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The Many Meanings of Meilan
“The little girl I was would have been thrilled to encounter Meilan... having found a character who embraces the complexity of being both Chinese and American, I would have been able to echo her 'I am not alone.'” —New York Times Book Review by Jean Kwok A family feud before the start of seventh grade propels Meilan from Boston's Chinatown to rural Ohio, where she must tap into her inner strength and sense of justice to make a new place for herself in this resonant debut.Meilan Hua's world is made up of a few key her family's beloved matriarch, Nai Nai; the bakery her parents, aunts, and uncles own and run in Boston's Chinatown; and her favorite Chinese fairy tales. After Nai Nai passes, the family has a falling-out that sends Meilan, her parents, and her grieving grandfather on the road in search of a new home. They take a winding path across the country before landing in Redbud, Ohio. Everything in Redbud is the opposite of Chinatown, and Meilan's not quite sure who she is--being renamed at school only makes it worse. She decides she is many Meilans, each inspired by a different Chinese character with the same pronunciation as her name. Sometimes she is Mist, cooling and invisible; other times, she's Basket, carrying her parents' hopes and dreams and her guilt of not living up to them; and occasionally she is bright Blue, the way she feels around her new friend Logan. Meilan keeps her facets separate until an injustice at school shows her the power of bringing her many selves together. The Many Meanings of Meilan, written in stunning prose by Newbery Honor-winning author Andrea Wang, is an exploration of all the things it's possible to grieve, the injustices large and small that make us rage, and the peace that's unlocked when we learn to find home within ourselves.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2021
35 people are currently reading
3091 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Wang
16 books178 followersAndrea Wang is the award-winning author of Watercress (Caldecott Medal, Newbery Honor, APALA Award, Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, JLG Gold Standard Selection, seven starred reviews), The Nian Monster (APALA Honor), Magic Ramen (Freeman Book Award Honor). Her debut middle grade novel, The Many Meanings of Meilan, was reviewed by the New York Times, has two starred reviews, and is also a JLG Gold Standard Selection. Her work explores culture, creative thinking, and identity. She is also the author of seven nonfiction titles for the library and school market. Andrea holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing for Young People. She lives in the Denver area with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
November 21, 2023
Oh I wish I didn't wait for forever to begin this book. It was such a delight getting to know Meilan. CW: injury of second character, racism towards Asian communities, stereotyping, bullying from students and school leadership, PTSD, grief.
The Many Meanings of Meilan is a middle grade contemporary novel that follows oral storytelling Meilan. Unfortunately, Meilan tells a story that causes her family to fall apart leading to their departure from Boston to head to Ohio. While beginning a new school in Ohio, Meilan quickly begins to encounter microaggressive behavior from students as well as school staff members. To try to keep the taunting and bullying at bay, she attempts to make herself invisible. Woven with both beautiful and heartbreaking moments, readers watch Meilan develop a strength, courage, and confidence in herself that helps push back against the antiquated and harmful views of the community.
What I Enjoyed: I absolutely adored Meilan as a character. Her entire narrative is something quite a few middle grade reviewers can connect with and appreciate. While she deals with the ups and downs of her new school, Meilan also is dealing with the grief associated with her grandmother's death as well as the fracturing of her family. Wang permitted Meilan to feel every emotion needed to process everything around her, but she refused to let her give up hope. This book isn't a book of perfection. The people who are rude, dishonest, and outright racist do not face any realistic consequences for their actions. Unfortunately, that's a reality and instead of creating a perfect situation in which everyone will be held responsible for their actions, Wang focused on Meilan finding the power and strength in her identity and voice. There is a particular scene in which Meilan finally stands up to the principal. Like a proud mother, I was cheering her on to finally draw the line on what she felt like was appropriate and inappropriate. She declared that her identity was not justification for his stereotyping, gaslighting, and obvious racist rhetoric. That is the real joy of this book: a character finds happiness in the many ways that they can exist. There are also some great explorations of Mandarin (I highly recommend listening to this on audio), language justice, as well as historical information related to the Vietnam War.
What Didn't Work: I think that Meilan's family could have used a little more time on page. While her grandfather plays a vital role in the book towards the end, I think that readers could have appreciated getting to know the family members that were involved in the family's fall out. They fell a little flat and felt more catalysts of the plot instead of well developed characters.
Overall, this was a great middle grade read. I've read a few other works by Andrea Wang and I'm looking forward to checking out more.
The Many Meanings of Meilan is a middle grade contemporary novel that follows oral storytelling Meilan. Unfortunately, Meilan tells a story that causes her family to fall apart leading to their departure from Boston to head to Ohio. While beginning a new school in Ohio, Meilan quickly begins to encounter microaggressive behavior from students as well as school staff members. To try to keep the taunting and bullying at bay, she attempts to make herself invisible. Woven with both beautiful and heartbreaking moments, readers watch Meilan develop a strength, courage, and confidence in herself that helps push back against the antiquated and harmful views of the community.
What I Enjoyed: I absolutely adored Meilan as a character. Her entire narrative is something quite a few middle grade reviewers can connect with and appreciate. While she deals with the ups and downs of her new school, Meilan also is dealing with the grief associated with her grandmother's death as well as the fracturing of her family. Wang permitted Meilan to feel every emotion needed to process everything around her, but she refused to let her give up hope. This book isn't a book of perfection. The people who are rude, dishonest, and outright racist do not face any realistic consequences for their actions. Unfortunately, that's a reality and instead of creating a perfect situation in which everyone will be held responsible for their actions, Wang focused on Meilan finding the power and strength in her identity and voice. There is a particular scene in which Meilan finally stands up to the principal. Like a proud mother, I was cheering her on to finally draw the line on what she felt like was appropriate and inappropriate. She declared that her identity was not justification for his stereotyping, gaslighting, and obvious racist rhetoric. That is the real joy of this book: a character finds happiness in the many ways that they can exist. There are also some great explorations of Mandarin (I highly recommend listening to this on audio), language justice, as well as historical information related to the Vietnam War.
What Didn't Work: I think that Meilan's family could have used a little more time on page. While her grandfather plays a vital role in the book towards the end, I think that readers could have appreciated getting to know the family members that were involved in the family's fall out. They fell a little flat and felt more catalysts of the plot instead of well developed characters.
Overall, this was a great middle grade read. I've read a few other works by Andrea Wang and I'm looking forward to checking out more.
August 13, 2021
Meilan Hua's name translates to Beautiful Orchid. Her family nickname is Lan. When Lan is working on her Mandarin, she discovers that the Chinese characters that make up her name have several different meanings: Blue, Basket, and Mist. Which one is she? As she navigates the family move from Boston Chinatown to Redbud, Ohio she goes into Mist mode at school. At home she feels like a basket that has too many feeling bricks to hold. As she begins to make friends, she is Blue like a Starling. There is much to love and learn from in this new middle grade novel. Lan's friendship with Logan and her relationship with Liam provide enlightening glimpses of learning from other cultures and sibling interaction. It is a really special moment when she shares the story of her name and they stop calling her Melanie (the name the principal gives her when she enrolls). The Veteran's Day project is also a fantastic way of unpacking the complexity of war, specifically the Vietnam conflict. The pies and baked goods mentioned sound so yummy. Throughout Mandarin phrases are included in advice or comments given by Lan's parents and grandfather. A phrase diary is included at the end of the book with the English equivalent. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Kokila and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Kokila and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2021
Names and stories have power and meaning, something that 12-year-old Meilan Hua discovers after a story she makes up seems to cause the disintegration of her family. Leaving Chinatown in Boston behind, the only home she’s ever known, she along with her father, mother, and grandfather end up in Redbud Ohio. There, the principal of Meilan’s new school deems her name too foreign and renames her Melanie, much to her disgust and frustration. Despite a growing friendship with a boy, Meilan feels isolated and alone. She has lost her name. She decides to take on the different meanings of her Chinese name and becomes Mist, Blue, and Basket, trying to disappear and blend in while carrying the burdens of her own guilt with the grief of her family. It isn’t until she is finally fed up with the way she is treated that Meilan starts to see the power of her name and who she can be.
The Many Meanings of Meilan is a powerful and beautiful story about justice, family love, and standing up for your truth. I love Meilan’s fortitude, her strong love for her family, and how she pushes past her own insecurities. Author Andrea Wang, just like her character Meilan, is gifted at telling stories that are deep and true.
The Many Meanings of Meilan is a powerful and beautiful story about justice, family love, and standing up for your truth. I love Meilan’s fortitude, her strong love for her family, and how she pushes past her own insecurities. Author Andrea Wang, just like her character Meilan, is gifted at telling stories that are deep and true.
March 31, 2023
6 stars
i'm soooo conflicted because this is a 6-star in my heart and it means the world to girls meilan's age—i wish i had this when i was younger—but i was really close to giving it 4 because i felt like there were no consequences for the horrible shit the white people in this book put meilan and her family through. from anglicizing meilan's name, to making her dig up her grandpa's past traumas, to the shop owner not allowing meilan's dad to leave work in the middle of a family emergency, to her getting unjustly punished for a white bully's shitfuckery, to the controversial adage of "soldiers just doing their jobs" regarding the vietnam war—i'm vietnamese and chinese so this was especially hard to grapple with.
on the one hand, all of this is realistic and it's important to highlight our experiences as we are not a monolith. on the other hand, i'm the type of reader who usually reads for escapism and i didn't expect this level of realism nor did i expect this many heavy subjects. i had to stop to cry a couple of times because it brought me back to not-so-great times in school. i ultimately stuck with 6 stars because of what this very necessary story means to chinese american girls and i wish i had this growing up. kudos to andrea wang. i can't wait to see what else she does in the future.
i'm soooo conflicted because this is a 6-star in my heart and it means the world to girls meilan's age—i wish i had this when i was younger—but i was really close to giving it 4 because i felt like there were no consequences for the horrible shit the white people in this book put meilan and her family through. from anglicizing meilan's name, to making her dig up her grandpa's past traumas, to the shop owner not allowing meilan's dad to leave work in the middle of a family emergency, to her getting unjustly punished for a white bully's shitfuckery, to the controversial adage of "soldiers just doing their jobs" regarding the vietnam war—i'm vietnamese and chinese so this was especially hard to grapple with.
on the one hand, all of this is realistic and it's important to highlight our experiences as we are not a monolith. on the other hand, i'm the type of reader who usually reads for escapism and i didn't expect this level of realism nor did i expect this many heavy subjects. i had to stop to cry a couple of times because it brought me back to not-so-great times in school. i ultimately stuck with 6 stars because of what this very necessary story means to chinese american girls and i wish i had this growing up. kudos to andrea wang. i can't wait to see what else she does in the future.
August 16, 2021
Meilan is twelve-year-old Taiwanese American girl, living in Boston with her extended family that run a bakery named, the Golden Phoenix. Suddenly the bakery is sold and Meilan, her parents, and grandfather move to a small town in Ohio. This situation forces Meilan to adapt to a completely different environment without her cousins and friends for support.
As with most preteens, Meilan does not want to standout, but in the small town of Redbud, Ohio she clearly does. To make matters worse, the principle misunderstands the pronunciation of Melian’s name and introduces her as ‘Melanie.’ Meilan is too shy in the moment to correct her. So, as the new kid in school, with the added distinction of appearing ‘different’ Meilan struggles through until an assembly honoring veterans, lets her express herself freely.
As Meilan takes the stage to speak about her grandfather, she carefully explains her real name and how to say it, and then introduces her grandfather. The kids understand now, and surround Meilan with friendly questions. ‘A little knowledge helps break down walls.’
This reminds me of when I went to school with girls named Debbie, Mary, and Patty, where a name like Toni was different. When I went to college, I cherished my name.
Meilan simply wants to fit-in with all the other kids, without losing the traditions she and her family hold dear. Isn’t that what we all want? I think so.
A wonderful book to help children understand that we may appear different on the outside, but we are essentially all the same, we are all people.
Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Group: Young Readers, Kokila, and Andrea Wang
As with most preteens, Meilan does not want to standout, but in the small town of Redbud, Ohio she clearly does. To make matters worse, the principle misunderstands the pronunciation of Melian’s name and introduces her as ‘Melanie.’ Meilan is too shy in the moment to correct her. So, as the new kid in school, with the added distinction of appearing ‘different’ Meilan struggles through until an assembly honoring veterans, lets her express herself freely.
As Meilan takes the stage to speak about her grandfather, she carefully explains her real name and how to say it, and then introduces her grandfather. The kids understand now, and surround Meilan with friendly questions. ‘A little knowledge helps break down walls.’
This reminds me of when I went to school with girls named Debbie, Mary, and Patty, where a name like Toni was different. When I went to college, I cherished my name.
Meilan simply wants to fit-in with all the other kids, without losing the traditions she and her family hold dear. Isn’t that what we all want? I think so.
A wonderful book to help children understand that we may appear different on the outside, but we are essentially all the same, we are all people.
Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Group: Young Readers, Kokila, and Andrea Wang
Read
June 2, 2022Meilan Hua's name translates to Beautiful Orchid. Her family nickname is Lan. When Lan is working on her Mandarin, she discovers that the Chinese characters that make up her name have several different meanings: Blue, Basket, and Mist. Which one is she? As she navigates the family move from Boston Chinatown to Redbud, Ohio she goes into Mist mode at school. At home she feels like a basket that has too many feeling bricks to hold. As she begins to make friends, she is Blue like a Starling. There is much to love and learn from in this new middle grade novel. Lan's friendship with Logan and her relationship with Liam provide enlightening glimpses of learning from other cultures and sibling interaction. It is a really special moment when she shares the story of her name and they stop calling her Melanie (the name the principal gives her when she enrolls). The Veteran's Day project is also a fantastic way of unpacking the complexity of war, specifically the Vietnam conflict. The pies and baked goods mentioned sound so yummy. Throughout Mandarin phrases are included in advice or comments given by Lan's parents and grandfather. A phrase diary is included at the end of the book with the English equivalent. Highly recommended!
*Review by Darla from Red Bridge*
*Review by Darla from Red Bridge*
October 24, 2023
The Many Meanings of Meilan had such a way with its discussion of names. How our names can represent different parts of our identity. Especially in Meilan's familial language, the Chinese characters have different meanings that relate to different aspects of her personality. It also illustrates how getting an English name (without her consent) strips her of her identity and does nothing to prevent the racism she experiences.
Her relationship with her grandpa and finding out more about his past was interesting. Gōnggong is a great character and his presence in the novel brings up a lot of both heartwarming and serious topics like grief, aging, and war.
It's got a beautiful cover! It jumped out at me and called my name. I knew I had to pick up this book. Recommend to fans of Maizy Chen's Last Chance and
“The stories in the making are even better than the ones I already know.”
content warnings: racism (microaggressions, name-calling, profiling), xenophobia, Alzheimer's, grief.
Her relationship with her grandpa and finding out more about his past was interesting. Gōnggong is a great character and his presence in the novel brings up a lot of both heartwarming and serious topics like grief, aging, and war.
It's got a beautiful cover! It jumped out at me and called my name. I knew I had to pick up this book. Recommend to fans of Maizy Chen's Last Chance and
“The stories in the making are even better than the ones I already know.”
content warnings: racism (microaggressions, name-calling, profiling), xenophobia, Alzheimer's, grief.
May 15, 2021
What a wonderful book, my favorite realistic middle grade fiction of 2021 so far! I loved that this book felt like both a window and a mirror for me.
February 22, 2024
I really loved how Andrea Wang incorporated Chinese culture in this book. I'm often biased towards wanting to learn about Chinese culture so I loved those tidbits (less openminded audiences might be turned off from this). I also loved the metaphor of the beetles to describe her anxiety and learning to let the beetles go as she overcame her fears.
I didn't love the climax of the book...felt a little out of place but I'm not really sure how to explain how it felt out of place. Maybe I feel like the rest of the book and the climax were slightly mismatched, like I feel that the climax should have had more to do with Meilan and less with Gong Gong, even though I know that Gong Gong was important to Meilan's journey.
I'm also not entirely happy with how the plotline with Meilan's family in Boston ended. I can appreciate open-ended resolutions but in this instance it felt unfinished.
I didn't love the climax of the book...felt a little out of place but I'm not really sure how to explain how it felt out of place. Maybe I feel like the rest of the book and the climax were slightly mismatched, like I feel that the climax should have had more to do with Meilan and less with Gong Gong, even though I know that Gong Gong was important to Meilan's journey.
I'm also not entirely happy with how the plotline with Meilan's family in Boston ended. I can appreciate open-ended resolutions but in this instance it felt unfinished.
February 19, 2022
hello i just really loved this one for all the reasons
January 3, 2022
Can a made up story really tear a family apart?
Meilan is afraid it can. After telling her younger sister a made up bedtime story, her extended family is now fighting and falling apart. Now Meilan and her sister and parents are moving from Boston to Ohio.
Meilan already has the weight of guilt on her shoulders from creating the story that seemingly tore her extended family apart, but now she is adding the weight of a new school, a new, more American identity as “Melanie,” and some awful kids who have nothing nice to say to or about her because she is Asian.
Can Meilan find the strength and courage to stand up for herself and her heritage?
This book was fantastic. It is a middle grade novel, but it is so important because it touches on hard subjects like racism, equality, and standing up for yourself, which are all difficult things to overcome when you aren’t entirely sure who you are to begin with.
I really enjoyed Meilan’s character. I loved that you could see her progress and get more confident as the story went on. I was rooting for her the entire way.
I also enjoyed some of the Chinese vocabulary that was integrated into the story. I don’t know any Chinese at all, so it was both fun and educational to read (and listen to the pronunciation in the audio version!)
5 stars, recommended to everyone, especially those middle graders who are struggling with standing up for who they are and what is right.
Thank you to Kokila and Netgalley for my review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Meilan is afraid it can. After telling her younger sister a made up bedtime story, her extended family is now fighting and falling apart. Now Meilan and her sister and parents are moving from Boston to Ohio.
Meilan already has the weight of guilt on her shoulders from creating the story that seemingly tore her extended family apart, but now she is adding the weight of a new school, a new, more American identity as “Melanie,” and some awful kids who have nothing nice to say to or about her because she is Asian.
Can Meilan find the strength and courage to stand up for herself and her heritage?
This book was fantastic. It is a middle grade novel, but it is so important because it touches on hard subjects like racism, equality, and standing up for yourself, which are all difficult things to overcome when you aren’t entirely sure who you are to begin with.
I really enjoyed Meilan’s character. I loved that you could see her progress and get more confident as the story went on. I was rooting for her the entire way.
I also enjoyed some of the Chinese vocabulary that was integrated into the story. I don’t know any Chinese at all, so it was both fun and educational to read (and listen to the pronunciation in the audio version!)
5 stars, recommended to everyone, especially those middle graders who are struggling with standing up for who they are and what is right.
Thank you to Kokila and Netgalley for my review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 16, 2023
I really loved this book. Absolutely zipped through it. It’s a middle grade/junior high book but very readable for adults too.
It’s a story of a seventh grade Taiwanese American girl who moves from Boston to a small town in Ohio, for a reason that she thinks is her own fault. So she deals with guilt, a new school, a bully, and racist or insensitive assumptions all at the same time. Mandarin words have multiple meanings depending on tone, and even within the same tone there will be several words with the exact same sound, so she chooses several words with the same sound as her name and creates different personas to cope with all her trouble—the responsible one, the invisible one, things like that.
This book beautifully deals with family, friendship, courage, grief, reconciliation, and Asian American identity with such a strong atmosphere of Chinese culture as part of it all. There are a lot of phrases written in pinyin, which are fun to be able to read if you know Chinese, but the author does a really good job explaining the meaning of every phrase in the text, so it’s not essential to know Mandarin to enjoy the book.
I can’t wait to give this book to my kids when they’re around 10-12 years old.
[ETA: My 10 year old just read it and he really enjoyed it! My 7yo then read it and she loved it too.]
It’s a story of a seventh grade Taiwanese American girl who moves from Boston to a small town in Ohio, for a reason that she thinks is her own fault. So she deals with guilt, a new school, a bully, and racist or insensitive assumptions all at the same time. Mandarin words have multiple meanings depending on tone, and even within the same tone there will be several words with the exact same sound, so she chooses several words with the same sound as her name and creates different personas to cope with all her trouble—the responsible one, the invisible one, things like that.
This book beautifully deals with family, friendship, courage, grief, reconciliation, and Asian American identity with such a strong atmosphere of Chinese culture as part of it all. There are a lot of phrases written in pinyin, which are fun to be able to read if you know Chinese, but the author does a really good job explaining the meaning of every phrase in the text, so it’s not essential to know Mandarin to enjoy the book.
I can’t wait to give this book to my kids when they’re around 10-12 years old.
[ETA: My 10 year old just read it and he really enjoyed it! My 7yo then read it and she loved it too.]
Read
September 6, 2021“Měilán means Beautiful Orchid in Mandarin. There are thousands of varieties of orchids, but there is only one me.”
Meilan Hua, or Huā Měilán, is a twelve-year-old Taiwanese American girl living in Boston. When her family’s business is broken apart, Meilan moves to Redbud, Ohio. Here, in a predominantly white town, Meilan starts to question who she is. At home, she’s the reason her family had to move. At school, she’s “Melanie” and is bullied for her Chinese heritage. And by herself, she is searching for an identity. Who is Meilan?
Andrea Wang’s heartfelt middle-grade debut incorporates Chinese proverbs, folklore, and Pinyin (the romanization system of Mandarin) to tell Meilan’s journey of discovery and self-acceptance. As someone who grew up in a pretty strong Chinese-American community, there is so much in this story that resonates with me. Meilan’s conflicts with her family-centric mindset and cultural assimilation were all situations I saw my Chinese-American friends experience, and, unfortunately, so were the microaggressions that Meilan deals with in school. I think writing these very real issues into Meilan’s story is incredibly impactful, especially for a middle-grade audience. I also thoroughly enjoyed the ways Chinese folklore and proverbs appeared in the story. Meilan, an innate storyteller, relates the world to the magical folk stories of Chinese culture. Meilan’s mom, a good Asian mother, relates the world to old Chinese proverbs and sayings. I found these aspects both entertaining and incredibly informative, even more so with Andrea Wang’s background of translations and descriptions of the Chinese proverbs. Another major part of Meilan’s story is learning about her Gōnggong’s, or grandfather’s, involvement in the Vietnam War for a school project. Meilan’s discovery of Gōnggong’s history adds a whole new level of heart to the book, as she learns to appreciate her family and be even prouder of her history. The Many Meanings of Meilan is definitely a story that I think deserves to be read at least once in your life.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Meilan Hua, or Huā Měilán, is a twelve-year-old Taiwanese American girl living in Boston. When her family’s business is broken apart, Meilan moves to Redbud, Ohio. Here, in a predominantly white town, Meilan starts to question who she is. At home, she’s the reason her family had to move. At school, she’s “Melanie” and is bullied for her Chinese heritage. And by herself, she is searching for an identity. Who is Meilan?
Andrea Wang’s heartfelt middle-grade debut incorporates Chinese proverbs, folklore, and Pinyin (the romanization system of Mandarin) to tell Meilan’s journey of discovery and self-acceptance. As someone who grew up in a pretty strong Chinese-American community, there is so much in this story that resonates with me. Meilan’s conflicts with her family-centric mindset and cultural assimilation were all situations I saw my Chinese-American friends experience, and, unfortunately, so were the microaggressions that Meilan deals with in school. I think writing these very real issues into Meilan’s story is incredibly impactful, especially for a middle-grade audience. I also thoroughly enjoyed the ways Chinese folklore and proverbs appeared in the story. Meilan, an innate storyteller, relates the world to the magical folk stories of Chinese culture. Meilan’s mom, a good Asian mother, relates the world to old Chinese proverbs and sayings. I found these aspects both entertaining and incredibly informative, even more so with Andrea Wang’s background of translations and descriptions of the Chinese proverbs. Another major part of Meilan’s story is learning about her Gōnggong’s, or grandfather’s, involvement in the Vietnam War for a school project. Meilan’s discovery of Gōnggong’s history adds a whole new level of heart to the book, as she learns to appreciate her family and be even prouder of her history. The Many Meanings of Meilan is definitely a story that I think deserves to be read at least once in your life.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
August 4, 2021
This book! It's about a young girl who tells a story that ends up causing her family to sell their family bakery and move away from all she knows and holds dear, but it's also about who she has to be for her family (a basket holding all of their expectations) and who she is at school (mist, so she can slide through her days unseen). Most of all, it's about Meilan learning to embrace who she really is, which includes embracing the name that she's never truly felt comfortable with. This story will resonate with anyone who has ever felt uncertain about who they are or where they belong.
November 2, 2021
A family feud before the start of seventh grade propels Meilan from Boston's Chinatown to rural Ohio, where she must tap into her inner strength and sense of justice to make a new place for herself.
May 26, 2022
Fantastic story about finding yourself and the importance of family.
February 12, 2022
An excellent book about identity, family, and the experience of being the first generation tied between two cultures (in this case, Chinese and American). Full of pinyin words and phrases in Mandarin. Great conversation starter about bullying, racism, changing one's name (or nickname) because you want to vs. someone changing it without your permission. Appropriate for any age old enough to read it.
September 25, 2021
4.5 ✨
Powerful, intriguing, cross-cultural
Meilan loves to tell stories. Until she tells the story the splits her large family apart. She finds herself in a tiny town in Ohio with her parents and grandfather and a bad feeling in her stomach. As the days pass, Meilan explores the parts of who she is while navigation a new school, a bully, and maybe a friend… 🦋
I really liked the elements of Chinese folklore and magical realism. At the same time, it was a little slow for me in the middle. But the ending!! It was so powerful! I left this book with a good feeling in my heart 🧡
Overall, this is a great book about identity, family and self discovery.
Powerful, intriguing, cross-cultural
Meilan loves to tell stories. Until she tells the story the splits her large family apart. She finds herself in a tiny town in Ohio with her parents and grandfather and a bad feeling in her stomach. As the days pass, Meilan explores the parts of who she is while navigation a new school, a bully, and maybe a friend… 🦋
I really liked the elements of Chinese folklore and magical realism. At the same time, it was a little slow for me in the middle. But the ending!! It was so powerful! I left this book with a good feeling in my heart 🧡
Overall, this is a great book about identity, family and self discovery.
December 4, 2021
While reading this book, I learned more about Chinese folklore, food, family customs, and relationships with family and friends. The author addresses sensitive issues such as racism, bullying, and family feuds over money and inheritance. The bond between Meilan and her grandfather was my favorite element of this narrative; there was so much love and respect on both sides. Altogether, this was a great novel about family and learning to stand up for who you are and be yourself rather than blending in and becoming like everyone else. A moving book about standing up to injustice and discovering oneself. Characters were nicely developed, and readers gained understanding into their motives. Grief, identity, racism, friendship, family, and the power of tales are all explored in this book.
June 17, 2021
Andrea Wang's The Many Meanings of Meilan is one of the best works of Asian-American fiction I've read in a long spell. Geared for middle-schoolers and up, this enjoyable coming-of-age novel tells the story of 12 year old Meilan Hua, a creative and intelligent storyteller. Due to family in-fighting and subsequent sibling alienation over finances and the status of the family-owned Chinese bakery, Feng Huang, Meilan moves with her parents and paternal grandfather, Gong Gong, from Boston, MA to the small, white-majority town of Redbud, Ohio.
Those knowledgeable about Chinese culture will doubtless notice the close parallel between Meilan's name and the legendary Chinese woman warrior famed for her filial piety and courage: Hua Mulan. In several metaphoric senses, Meilan too is a warrior. She is overcoming grief over the recent death of her beloved grandmother, Nainai, as well as being uprooted from family, friends, and her comfortable life in Boston. In Redbone, as the only Taiwanese-American student in an otherwise racially-homogenous school, she confronts racism--even on the first day, the principal, Mr. Reynard, strips Meilan's cultural identity and name from her, forcing Meilan to be called by an American name, "Melanie." From a Chinese cultural standpoint, the obliteration of Meilan's name is not simply an insensitive, racist move, but one that cruelly stabs the soul. Chinese ascribe deep significance to names, typically bestowed by family elders who carefully consider the meaning of the characters, which express familial good wishes and fortune for the child. Erasing one's name, in a sense, erases not only self, but the person's auspicious future. Meilan also encounters additional challenges: bullying, financial struggles, making new friends, and asserting herself, difficulties which are arguably exacerbated by her status as a bicultural, bilingual Asian-American.
While there's been a recent spathe of middle-school and YA books, written by BIPOC authors and featuring non-white protagonists, The Many Meanings of Meilan is by no means, just another book that superficially clicks off the "Diversity" checkbox. Instead, Wang deftly weaves in Chinese cultural traditions and values, as well as extensive use of Mandarin Chinese linguistic terms: food, the special names delineating maternal and paternal relatives and their birth order status, customs to honor the dead, and chengyu: Chinese proverbs. I thought the inclusion of Pinyin romanization and tones was a terrific authorial choice to provide cultural ambiance and specificity, and also help non-Chinese speakers to experience and learn some Mandarin Chinese. Since my review is based on a NetGalley ARC, I’m also hoping that the publisher will also include the Chinese characters, as well as the phonetization, in the final published version, to make the phrases easier to reference. Also, the publisher might consider, to avoid any potential confusion on the part of Chinese-speaking readers, that in Taiwan, the term for paternal and maternal grandfather is identical: Gong Gong [公公]. However, in other Chinese-speaking regions, one’s paternal grandfather is Ye Ye [爺爺], whereas one’s maternal grandfather is Wai Gong [外公]or, more casually, Gong Gong [公公].
The title of the book also draws upon a unique Chinese cultural interest: homophonic verbal punning. Characters in Chinese may sound the same, but their tones and meanings differ. For example, the second character "Lan" [蘭] in Meilan's name, means "orchid", a popular flower in Chinese culture which symbolizes female beauty, grace, and refinement. Wang cleverly uses two other homophones of "lan" to capture Meilan's other metatphoric states: 藍 “blue", symbolizing Meilan's grief and alienation; 籃 "basket/receptacle", which might indicate the protagonist's receiving life's burdens, or more positively, that she is the repository of her family's love and aspirations and the collector of friends.
恭喜恭喜 (Congratulations) to Andrea Wang for this superb, thoughful novel! I’m hoping that The Many Meanings of Meilan will take its rightful place in the canon of new American literature.
Thank you to #netgalley for kindly providing an ARC of this novel, in exchange for a candid review.
Those knowledgeable about Chinese culture will doubtless notice the close parallel between Meilan's name and the legendary Chinese woman warrior famed for her filial piety and courage: Hua Mulan. In several metaphoric senses, Meilan too is a warrior. She is overcoming grief over the recent death of her beloved grandmother, Nainai, as well as being uprooted from family, friends, and her comfortable life in Boston. In Redbone, as the only Taiwanese-American student in an otherwise racially-homogenous school, she confronts racism--even on the first day, the principal, Mr. Reynard, strips Meilan's cultural identity and name from her, forcing Meilan to be called by an American name, "Melanie." From a Chinese cultural standpoint, the obliteration of Meilan's name is not simply an insensitive, racist move, but one that cruelly stabs the soul. Chinese ascribe deep significance to names, typically bestowed by family elders who carefully consider the meaning of the characters, which express familial good wishes and fortune for the child. Erasing one's name, in a sense, erases not only self, but the person's auspicious future. Meilan also encounters additional challenges: bullying, financial struggles, making new friends, and asserting herself, difficulties which are arguably exacerbated by her status as a bicultural, bilingual Asian-American.
While there's been a recent spathe of middle-school and YA books, written by BIPOC authors and featuring non-white protagonists, The Many Meanings of Meilan is by no means, just another book that superficially clicks off the "Diversity" checkbox. Instead, Wang deftly weaves in Chinese cultural traditions and values, as well as extensive use of Mandarin Chinese linguistic terms: food, the special names delineating maternal and paternal relatives and their birth order status, customs to honor the dead, and chengyu: Chinese proverbs. I thought the inclusion of Pinyin romanization and tones was a terrific authorial choice to provide cultural ambiance and specificity, and also help non-Chinese speakers to experience and learn some Mandarin Chinese. Since my review is based on a NetGalley ARC, I’m also hoping that the publisher will also include the Chinese characters, as well as the phonetization, in the final published version, to make the phrases easier to reference. Also, the publisher might consider, to avoid any potential confusion on the part of Chinese-speaking readers, that in Taiwan, the term for paternal and maternal grandfather is identical: Gong Gong [公公]. However, in other Chinese-speaking regions, one’s paternal grandfather is Ye Ye [爺爺], whereas one’s maternal grandfather is Wai Gong [外公]or, more casually, Gong Gong [公公].
The title of the book also draws upon a unique Chinese cultural interest: homophonic verbal punning. Characters in Chinese may sound the same, but their tones and meanings differ. For example, the second character "Lan" [蘭] in Meilan's name, means "orchid", a popular flower in Chinese culture which symbolizes female beauty, grace, and refinement. Wang cleverly uses two other homophones of "lan" to capture Meilan's other metatphoric states: 藍 “blue", symbolizing Meilan's grief and alienation; 籃 "basket/receptacle", which might indicate the protagonist's receiving life's burdens, or more positively, that she is the repository of her family's love and aspirations and the collector of friends.
恭喜恭喜 (Congratulations) to Andrea Wang for this superb, thoughful novel! I’m hoping that The Many Meanings of Meilan will take its rightful place in the canon of new American literature.
Thank you to #netgalley for kindly providing an ARC of this novel, in exchange for a candid review.
January 11, 2022
Sooooo, this might just be me, but I was very distracted trying to figure out where in Southern Ohio Redbud is supposed to be. It's about 2 hours away from Columbus, but the librarian can order books, "from the big library in Columbus," so it's probably supposed to be in the same library consortium as me. But I've determined that they probably aren't in the Hocking Hills / further SE Appalachian region, or hills and forests would've been mentioned more. So probably South-Central or SW Ohio. Which is a slight pity, because we need more books that don't make living in Appalachia sound like living in purgatory or worse, but never mind.
Not that Meilan enjoys living in Ohio at first, and she has reason. I can only assume that the author used some semi-autobiographical details for some of this, but it also sounds similar to what some of my neighbors (biracial Japanese-Caucasian) went through when we were growing up. Barring the name thing, which is just horrible. All that is on top of family drama, family loss (in a couple of senses), and general abrupt life upheaval, which is never easy to deal with, especially for a kid who never saw any of it coming and who's never had to deal with it before.
I found Meilan to be a compelling, believable character. She sounds more like 12 than 10 (maybe she's 11 by the end? But a birthday is never mentioned), especially with the beginnings of a hinted-at crush and all, but not distractingly so. She's trying to figure herself out, now that she's in completely new surroundings with totally new people and changed expectations. She's terrified that she's already "messed up" and ruined things, so she doesn't want to do it again. Watching her process of figuring out how to put those "bricks" down is a relief for everybody.
The family dynamics are easy for me to believe, too, even if the extended family's treatment of Baba makes me seethe with the injustice. Families do be like that tho, sometimes. Third Aunt in particular deserves a good solid shaking. And that's the sign of a well-written book with well-written characters: you want to interact with them, even if it's just to yell at them a while.
I loved how Meilan embraced her Chinese heritage and missed being part of her community in Boston. I've read quite a few books about kids who are the children of immigrants, and a lot of them include feeling like going to their equivalent of "Chinese School" and such to be something of a chore or a drag, or like they're torn between two worlds. Meilan seems much more settled into who she is than those other narratives, maybe because she was part of such a big family in Chinatown, surrounded by people who had lives similar to her own, and in many of the other stories I've read, the kids have grown up without that form of support. Either way, it's nice to see a multiplicity of voices, because one kid's experience isn't every kid's experience.
Foxman gives foxes a bad name. He's another one to yell at. Meilan's speech to him near the end was maybe a little unrealistic and wish-fulfillment-y, but again, not distractingly so, and the kid needs a win. I'll take it. Young readers will love it.
Young readers in general will find a lot to enjoy in this book. And I have found yet more foods that I would like to research and eat. Pronto.
Not that Meilan enjoys living in Ohio at first, and she has reason. I can only assume that the author used some semi-autobiographical details for some of this, but it also sounds similar to what some of my neighbors (biracial Japanese-Caucasian) went through when we were growing up. Barring the name thing, which is just horrible. All that is on top of family drama, family loss (in a couple of senses), and general abrupt life upheaval, which is never easy to deal with, especially for a kid who never saw any of it coming and who's never had to deal with it before.
I found Meilan to be a compelling, believable character. She sounds more like 12 than 10 (maybe she's 11 by the end? But a birthday is never mentioned), especially with the beginnings of a hinted-at crush and all, but not distractingly so. She's trying to figure herself out, now that she's in completely new surroundings with totally new people and changed expectations. She's terrified that she's already "messed up" and ruined things, so she doesn't want to do it again. Watching her process of figuring out how to put those "bricks" down is a relief for everybody.
The family dynamics are easy for me to believe, too, even if the extended family's treatment of Baba makes me seethe with the injustice. Families do be like that tho, sometimes. Third Aunt in particular deserves a good solid shaking. And that's the sign of a well-written book with well-written characters: you want to interact with them, even if it's just to yell at them a while.
I loved how Meilan embraced her Chinese heritage and missed being part of her community in Boston. I've read quite a few books about kids who are the children of immigrants, and a lot of them include feeling like going to their equivalent of "Chinese School" and such to be something of a chore or a drag, or like they're torn between two worlds. Meilan seems much more settled into who she is than those other narratives, maybe because she was part of such a big family in Chinatown, surrounded by people who had lives similar to her own, and in many of the other stories I've read, the kids have grown up without that form of support. Either way, it's nice to see a multiplicity of voices, because one kid's experience isn't every kid's experience.
Foxman gives foxes a bad name. He's another one to yell at. Meilan's speech to him near the end was maybe a little unrealistic and wish-fulfillment-y, but again, not distractingly so, and the kid needs a win. I'll take it. Young readers will love it.
Young readers in general will find a lot to enjoy in this book. And I have found yet more foods that I would like to research and eat. Pronto.
May 15, 2022
This was good and such an important story! I really liked Meilan's character arc, and I loved her friendship with Logan and with Anita (I wish Anita had been in the book more!)
Initially I felt Meilan's family were fairly underdeveloped, but as the book went on we got to know her parents more, which I appreciated. And her relationship with her grandfather was lovely.
I was looking forward to seeing the way the different meanings of Meilan's name would be used, and I do think there was some wonderful exploration of identity, language, belonging, and the ways we can hide different parts of ourselves. It was different than I expected, though? I was expecting more of an exploration via language, but Meilan literally compartmentalizes different parts of her personality into different parts of her life, which I feel wasn't quite dealt with as thoroughly as I might have liked. Like, from what I understand that's a psychological coping mechanism that really isn't healthy? but the story didn't really talk about that except in the sense of Meilan learning that she needs to be her full self - which is true! and I'm obviously glad that was the message. But I think we could have done both.
And I REALLY didn't like the reasoning for the family fight. (Not a spoiler, since this happens in the first couple chapters.) I think it's so weird that Meilan's aunt refused to believe she was telling a bedtime story, and instead believed it was true?! We know that her aunt believes in the importance of dreams, which I get - but that's a totally different thing to hearing a child make up a story for her cousin, and deciding that means it must be true and your family member has been embezzling money for years!! What. I think the whole storytelling angle could have been incorporated into the book differently.
Also, a little conflicted about Liam's character development. I really like that Meilan isn't immediately ready to forgive him, and that Liam recognizes that's fair - but I always think it's weird when a character has that kind of big turnaround but we get a really weak explanation for their actions before.
Anyway - one I would recommend! I think it handled the issues of racism and belonging really deftly, in a way that was accessible to kids but still thorough. And I really loved the parts we get about Chinese spiritual practices, including those around honoring ancestors. Also, I loved what we got about Nainai - her importance in the story and in these characters' lives was so clearly felt even though we don't see her on-page. The handling of PTSD was also really thoughtful, and I like that Meilan makes the point that even if her grandfather hadn't been a part of that specific group of soldiers, he would still be worthy of respect.
CW: Grief, bullying, racism, xenophobia, microaggressions, tornado, PTSD, references to war
Initially I felt Meilan's family were fairly underdeveloped, but as the book went on we got to know her parents more, which I appreciated. And her relationship with her grandfather was lovely.
I was looking forward to seeing the way the different meanings of Meilan's name would be used, and I do think there was some wonderful exploration of identity, language, belonging, and the ways we can hide different parts of ourselves. It was different than I expected, though? I was expecting more of an exploration via language, but Meilan literally compartmentalizes different parts of her personality into different parts of her life, which I feel wasn't quite dealt with as thoroughly as I might have liked. Like, from what I understand that's a psychological coping mechanism that really isn't healthy? but the story didn't really talk about that except in the sense of Meilan learning that she needs to be her full self - which is true! and I'm obviously glad that was the message. But I think we could have done both.
And I REALLY didn't like the reasoning for the family fight. (Not a spoiler, since this happens in the first couple chapters.) I think it's so weird that Meilan's aunt refused to believe she was telling a bedtime story, and instead believed it was true?! We know that her aunt believes in the importance of dreams, which I get - but that's a totally different thing to hearing a child make up a story for her cousin, and deciding that means it must be true and your family member has been embezzling money for years!! What. I think the whole storytelling angle could have been incorporated into the book differently.
Also, a little conflicted about Liam's character development. I really like that Meilan isn't immediately ready to forgive him, and that Liam recognizes that's fair - but I always think it's weird when a character has that kind of big turnaround but we get a really weak explanation for their actions before.
Anyway - one I would recommend! I think it handled the issues of racism and belonging really deftly, in a way that was accessible to kids but still thorough. And I really loved the parts we get about Chinese spiritual practices, including those around honoring ancestors. Also, I loved what we got about Nainai - her importance in the story and in these characters' lives was so clearly felt even though we don't see her on-page. The handling of PTSD was also really thoughtful, and I like that Meilan makes the point that even if her grandfather hadn't been a part of that specific group of soldiers, he would still be worthy of respect.
CW: Grief, bullying, racism, xenophobia, microaggressions, tornado, PTSD, references to war
August 26, 2021
First sentence: I thought I knew all of my grandmother’s stories, but I was wrong. Somehow, I forgot to ask Nǎinai about the most important one of all.Now Tiffi is demanding to hear it. I’m good at inventing bedtime stories, but it feels wrong to make up the story of how our family bakery got its name. There is meaning behind every name. But with Nǎinai gone and the rest of my family too broken to talk about her, I’m left to fill in the gaps on my own.I take a deep breath and gather my thoughts. “Long ago,” I start, “there was a fènghuáng who lived in a tall—”
Premise/plot: Meilan, our heroine, moves with her family from Boston, Massachusetts, to Redbud, Ohio, in Andrea Wang's The Many Meanings of Meilan. The move isn't by her choice, though Meilan certainly feels partially responsible. Wasn't it *her* bedtime story that set off her Third Aunt's mad frenzy of demands and accusations?! If she'd just read a picture book aloud to her cousin, would the family have imploded??? Now the family is fractured and the edges are sharp and painful. Making the move are Meilan, Bàba, Māma, and Gōnggong. (Her parents and grandfather). Meilan decides that it is her job to piece the family back together again, to "fix" what she has broken.
But really that's only a fraction of the weight Meilan is bearing. She faces prejudice, discrimination, and some bullying in her new school. It starts with the principal himself who insists that Meilan change her "exotic" name to something "more American" and "normal." Meilan becomes "Melanie" at school, but, it isn't a good fit....not really. And it doesn't make the others welcome and accept her.
The novel is about Meilan exploring the many meanings of her name...and how she wears a different name in different places and around different people.
My thoughts: The Many Meanings of Meilan is a Problem Novel. It is also a coming of age novel. But mainly it's a coming of age novel packed with many Problems. And one of the Problems is racism and race relations. It is a heavy book. Not just because of Race. No, it's also heavy because she bears the guilt--deserved or not--of causing the family's problems. As an adult, I want to tell her it is not her fault, her responsibility. The tensions in the family must have already been there and just beneath the surface before Third Aunt overheard her making up a story--a story that Third Aunt claims is a vision. But Meilan feels like she *has* to take care of everybody and everything.
It was a heavy novel though well written. I can't say I "enjoyed" it, but I certainly read it in one sitting and followed Meilan's story from beginning to end.
Premise/plot: Meilan, our heroine, moves with her family from Boston, Massachusetts, to Redbud, Ohio, in Andrea Wang's The Many Meanings of Meilan. The move isn't by her choice, though Meilan certainly feels partially responsible. Wasn't it *her* bedtime story that set off her Third Aunt's mad frenzy of demands and accusations?! If she'd just read a picture book aloud to her cousin, would the family have imploded??? Now the family is fractured and the edges are sharp and painful. Making the move are Meilan, Bàba, Māma, and Gōnggong. (Her parents and grandfather). Meilan decides that it is her job to piece the family back together again, to "fix" what she has broken.
But really that's only a fraction of the weight Meilan is bearing. She faces prejudice, discrimination, and some bullying in her new school. It starts with the principal himself who insists that Meilan change her "exotic" name to something "more American" and "normal." Meilan becomes "Melanie" at school, but, it isn't a good fit....not really. And it doesn't make the others welcome and accept her.
The novel is about Meilan exploring the many meanings of her name...and how she wears a different name in different places and around different people.
My thoughts: The Many Meanings of Meilan is a Problem Novel. It is also a coming of age novel. But mainly it's a coming of age novel packed with many Problems. And one of the Problems is racism and race relations. It is a heavy book. Not just because of Race. No, it's also heavy because she bears the guilt--deserved or not--of causing the family's problems. As an adult, I want to tell her it is not her fault, her responsibility. The tensions in the family must have already been there and just beneath the surface before Third Aunt overheard her making up a story--a story that Third Aunt claims is a vision. But Meilan feels like she *has* to take care of everybody and everything.
It was a heavy novel though well written. I can't say I "enjoyed" it, but I certainly read it in one sitting and followed Meilan's story from beginning to end.
April 1, 2022
💖💙💛🌺THE MANY MEANINGS OF MEILAN🌺💛💙💖
2.5 Stars
Meilan Hua's ( Huā Měilán) one day tells her cousin Tiffi about a fairy tale that involves a Phoenix gifting her Nainai (Grandmother) gold; a family feud starts that turns Meilan's life upside down. Meilan's grandmother was the only thing holding her family together, when the fighting gets too much, Meilan, and her parents, along with her Gōnggong, go on a journey to find a new home. They decide to move to Redbud, but Redbud, Ohio is drastically different from Chinatown. Meilan's principle wants her to change her name; nobody looks like her, and most treat her unfairly. Meilan must find out who is truly her friend, and stand up for herself.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭.
Strengths: It has a good plot. Meilan's a pretty solid protagonist. We get to explore topics such as grief, war, racism, and bullying. Meilan's relationship with her Gōnggong was really sweet. Liam and Logan's relationship was complicated. When they talked about how they "wanted people to see them as their own identity" I could instantly relate. Their twins so they hate it when people mix them up, or think that there is absolutely no difference between them. I found that part was written super realistically and accurately (I have a twin).
What I didn't like: I found that the family problem escalated because Meilan's story, was a bit too over-exaggerated? Andrea did a lot of telling, but not showing. When she wrote Meilan's character ,Meilan would tell us about how close her family was, but we didn't actually see any of that. Meilan would say that she misses her Nainai but wouldn't really think about her that much. It was told to us that she was close to Xing, but we only saw around two conversations between them. Some relationships were too rushed. Some plot points were focused around then dropped. For example, Meilan creates separate personalities for herself depending on how she's feeling. Blue, is when she's with Logan and feels safe, like she can talk about anything. Mist, is when she wants to disappear. Basket, is when she feels like she's carrying all her parents expectations. I felt like the Basket part of her, was not focused on enough. It was important and then dropped from the plot. Meilan also had a whole thing about beetles. Every single time she would say "The beetles ran up my spin" "I felt the beetles in my throat click" "I felt the beetles in my stomach churn." I don't think that this was explained why she thought of "beetles."
🆗PLOT
🆗CHARACTERS
2.5 Stars
Meilan Hua's ( Huā Měilán) one day tells her cousin Tiffi about a fairy tale that involves a Phoenix gifting her Nainai (Grandmother) gold; a family feud starts that turns Meilan's life upside down. Meilan's grandmother was the only thing holding her family together, when the fighting gets too much, Meilan, and her parents, along with her Gōnggong, go on a journey to find a new home. They decide to move to Redbud, but Redbud, Ohio is drastically different from Chinatown. Meilan's principle wants her to change her name; nobody looks like her, and most treat her unfairly. Meilan must find out who is truly her friend, and stand up for herself.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭.
Strengths: It has a good plot. Meilan's a pretty solid protagonist. We get to explore topics such as grief, war, racism, and bullying. Meilan's relationship with her Gōnggong was really sweet. Liam and Logan's relationship was complicated. When they talked about how they "wanted people to see them as their own identity" I could instantly relate. Their twins so they hate it when people mix them up, or think that there is absolutely no difference between them. I found that part was written super realistically and accurately (I have a twin).
What I didn't like: I found that the family problem escalated because Meilan's story, was a bit too over-exaggerated? Andrea did a lot of telling, but not showing. When she wrote Meilan's character ,Meilan would tell us about how close her family was, but we didn't actually see any of that. Meilan would say that she misses her Nainai but wouldn't really think about her that much. It was told to us that she was close to Xing, but we only saw around two conversations between them. Some relationships were too rushed. Some plot points were focused around then dropped. For example, Meilan creates separate personalities for herself depending on how she's feeling. Blue, is when she's with Logan and feels safe, like she can talk about anything. Mist, is when she wants to disappear. Basket, is when she feels like she's carrying all her parents expectations. I felt like the Basket part of her, was not focused on enough. It was important and then dropped from the plot. Meilan also had a whole thing about beetles. Every single time she would say "The beetles ran up my spin" "I felt the beetles in my throat click" "I felt the beetles in my stomach churn." I don't think that this was explained why she thought of "beetles."
🆗PLOT
🆗CHARACTERS
November 18, 2021
This chapter book is a 3.5 for me. I found the protagonist Meilan Hwa to be completely relatable and authentic, and her struggles about her own identity and place in her new school and town seem true to life. Meilan has led a comfortable life in Boston, surrounded by her family in the Chinatown portion of Boston, where her family runs a bakery. After her Nainai dies, the family fractures, spurred on by one of her aunt's certainty that Meilan's father has been cheating the rest of the family and profiting from the bakery. When she overhears Meilan telling her story to Tiffi, Meilan's niece, she becomes convinced that there is gold secreted away that isn't being shared with the other family members. As a result of this suspicion, the family sells the bakery, and Meilan's parents and her grandfather relocate to Redbud, Ohio, after traveling around various parts of the country. Meilan is deeply unhappy about all these changes, a feeling that is exacerbated by the principal's insistence on calling her Melanie and the bullying she experiences from some of her classmates. One of them, Logan Batchelder, becomes her friend, while his twin, Liam, seems determined to make life miserable for Meilan. She begins disappearing at school, seeing herself as mist, blue, and basket, and falling below the radar for most of her teachers. Things come to a head when she is suspended for destroying the school's garden, which she did not do, and then again when a tornado arrives in the area while her grandfather is missing. Meilan realizes that she has more resources than she ever realized, both within herself and in those around her. While there were several loose ends concerning the family back in Boston and whether she will eventually feel at home in Redbud, this story is told with skill and understanding. Readers can see how easy it is for one girl to disappear and lose her way, but also, how she finds her way back. Her anxieties and fears are described effectively as beetles clicking in her head and making her uncomfortable.
March 23, 2022
This was a really interesting book, in that I had no idea the same word, depending on how the character is written in Chinese, could have more than 14 different meanings.
Meilan is a 12-year-old who's been forced to move out of her sheltered Boston Chinatown school and community haven when her father sells the bakery and distributes the proceeds of the sale among his siblings.
She, however, thinks she had a hand in the family's departure when an Aunt fixates on one of her made-up fairy-tales and starts pestering her father about where all the "money" from the bakery is going.
She's also lost her grandmother, her Năinai, and her grandfather grieves her loss dearly, while he's also clearly in the early stages of dementia.
The family packs up the car and meanders their way to Redbud, Ohio, where there's a "sign" and they settle down. Meilan enrolls in school and she's the only Chinese American there. Kids are generally ugly to her, and she takes to compartmentalizing her "selves," one for each meaning of Meilan. At home she's a Basket, holding her family's hopes; at school she's a Mist, hopefully invisible to her cruel peers and refuses to speak; while after school with her one friend Logan, she's Blue, bright and vibrant.
Her grandfather fought in the Vietnam War, on the US side, but for Taiwan. The school principal doesn't think his story should be shared on Veteran's Day and tries to exclude it and Meilan from presenting.
But she finds the courage to make her own place in Redbud and bring all the meanings of her name together into one courageous girl.
Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Meilan is a 12-year-old who's been forced to move out of her sheltered Boston Chinatown school and community haven when her father sells the bakery and distributes the proceeds of the sale among his siblings.
She, however, thinks she had a hand in the family's departure when an Aunt fixates on one of her made-up fairy-tales and starts pestering her father about where all the "money" from the bakery is going.
She's also lost her grandmother, her Năinai, and her grandfather grieves her loss dearly, while he's also clearly in the early stages of dementia.
The family packs up the car and meanders their way to Redbud, Ohio, where there's a "sign" and they settle down. Meilan enrolls in school and she's the only Chinese American there. Kids are generally ugly to her, and she takes to compartmentalizing her "selves," one for each meaning of Meilan. At home she's a Basket, holding her family's hopes; at school she's a Mist, hopefully invisible to her cruel peers and refuses to speak; while after school with her one friend Logan, she's Blue, bright and vibrant.
Her grandfather fought in the Vietnam War, on the US side, but for Taiwan. The school principal doesn't think his story should be shared on Veteran's Day and tries to exclude it and Meilan from presenting.
But she finds the courage to make her own place in Redbud and bring all the meanings of her name together into one courageous girl.
Enjoy!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
March 15, 2022
Hmmm.
I'm not really sure about this one. I mean, I liked it, but I didn't like it. Like, I would say it's better than some books out there, but it's not in my top- anything.
Here are some reasons why:
1: The characters fell flat. Like, they were written and described okay, and sure, there was development, but in a month or a year, (or rather, a week), I won't even care if they moved to Madagascar or Maine.
2:
3: The writing style. It was just meh. Like, there are so many authors who put time and thought into making the writing enrapture you and making you feel like you were actually there, actually doing the things the main character(s) were doing and experiencing their thoughts and feelings. I'm sorry, but this story was just not there. The writing was just not there.
4: The characters. There. Were. Too. Many. I couldn't keep track of everybody in Meilan's school. Like, there were Logan and Liam, and sure, I could remember them, but aside from that, everyone else just kind of got washed into the background, popping out and random moments. (And obviously, I'd forgotten who they were by then).
Anyway, if you are going to read this book, just don't get your hopes up. It won't be worth it.
I'm not really sure about this one. I mean, I liked it, but I didn't like it. Like, I would say it's better than some books out there, but it's not in my top- anything.
Here are some reasons why:
1: The characters fell flat. Like, they were written and described okay, and sure, there was development, but in a month or a year, (or rather, a week), I won't even care if they moved to Madagascar or Maine.
2:
3: The writing style. It was just meh. Like, there are so many authors who put time and thought into making the writing enrapture you and making you feel like you were actually there, actually doing the things the main character(s) were doing and experiencing their thoughts and feelings. I'm sorry, but this story was just not there. The writing was just not there.
4: The characters. There. Were. Too. Many. I couldn't keep track of everybody in Meilan's school. Like, there were Logan and Liam, and sure, I could remember them, but aside from that, everyone else just kind of got washed into the background, popping out and random moments. (And obviously, I'd forgotten who they were by then).
Anyway, if you are going to read this book, just don't get your hopes up. It won't be worth it.
August 1, 2021
“There is meaning behind every name.” And right from the first page of The Many Meanings of Meilan by Andrea Wang, I knew that I would be getting a story that was heartfelt and meaningful. Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the gifted copy.
Meilan is an imaginative storyteller and what was innocently a bedtime story for her younger cousin becomes the fuel that seemingly tears her family apart. Soon, Meilan finds herself in the car with her parents and Gonggong (grandfather) as they leave Boston, the recently-sold family bakery and the rest of the family. On this journey out, Meilan - once nicknamed Lanlan - is now just referred to as Lan by her parents. Names have meanings - and as Meilan interprets this name change - she also finds that different parts of her identity fit the different names assigned to her. In the new town that they settle in, Meilan is the only Asian student around and from the very first day, her principal insists on giving her a new name - a more American name - and thus, she is given a new identity once again.
This was a story that tugged at my heartstrings. Andrea Wang weaves a story that demonstrates just how complicated family can be. As much a source of comfort, it can also be a source of pain. It is a story about healing, grief, finding peace, and also of standing up for oneself even in the face of racism and ignorance. The Many Meanings of Meilan is a story that will linger with me for awhile and for many readers, I believe it will resonate with them as they connect to the young and courageous Meilan.
Meilan is an imaginative storyteller and what was innocently a bedtime story for her younger cousin becomes the fuel that seemingly tears her family apart. Soon, Meilan finds herself in the car with her parents and Gonggong (grandfather) as they leave Boston, the recently-sold family bakery and the rest of the family. On this journey out, Meilan - once nicknamed Lanlan - is now just referred to as Lan by her parents. Names have meanings - and as Meilan interprets this name change - she also finds that different parts of her identity fit the different names assigned to her. In the new town that they settle in, Meilan is the only Asian student around and from the very first day, her principal insists on giving her a new name - a more American name - and thus, she is given a new identity once again.
This was a story that tugged at my heartstrings. Andrea Wang weaves a story that demonstrates just how complicated family can be. As much a source of comfort, it can also be a source of pain. It is a story about healing, grief, finding peace, and also of standing up for oneself even in the face of racism and ignorance. The Many Meanings of Meilan is a story that will linger with me for awhile and for many readers, I believe it will resonate with them as they connect to the young and courageous Meilan.
June 29, 2021
I received an electronic ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group through NetGalley.
Wang shares an honest look at a family dealing with extended grief and connections that are too tight. Meilan's father runs the bakery his parents began. He is committed to keeping it going after his mother's death. The book opens with the stresses this causes in the extended family and this part of the book finishes with the sale of the bakery and Meilan's family moving away. Gonggong (grandfather) goes with them. Wang shares their travels and visits with friends to set the tone for where they choose to settle. It's a bit obvious to her point to choose a small town in the midwest, but that doesn't significantly change the overall themes.
Meilan and her family struggle to fit in and are met with spoken and unspoken rejection. She deals with open prejudice from her first meeting with the principal who changes her name to an "American" one. It's at this point that the story picks up the pace and stays focused on Meilan finding her courage to speak up for herself and drop the Mist she has surrounded herself with for survival. Meilan is a relatable narrator and main character. Readers will connect with her journey and see themselves somewhere in these middle school characters. Though the story begins slowly and goes over the same ground a bit too much, the overall message is strong and should make readers think about their own actions and needs.
Wang shares an honest look at a family dealing with extended grief and connections that are too tight. Meilan's father runs the bakery his parents began. He is committed to keeping it going after his mother's death. The book opens with the stresses this causes in the extended family and this part of the book finishes with the sale of the bakery and Meilan's family moving away. Gonggong (grandfather) goes with them. Wang shares their travels and visits with friends to set the tone for where they choose to settle. It's a bit obvious to her point to choose a small town in the midwest, but that doesn't significantly change the overall themes.
Meilan and her family struggle to fit in and are met with spoken and unspoken rejection. She deals with open prejudice from her first meeting with the principal who changes her name to an "American" one. It's at this point that the story picks up the pace and stays focused on Meilan finding her courage to speak up for herself and drop the Mist she has surrounded herself with for survival. Meilan is a relatable narrator and main character. Readers will connect with her journey and see themselves somewhere in these middle school characters. Though the story begins slowly and goes over the same ground a bit too much, the overall message is strong and should make readers think about their own actions and needs.
March 24, 2022
After the family bakery is sold, 12yo Meilan Hua, her parents and grandfather move from Boston's Chinatown to rural Ohio - where they rent a small house and Meilan's father gets a job as a pastry chef. Meilan feels the move is her fault, and is not excited to start a new life in this small town, especially when her mother registers her for seventh grade at the local middle school where she is the only student of color. The principal, Mr. Reynard is concerned that the students will be uncomfortable trying to say Meilan's name and convinces her mother to register her as Melanie. She has decided to just stay quiet at school - if no one notices her, she won't get bullied. But she can't avoid the Veteran's Day assignment - interview a Veteran and write about their war story. Her Grandfather Gōnggong is a veteran, but doesn't like to talk about it. It seems all the trouble with the extended family started when Meilan upset her Aunt, she doesn't want to upset Gōnggong too.
I loved the power of storytelling - the stories from Meilan's culture and how they helped her, the stories that Gōnggong can't tell because they make him sad, and the stories she invents to entertain her cousin. Oh that principal was the worst! I hated reading about his racist decisions, it made me so mad! A powerful middle grade debut from the author of the 2022 Caldecott winner "Watercress."
cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
I loved the power of storytelling - the stories from Meilan's culture and how they helped her, the stories that Gōnggong can't tell because they make him sad, and the stories she invents to entertain her cousin. Oh that principal was the worst! I hated reading about his racist decisions, it made me so mad! A powerful middle grade debut from the author of the 2022 Caldecott winner "Watercress."
cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
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