjoyed my time reading it. The fact that it is written in a diary form really helped with this, I enjoyed the format and definitely found it difficult to put down. Another unique YA technique that I found great in this book was the use of illustrations and diagrams. This really helped me to stay engaged with the book and most of the illustrations made me laugh. I really looked forward to the next one throughout.
This book portrayed certain messages that I believe are so important for its target audience. I feel like it teaches teenagers that it is okay to be who you are, that you should not change and embrace the differences between you and your peers. Another important message is to always follow your dreams. Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t do something, if you have your heart set on something .. go for it and if you fail .. go for it again.
Overall, I did enjoy my time reading this book and I am glad that I got the opportunity to read it. This book is released in September 2019 and I would recommend that you pick this book up!
September 13, 2020
"𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙖𝙢 𝙘𝙤𝙨 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄'𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚." -page 226 😭
I absolutely loved this book. I won a copy at YALC last year. It's written in diary form and is based on the author's life. Jo is a young British-Chinese girl, growing up in the 1980's. It starts off quite light-hearted with cute illustrations. But the more you learn about Jo the harder her story is to read.
Jo is constantly bullied at school and her living conditions are horrific with an abusive father who gambles. You join the family as they are moving to a new place. Jo has high hopes that this place will be better where they lived before, but no. They live in a two roomed flat above their new Chinese takeaway where Jo ends up working there for HOURS.
She's surrounded by extended family and NO ONE HELPS HER. Her older brother has worked hard to escape and Jo realises that the only way out is to help herself. The characters are so courageous and the book does end with hope for Jo and hopefully her younger sibling too. I would love to find out more, what happens to Jo and her siblings next?
Thank you to the author for sharing her story through words and illustrations. It's a fascinating read with 80's/90's nostalgia (pixie boots!). This story will stay with me for a long time.
I absolutely loved this book. I won a copy at YALC last year. It's written in diary form and is based on the author's life. Jo is a young British-Chinese girl, growing up in the 1980's. It starts off quite light-hearted with cute illustrations. But the more you learn about Jo the harder her story is to read.
Jo is constantly bullied at school and her living conditions are horrific with an abusive father who gambles. You join the family as they are moving to a new place. Jo has high hopes that this place will be better where they lived before, but no. They live in a two roomed flat above their new Chinese takeaway where Jo ends up working there for HOURS.
She's surrounded by extended family and NO ONE HELPS HER. Her older brother has worked hard to escape and Jo realises that the only way out is to help herself. The characters are so courageous and the book does end with hope for Jo and hopefully her younger sibling too. I would love to find out more, what happens to Jo and her siblings next?
Thank you to the author for sharing her story through words and illustrations. It's a fascinating read with 80's/90's nostalgia (pixie boots!). This story will stay with me for a long time.
July 24, 2019
This book will make readers feel all sorts of emotions while reading the story—laugh at the comedic scenes, pity for what the characters go through, anger for how they are being treated by the people around them, happy as they are feeling happy and sad when they are too. This book is inspired by the author's almost entirely true story of her childhood and I'm not sure how I feel about that, to be honest.
Reading Jo Kwan's story makes me want to fight along her battles against all the injustices that she deals with on a daily basis. She has passed on an important message that you should pursue your own happiness and dream. That what other people said otherwise is nothing compared to what you truly want. Its your life after all so you do you!
The illustrations and doodles that were accompanied along with the story was so much fun and interesting. As well as the format of how it was written, in the form of a diary which makes it personal, precise and true. It would make it impossible for you to want to put this book down and instead you would just continue reading it until the end.
This was all in all a fun and a very interesting read. Highly recommended to anyone seeking for a story that will make you emotional, hopeful and entertained.
Reading Jo Kwan's story makes me want to fight along her battles against all the injustices that she deals with on a daily basis. She has passed on an important message that you should pursue your own happiness and dream. That what other people said otherwise is nothing compared to what you truly want. Its your life after all so you do you!
The illustrations and doodles that were accompanied along with the story was so much fun and interesting. As well as the format of how it was written, in the form of a diary which makes it personal, precise and true. It would make it impossible for you to want to put this book down and instead you would just continue reading it until the end.
This was all in all a fun and a very interesting read. Highly recommended to anyone seeking for a story that will make you emotional, hopeful and entertained.
September 6, 2019
“It’s hard to work out whether I’m Chinese or English but I know this for sure, the following aren’t normal no matter where you’re from:
* Exploding goats (don’t ask)
* Dealing with drunk customers (argh)
* Boiling maggots (ditto)
* Summer holidays to Little Chef (exotic)
* Mum trying to marry me off to David Wong (shudder)”
As Chinglish is a middle grade book, I’m not really the intended audience, and this wouldn’t be my normal genre choice, however it was hilariously funny and emotionally charged. A coming of age story told in the form of diary entries (think Adrian Mole meets Tracy Beaker), interspersed with wonderful illustrations that really brought the story to life.
Although this book covers some powerful and sensitive topics such as racism, abuse and bullying (trigger warnings if these topics affect you), it is also heartwarming, hopeful and laugh out loud funny.
Well written and easy to read, Chinglish was surprisingly entertaining and definitely one I would recommend.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to @darkroomtours @andersenpress, for providing a copy as part of a Bookstagram tour. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.
* Exploding goats (don’t ask)
* Dealing with drunk customers (argh)
* Boiling maggots (ditto)
* Summer holidays to Little Chef (exotic)
* Mum trying to marry me off to David Wong (shudder)”
As Chinglish is a middle grade book, I’m not really the intended audience, and this wouldn’t be my normal genre choice, however it was hilariously funny and emotionally charged. A coming of age story told in the form of diary entries (think Adrian Mole meets Tracy Beaker), interspersed with wonderful illustrations that really brought the story to life.
Although this book covers some powerful and sensitive topics such as racism, abuse and bullying (trigger warnings if these topics affect you), it is also heartwarming, hopeful and laugh out loud funny.
Well written and easy to read, Chinglish was surprisingly entertaining and definitely one I would recommend.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to @darkroomtours @andersenpress, for providing a copy as part of a Bookstagram tour. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.
January 9, 2021
Quite a real and vivid take on the life of BBCs/British-born Asians. Some of Jo’s experiences hit home but it was still enjoyable to read...other than the parts which took a darker turn towards the end, they just hurt :(
A few quotes which stuck out to me:
“...pulling their eyes into slits...but my eyes are nothing like that, they’re almond-shaped”
“will there ever be a day when I meet someone for the first time and they don’t mention anything about my Chineseness”
“I always feel Chinese when I’m with English people and English when I’m with Chinese people”
Probably won’t be something I’ll read again for a long time but it’ll serve as a reminder to keep working hard whenever I see it on my shelf!
A few quotes which stuck out to me:
“...pulling their eyes into slits...but my eyes are nothing like that, they’re almond-shaped”
“will there ever be a day when I meet someone for the first time and they don’t mention anything about my Chineseness”
“I always feel Chinese when I’m with English people and English when I’m with Chinese people”
Probably won’t be something I’ll read again for a long time but it’ll serve as a reminder to keep working hard whenever I see it on my shelf!
March 5, 2020
After initially giving this book 3 stars, upon reflection I have changed my rating to 4. It was difficult to enjoy at first as it seemed very simplistic and not what I had expected. However, it quickly developed into a book dealing with some pretty awful issues and yes, it remained simplistic but, written from a young teenagers perspective at the time, I feel that was perfect. A teenagers or young adults book but a quick enjoyable read for me which has provoked some thought
April 26, 2023
first read: Oh boy Oh man. as someone who is currently trying to escape familial trauma, this book had me SOBBING. 5 stars. 10/10. best book ever
first reread: read this after ma started hitting me and took my electronics away (only have my laptop at the moment for school but in an hour or so I get that taken away too). helping me through it.
first reread: read this after ma started hitting me and took my electronics away (only have my laptop at the moment for school but in an hour or so I get that taken away too). helping me through it.
February 6, 2024
Surprisingly hard hitting novel. Did not expect some of the topics to come up and them poor animals! Recommended for YA or older ages!
September 2, 2019
This was (for the most part) a fun novel in the format of a diary. It definitely had some of the vibes of classic diary novels, like Adrian Mole, and there are plenty of hilarious, laugh out loud moments.
Jo's story had so many elements, and there are certainly a lot of lessons to take from it. To me this read as a classic teenage novel, and I know I would have adored it if I had read it at 14-15, which is, I think, the intended age. Jo learns to appreciate herself, and her 'weirdness', she learns the value of friendship, and a whole bunch of other mini lessons.
There are plenty of serious moments to offset the hilarity, all of which is kept just a little bit lighter with constant illustrations and as much tongue in cheek text as possible. Some of the more serious moments are really unpleasant, and there are definitely a few trigger warnings that could be in place at the start of the book. I enjoyed Sue's wrap-up at the end, it's clear that a lot of Jo's narrative were actually Sue's random thoughts as she went along with her writing.
There are of course an interesting cast of characters, from the goth friend, to the rebellious little sister, and the 'posh', wealthier cousins. It all added up to a fascinating journey through the teens of an unfortunate 'Chinglish' girl and her equally unfortunate cousins.
Great read and as debut novels go, there's definitely lots on offer here!
*** Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review ***
Jo's story had so many elements, and there are certainly a lot of lessons to take from it. To me this read as a classic teenage novel, and I know I would have adored it if I had read it at 14-15, which is, I think, the intended age. Jo learns to appreciate herself, and her 'weirdness', she learns the value of friendship, and a whole bunch of other mini lessons.
There are plenty of serious moments to offset the hilarity, all of which is kept just a little bit lighter with constant illustrations and as much tongue in cheek text as possible. Some of the more serious moments are really unpleasant, and there are definitely a few trigger warnings that could be in place at the start of the book. I enjoyed Sue's wrap-up at the end, it's clear that a lot of Jo's narrative were actually Sue's random thoughts as she went along with her writing.
There are of course an interesting cast of characters, from the goth friend, to the rebellious little sister, and the 'posh', wealthier cousins. It all added up to a fascinating journey through the teens of an unfortunate 'Chinglish' girl and her equally unfortunate cousins.
Great read and as debut novels go, there's definitely lots on offer here!
*** Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review ***
November 16, 2019
Uh this book was wild from start to finish like I really thought it was gonna be some light hearted funny read but boy was I in for a surprise...
TW: Child abuse, violence, animal abuse
I mean it’s based on real life so like I REALLY HOPE SHE IS GOING TO THERAPY TO UNPACK ALL THAT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA!!!
Also I think she should have called childline or SOMETHING so her baby bro could have had like a better life and poor Bonny was left to do all that stuff when she’s a child?
Simon just ran off? Good for him but like??? Idek what kind of messed up dysfunctional family they were but whew I am glad she managed to get out BUT LIKE I HOPE SHE ACTUALLY GOT THERAPY TO DEAL WITH IT ALL and like it doesn’t explore enough about immigrant trauma or the racism experience or anything like that but this girl deal with A Lot.
I just??? What did I just read??? Idek man this was one messed up story like so disturbing poor girl got bullied and had to deal with her messed up family at home and then actually work in the takeaway and Idek
No one should suffer like that and yet there are so many kids in abusivo households 😔😔😔
TW: Child abuse, violence, animal abuse
I mean it’s based on real life so like I REALLY HOPE SHE IS GOING TO THERAPY TO UNPACK ALL THAT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA!!!
Also I think she should have called childline or SOMETHING so her baby bro could have had like a better life and poor Bonny was left to do all that stuff when she’s a child?
Simon just ran off? Good for him but like??? Idek what kind of messed up dysfunctional family they were but whew I am glad she managed to get out BUT LIKE I HOPE SHE ACTUALLY GOT THERAPY TO DEAL WITH IT ALL and like it doesn’t explore enough about immigrant trauma or the racism experience or anything like that but this girl deal with A Lot.
I just??? What did I just read??? Idek man this was one messed up story like so disturbing poor girl got bullied and had to deal with her messed up family at home and then actually work in the takeaway and Idek
No one should suffer like that and yet there are so many kids in abusivo households 😔😔😔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2021
An honest first hand account of what it was like being a second generation immigrant growing up in the UK in the 80s (spoiler alert, it was hostile). Cheung's heritage is woven into every page, but the story is bound to resonate with anyone who has been a teenager or felt at odds with their family. Joyous and funny, dark and difficult. Packed with nostalgia and great illustrations.
August 20, 2020
Expected a fairly frothy teen diary novel but it grows into much more than that. Very good, hysterically funny and heartbreaking and infuriating all at once.
May 8, 2021
Reading this was such a rollercoaster. Initially, there wasn’t much substance to judge it on.
Jo Kwan is 13 when we first met her, and her diary is somewhere she establishes to record the positive things she thinks are coming in her life after her family plan to move. The book reminded me a lot of middle grade books at the beginning like, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “Dork Diaries,” “Tom Gates” and so it was wholesome from the beginning but there wasn’t much drawing me in. Jo starts school- there’s mean girls, a nice art teacher, a kind goth, cute white boys and all the other tropes.
But back to cute white boys- this is when things become spicy and a whole lot more interesting. And it makes a very rapid twist of tone, as Jo eventually gives up on her attempt to be optimistic. We suddenly see her life for what it really is and her trauma is gradually revealed- showcased in horrific scenes of violence and her gradual mental decline.
This book ticked so many boxes for me: it was incredibly funny and wholesome, it’s set in the 80s, so many pop culture references, a protagonist who we can genuinely root for as we see her grow over the three years narrated in the novel.
Ultimately, Chinglish is such a heartbreaking display of the reality of being a first generation immigrant- of wanting to be good to our parents no matter how much they put us through. Of dysfunctional families that are constantly on the verge of collapsing behind close doors. It’s such a shocking and raw portrayal of being trapped in a small town. And it’s insane that Sue Cheung can convey all these heavy topics whilst maintaining a humorous approach.
Overall, I adored this book- I can see myself rereading it in the near future and it’s definitely going to stick with me.
Jo Kwan is 13 when we first met her, and her diary is somewhere she establishes to record the positive things she thinks are coming in her life after her family plan to move. The book reminded me a lot of middle grade books at the beginning like, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “Dork Diaries,” “Tom Gates” and so it was wholesome from the beginning but there wasn’t much drawing me in. Jo starts school- there’s mean girls, a nice art teacher, a kind goth, cute white boys and all the other tropes.
But back to cute white boys- this is when things become spicy and a whole lot more interesting. And it makes a very rapid twist of tone, as Jo eventually gives up on her attempt to be optimistic. We suddenly see her life for what it really is and her trauma is gradually revealed- showcased in horrific scenes of violence and her gradual mental decline.
This book ticked so many boxes for me: it was incredibly funny and wholesome, it’s set in the 80s, so many pop culture references, a protagonist who we can genuinely root for as we see her grow over the three years narrated in the novel.
Ultimately, Chinglish is such a heartbreaking display of the reality of being a first generation immigrant- of wanting to be good to our parents no matter how much they put us through. Of dysfunctional families that are constantly on the verge of collapsing behind close doors. It’s such a shocking and raw portrayal of being trapped in a small town. And it’s insane that Sue Cheung can convey all these heavy topics whilst maintaining a humorous approach.
Overall, I adored this book- I can see myself rereading it in the near future and it’s definitely going to stick with me.
September 11, 2019
Told in diary format over the years 1984 - 1987 this initially reminded me of Adrian Mole. I also got a blast from the past with some of the references. Who else remembers Wimpy?
Jo Kwan and her family move to Coventry and run and live above a Chinese takeaway 🥡 (hence my picture - like I needed an excuse to order tasty food - thankfully no chicken’s feet in my order tho!).
Through the character of Jo, Sue Cheung tells her own semi-autobiographical story of growing up in 80s England and finding herself caught between two cultures.
Having seen the film Blinded by the Light recently I got the same vibes, that conflict that teens find between who their families want them to be and who they are.
Although there are moments of humour, Chinglish tackled more serious subjects than I had anticipated and it balances the two well by showing us how Jo’s perspective changes as she grows up.
Every character in the story is complex and flawed and you can sense their realness. Each is both loveable and annoying in equal measure.
Sue also illustrates the book with doodles that definitely add to the experience - poor Billy 🐐.
An authentic 80s teen voice which can’t help but tell the good, the bad and the occasionally mundane. I’d be interested to read more about Jo/Sue’s life, and also maybe from younger sister Bonny’s perspective. I feel like some themes had space for further development - or that the stories started between characters weren’t complete.
Gifted a copy for the purposes of an honest review
Jo Kwan and her family move to Coventry and run and live above a Chinese takeaway 🥡 (hence my picture - like I needed an excuse to order tasty food - thankfully no chicken’s feet in my order tho!).
Through the character of Jo, Sue Cheung tells her own semi-autobiographical story of growing up in 80s England and finding herself caught between two cultures.
Having seen the film Blinded by the Light recently I got the same vibes, that conflict that teens find between who their families want them to be and who they are.
Although there are moments of humour, Chinglish tackled more serious subjects than I had anticipated and it balances the two well by showing us how Jo’s perspective changes as she grows up.
Every character in the story is complex and flawed and you can sense their realness. Each is both loveable and annoying in equal measure.
Sue also illustrates the book with doodles that definitely add to the experience - poor Billy 🐐.
An authentic 80s teen voice which can’t help but tell the good, the bad and the occasionally mundane. I’d be interested to read more about Jo/Sue’s life, and also maybe from younger sister Bonny’s perspective. I feel like some themes had space for further development - or that the stories started between characters weren’t complete.
Gifted a copy for the purposes of an honest review
June 23, 2021
TW: Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse, Physical Abuse, Racial Slurs.
I always find the star rating hard for young teens and tweens and kids books because I am not the target audience therefore my judgement will be swayed a bit. If I read this as a child I would rate above a 4*, now along a 3.5*.
Chinglish follows the diary and thoughts of a 13-14 year old girl who was raised my Chinese parents in England. Following Jo, you get all your everyday teen girl thoughts from when will I finally get taller, have a boyfriend and have some friends. To me this was a bit repetitive and dull but as a teen, who if I opened my diary again it would have looked identical to this (I also used to love Angus, Thongs series so diary-esq books were right up my alley in those days.)
As the book progresses you find deeper rooted issues in Jo's everyday life from having to deal with racism, not fitting in to either of her worlds, and domestic abuse. I for one really liked the way the book dealt with these topics, they were occasionally plot parts or briefly mentioned and then Jo's diary jumped straight back to school, bullies, and being with her best friend. and you know what? that's fine because as a child I feel I don't think you would really think about it any more than that.
I think books like this are great for raising awareness and compassion in kids as well as highlight who to turn to for help if you are in an abusive family dynamic.
I always find the star rating hard for young teens and tweens and kids books because I am not the target audience therefore my judgement will be swayed a bit. If I read this as a child I would rate above a 4*, now along a 3.5*.
Chinglish follows the diary and thoughts of a 13-14 year old girl who was raised my Chinese parents in England. Following Jo, you get all your everyday teen girl thoughts from when will I finally get taller, have a boyfriend and have some friends. To me this was a bit repetitive and dull but as a teen, who if I opened my diary again it would have looked identical to this (I also used to love Angus, Thongs series so diary-esq books were right up my alley in those days.)
As the book progresses you find deeper rooted issues in Jo's everyday life from having to deal with racism, not fitting in to either of her worlds, and domestic abuse. I for one really liked the way the book dealt with these topics, they were occasionally plot parts or briefly mentioned and then Jo's diary jumped straight back to school, bullies, and being with her best friend. and you know what? that's fine because as a child I feel I don't think you would really think about it any more than that.
I think books like this are great for raising awareness and compassion in kids as well as highlight who to turn to for help if you are in an abusive family dynamic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2024
"Because you're the older sister. You're expected to look after the younger ones, just like I did with your aunties and uncles."
If you want to understand some of the eldest daughters' sufferings and what we have to put up in our family, I suggest you read this book.
Chinglish is about Jo Kwan (or Jo Kwan's diary) whose life revolved around her dysfunctional family, bullies at school, her love for art and her wish to escape her home forever. This book is written in a diary like writings so it's fun to read (though I don't think what Jo's going through are fun at all). Jo had to go through a lot in her family and not only that, she's also being bullied at school! Her only comfort people were her best friend Tina, her art teacher and probably her older brother. There's a lot of frustration Jo vented inside her diary (this book) and the reality she had to endure day by day.
PS: As an eldest daughter myself, I approved this book! To all eldest daughters out there, may we finally find our courage and finally living our dream lives one day.
If you want to understand some of the eldest daughters' sufferings and what we have to put up in our family, I suggest you read this book.
Chinglish is about Jo Kwan (or Jo Kwan's diary) whose life revolved around her dysfunctional family, bullies at school, her love for art and her wish to escape her home forever. This book is written in a diary like writings so it's fun to read (though I don't think what Jo's going through are fun at all). Jo had to go through a lot in her family and not only that, she's also being bullied at school! Her only comfort people were her best friend Tina, her art teacher and probably her older brother. There's a lot of frustration Jo vented inside her diary (this book) and the reality she had to endure day by day.
PS: As an eldest daughter myself, I approved this book! To all eldest daughters out there, may we finally find our courage and finally living our dream lives one day.
November 3, 2019
In a time when collectivism is pushed by the status quo (i.e., conformity) over individuality, it's refreshing to see a book, particularly a book aimed at young readers, that promotes individuality. Chinglish tells the story of a teenager growing up between cultures in 1980s England. She doesn't quite identify as Chinese, doesn't quite identify as English. She's a girl with no country! Of course, when tribalism fails the intelligent, individuality will emerge. This is a book that could only come from a Gen X writer. Neither Boomers nor Millennials seem to appreciate the power of individuality the way Generation X does (or, at least, did; I don't know where the majority of my generation has gone off to, but I'm happy to see Sue Cheung hasn't forgotten what it was like to overcome bullies in the 1980s by simply being yourself). Hopefully, the generation after the Millennials will read books like this and the art of TRULY being yourself will re-emerge. The engine of evolution, after all, is powered by individuals. Highly recommended.
November 22, 2021
This, mostly true story, about a young girl, Jo, growing up as a teen in the early 80s with her parents and siblings in their Chinese takeaway, is heartwarming, harrowing, funny and broke my heart.
Written as a diary, Jo tells of her trials and tribulations of being a teen in a small town in England as she faced fitting in, friendships, dating, body image, racism and also abuse. All this was amazingly depicted through a thread of humour and beautfiul illustrations by the author.
It's been a while since a book has made me laugh one minute and then break my heart the next. And Jo is one of the most resilient, determined and amazing characters (actually pretty much the author's life - so actual person) that you are rooting for the whole time.
I highly recommend this book for YA fans and those wanting to try YA.
Written as a diary, Jo tells of her trials and tribulations of being a teen in a small town in England as she faced fitting in, friendships, dating, body image, racism and also abuse. All this was amazingly depicted through a thread of humour and beautfiul illustrations by the author.
It's been a while since a book has made me laugh one minute and then break my heart the next. And Jo is one of the most resilient, determined and amazing characters (actually pretty much the author's life - so actual person) that you are rooting for the whole time.
I highly recommend this book for YA fans and those wanting to try YA.
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July 19, 2020I was waiting for this book with bated breath ... we have heaps of first generation Asian/NZ girls at our school, and I was looking forward to hearing an authentic voice, but ...
this was two (if not three) books in one! Fab little cartoons, and engaging story of a young Chinese/English girl starting high school, funny and charming, but ...
certain parts were such racial stereotypes, I felt very uncomfortable reading them. Like the continued mention of chicken feet, and how the family treated various animals they owned. Then ...
the story moved up a notch, as Jo got older (up to 16), her family got more fractured, and with her escape, her little sister (a chain smoking thief) was left to bear the brunt of takeaway life.
I understand this story to be largely autobiographical, but whilst I liked the character of Jo, I did feel a bit put out that she seemed to have no empathy or understanding of what made her parents as horrible as they seemed. Because whilst she was definitely a victim, her parents were too, and their life choices were obviously very restricted by racism (although her dad's gambling addiction certainly didn't help!).
So please, Sue Cheung, can you rewrite as two separate books?! One for an audience of 10-13 year olds, and then a more graphic one for a young adult audience. Then I would be able to feel happy giving a 5 star rating, which is what I think it could deserve.
this was two (if not three) books in one! Fab little cartoons, and engaging story of a young Chinese/English girl starting high school, funny and charming, but ...
certain parts were such racial stereotypes, I felt very uncomfortable reading them. Like the continued mention of chicken feet, and how the family treated various animals they owned. Then ...
the story moved up a notch, as Jo got older (up to 16), her family got more fractured, and with her escape, her little sister (a chain smoking thief) was left to bear the brunt of takeaway life.
I understand this story to be largely autobiographical, but whilst I liked the character of Jo, I did feel a bit put out that she seemed to have no empathy or understanding of what made her parents as horrible as they seemed. Because whilst she was definitely a victim, her parents were too, and their life choices were obviously very restricted by racism (although her dad's gambling addiction certainly didn't help!).
So please, Sue Cheung, can you rewrite as two separate books?! One for an audience of 10-13 year olds, and then a more graphic one for a young adult audience. Then I would be able to feel happy giving a 5 star rating, which is what I think it could deserve.
May 11, 2020
assumed this was going to be a recount/reflection of her youth, but it was directly written as her 13 year old self. obviously written for a tiny teen audience. but i carried on anyway, (reviews were mostly positive). AND THEN it delves into her experience of child abuse, not appropriate for tiny teens??? but then she tried to make it comedic still, totally bizarre bye
January 7, 2020
Crikey - this starts off as a larky Adrian Mole-style diary about growing up in the Midlands in the 80s, and then takes a very dark turn halfway through. That worked pretty well for making a very dysfunctional family story very accessible, but I was desperate to call social services on the lot of them before the end, rather than waiting for the heroine to be saved by Mizz magazine.
March 2, 2020
Много ми хареса, че не беше всичко розово и прекрасно, а авторката разказваше и за тежките неща от израстването си, които неминуемо са я белязали за цял живот.
January 5, 2020
Page turning book, once I started I couldn't put it down!! I cried, laughed and smiled through every page! Being born in Britain and being raised in Spain I found the whole family/language barrier very relatable.
-Jo, Bonny and Simon only speak English
-Their mum speaks very little English
-Their grandparents only speak Chinese
-Dad? He speaks pretty good English and Chinese but keeps his mouth shut
This book has everything: Teen angst, family troubles, exploding goats, hamsters in vacuums and a happy ending! I really recommend Chinglish to... well anybody really! 😊😊
-Jo, Bonny and Simon only speak English
-Their mum speaks very little English
-Their grandparents only speak Chinese
-Dad? He speaks pretty good English and Chinese but keeps his mouth shut
This book has everything: Teen angst, family troubles, exploding goats, hamsters in vacuums and a happy ending! I really recommend Chinglish to... well anybody really! 😊😊
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