Tiger Daughter

by Rebecca Lim

IBBY Honour List 2024
A Kirkus, Booklist, She Reads and Amazon Best Book of 2023
Winner, People's Choice Award, 2022 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards
Winner, CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers
Shortlisted 2022: Victorian Premier's Literary Awards; NSW Premier's Literary Awards; Prime Minister's Literary Awards; Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award;
Shortlisted, 2021 Queensland Literary Awards

What I feel most days is that nothing is ever
going to change. That my life won’t even start,
and that I’ll be stuck like this forever.

Wen Zhou is the only child of Chinese immigrants
whose move to the lucky country has proven to be not
so lucky. Wen and her friend, Henry Xiao — whose
mum and dad are also struggling immigrants — both
dream of escape from their unhappy circumstances,
and form a plan to sit an entrance exam to a selective
high school far from home. But when tragedy strikes, it
will take all of Wen’s resilience and resourcefulness to
get herself and Henry through the storm that follows.

Tiger Daughter is a novel that will grab hold
of you and not let go.

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Australia, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Family

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2021

About the author

Rebecca Lim is an Australian writer, illustrator and editor and the author of over twenty books, including Tiger Daughter (a Kirkus, Amazon and Booklist Best Book, CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers and Victorian Premier’s Literary Award-winner), Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky (NSW History Award-winner and Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award-winner) and the bestselling Mercy. Her work has been twice shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award, shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards, ARA Historical Novel Prize and Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, shortlisted multiple times for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Aurealis Awards and Davitt Awards, and longlisted for the Gold Inky Award and the David Gemmell Legend Award. Her novels have been translated into German, French, Turkish, Portuguese, Polish, Vietnamese and Russian. She is a co-founder of the Voices from the Intersection initiative and co-editor of Meet Me at the Intersection, a groundbreaking anthology of YA #OwnVoice memoir, poetry and fiction.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Patriarchal family issues

*Bullying

*Death and grief, loss of a parent

*Suicide

*Taboo on mental health, depression

*Racism, discrimination

*Domestic violence

All these issues are represented in the book.

The writing is amazing.

I really, really hate this guy as a father and a husband. But yes, more power to such women who are struggling because of such difficult people in their lives. This kind of situation described in the book is way too common than we can imagine. We all experience it in one way or the other.

Kudos to such amazing children who learns better from education; cheers to such teachers who help children actually face life; thanks to mothers who make their daughters stronger and stand up for themselves.

I freaking love this book so much! And I thought I was struggling! Let's own up and live our lives to the fullest.

My 2021 favourite list is getting longer!

*I can relate to these lines so much:

"The way we are is more than a little bit my mother’s fault. For not ever pushing back. For allowing our ‘permitted’ boundaries – hers and mine – to get so small. It’s true."

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This book was so hard hitting about growing up as a Chinese immigrant in Australia! It shows the glimmer of hope within immigrant families as they struggle to get by on limited language, job prospects and income. Wen and Henry were absolute gems, getting by and doing what they could while also struggling against language problems, strict boundaries from parents, poverty and racism/bullying from their peers.

Full review has been posted on Happy Indulgence Books.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

Tiger Daughter follows Wen Zhou, the only child of Chinese immigrants in Australia. I loved Wen and thought she was very well-written and strong. The core of this book, to me, is her relationship with her mother while the two endure the abusive wrath of Wen’s father. It was tragic to read about how much they had to go through, but I loved seeing Wen’s mother come into her own and develop a strong bond with her daughter.

The ending felt a little too neatly wrapped up and slightly too perfect, but it was still enjoyable and heartfelt so I can forgive it. Overall a solid read that I can easily see being a school book in the future.

[Christine Lucia Asha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wo00h, I thought my parents were strict. If they were tiger parents, then this girl's parents are rabid saber-tooth, at least her father seems to be. She is struggling to become herself and overcome barriers that both her parents and society have place in her way.

She has a good friend who has suffered a loss. She needs him and he needs her, so she has been secretly been sending over food and homework! Her mother soon finds her independence as well, starts working outside the home and helps her daughter sustain a grieving family.

[Laura Tenfingers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly amazing and utterly painful read.

The story of a daughter of Chinese immigrants to Australia. Of always feeling other, racism, major culture clashes between home-life and outside-life, violence against women and girls, and so much more. All of it painful, inspirational and hopefully eye-opening to those who have yet to open their eyes to the experiences of the people around them.

Off to find her other books now.

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I need everyone to go out and read this book. It’s nearly March and I swear, I’ve already read some of my *favourite* books of the year - including this one.

Books so intimidatingly good, that are moving Australia’s #LoveOzYA and #LoveOzMG forward in important ways - really breaking it open for more readers, writing such truth and honesty like never before ... that’s ‘Tiger Daughter’ by Rebecca Lim

This is not an easy book, by any means. But it’s vital and brilliant storytelling and I promise you - everyone needs this book in their life.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good read. I wish i read it at an earlier age however because I think it is intended for a younger age group. But the writing and story was like ‘pleasant’ you know? I wouldn’t say it was extraordinary or bad in anyway, and was the kind of book you like mildly enjoy. (I mean some people may really enjoy it but that’s just my opinion) Also in the Another’s note thing, she says that part of the reason she writes is to build empathy in her readers, and this book definitely does that.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the child of immigrants I will always seek out immigrant stories. This beautiful but tough middle grade novel shows the strength and tenacity immigrants need in this country to move between their two conflicting worlds. I felt Wen’s frustration, fight, rage and resilience in my bones. Her story matters.

[Sharah McConville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiger Daughter is an interesting Young Adult novel by Rebecca Lim. The story centres around Wen Zhou and Henry Xiao as they navigate school in Australia as immigrant kids. The story tackles tough issues such as racism, bullying, depression and domestic violence however, it is also uplifting and insightful. Thanks to Allen & Unwin for my paperback copy of this novel.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author's note:

✨ "You are not alone. Things will change. Things will not always seem so narrow and impossible and immutable. One day you will be free — but it will be up to you to push back, to step outside the boundaries that other people have drawn out for you, to see over the edges of the box, to think for yourself. No one can do that for you, but you. Accept no limitations."

[Nadia V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim highlights strong friendships and family. It is about an Asian girl in Australia at school and her friendship with another Asian student. I rate this book a 4 out of 5. It was an interesting book that kept me hook in during the middle of the book. I found it that the themes and writing was similar to Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah.

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

"Anger has tides and temperatures and speeds that can suck you down, or spit you out, depending on the day, the hour, the moment - changing you forever."

This book packs a punch.
- As a second-gen Chinese Australian, there's a lot here that hits close to home (e.g. tension between school and home, stigma and shame, navigating a 'bicultural' identity). Although my childhood was nowhere near as extreme as Wen's, Rebecca Lim's writing is incredibly authentic and powerful. Parts of Wen and Henry's lives, sadly, remind me of things experienced by people I know.
- There are lines like this where I had to put the book down and take a moment: "Rage like air, present but invisible, permeating everything. Taking up the space behind my eyes that is not otherwise occupied by the tight, prickly feeling of wanting to cry."
- The tension between rage and fear, the familial claustrophobia, swearing to never become like them... I've never wanted to hug a fictional character so much :(
- Although Wen's father was abusive and controlling, there was also some great discussion about contributing factors - in no way justifying the behaviour, but highlighting some of the challenges commonly faced by first-generation migrants including language barriers, difficulty finding employment, culture shock, mental illness, financial pressure, isolation, and fear - and the effect this can have on families if these struggles are not processed in a healthy way.
- The protagonists are in early high school, but it's probably a good idea to familiarise yourself with this book before giving it to a child. There's a lot of heavy topics (e.g. domestic violence, suicide, mental health stigma, sexism, racism, cultural baggage) which are addressed beautifully giving great prompts for discussion, but it may be a bit upsetting. That being said, the book is also deeply hopeful and Wen's compassion, resourcefulness, resilience, and courage is a brilliant example for kids and adults alike, regardless of cultural background.
- Would recommend this to anyone interested in reading a migrant story actually written by a migrant.
- The chicken soup ingredients might sound weird but I can confirm it's actually not bad.

'It's aiming for the peaks,' I tell him, 'and swimming through the troughs so that there are moments where you can just float under the sun and see how far you've come.'

[XXK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirteen year old Wen lives in a house governed by rage and fear. As the first generation daughter of Chinese migrant parents, she is expected to keep her head down and focus solely on her studies. While life at home is spent under her parents watchful gaze, Wen secretly spends her time at school studying with her close friend Henry for a place at a select entry high school, something that they believe could launch them into a future ripe with opportunity. Two weeks before the school’s entrance exam, however, tragedy strikes, leaving Henry reclusive and shut off from the outside world. It is up to Wen to seek the help of her parents, coax her friend out of his shell and together, make their dreams a reality.

Tiger Daughter is an insightful portrayal of the Australian migrant experience that reads all too familiar. Wen’s father, previously a practicing medical practitioner, has no choice but to spend his nights waiting at the local Chinese restaurant in order to earn a measly income. Meanwhile her mother spends her days cooking and cleaning the house while caring for Wen, having long ago abandoned her prior years as a socialite. As Wen works to break out of a life that has been prescribed for her, she too begins to challenge the cultural conceptions that have long held her family back. Though the novel does not shy away from tackling heavy topics around mental health, parental pressure and racial abuse, it also weaves in tender moments full of compassion and hope. Rebecca Lim has written a powerful own-voices story about perseverance and determination that will completely and utterly win over your heart. For ages 10+.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply phenomenal. And phenomenal in its simplicity. I also picked this book up as it was laying there abandoned in the school I teach at. This book contains beautifully connected life lessons that are plotted in occurrences. It picks up the reader, stuns, sometimes even shocks them, and twirls with them in the air and sets them down with Confucian teachings., decorating the reader with wonderful words of the wise. And all of them I can relate to. And one in particular indeed true: to live, is to risk everything.

Unfortunately I can relate to Wen. I found myself tensing up in some scenes because my father relates to hers in ways, and as does my mother to hers in others. It is sad to see that my culture is not the only one trodden with domestic unsteadiness.

Interesting fact, to note: a coworker told me that Chinese mothers are usually nicknamed ‘Tiger Mothers’ because of the strong ways in which they raise their young. The title of this book hence is quite entirely fitting.

Highly recommended.

[Wendy Bamber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite heart wrenching story of a Chinese immigrant in Australia. Wen’s father has quite traditional ideas about the role of both herself as a daughter, and her mother, and their household is ruled by fear. Wen can not develop friendships with the other girls at school but does not tell them why they can never come over, or why she can’t accept invites to parties and the other girls lose interest in her. Wen has a plan with her best friend Henry to escape the narrow future her father expects for her, but knows that even if she won a scholarship to a better school, he would not let her take it, but even so she is motivated to continue because she knows it will push her friend out of his situation. This is not all doom and gloom, it’s a great but challenging read, suitable for year 6+ but probably better suited to year 7+.

[jenny !! · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not get the point of this book and this is the embodiment of the quote, "Don't judge a book by it's cover" because the cover was nicer than the rest of the library books but the content inside was HORRENDOUS and the biggest snoozefest I've ever read.

There was no lesson. Henry remained depressed, only a little less. Wen was always annoying yet kind in the main character's way. The only good person was Wen's mum who actually got some decent character development. Little to no plot. SNOOOOOOZE

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Bree T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short but incredibly powerful read.

Wen is a teenage girl living in Australia, born to migrant parents. Her father was a doctor in China but hasn’t passed the surgeon’s exam in Australia and so he works as a manager in a Chinese restaurant and the bitterness about this, is extreme. He runs the household with an iron fist, imposing a lot of rules and regulations – even though she’s a teenager, Wen’s mother still walks her to and from school every day. They are to make no stops on the way and her father rings every day at 4pm to make sure. Wen isn’t allowed to socialist outside of school at all and her free time is taken up with homework, extra lessons and practice: music, Chinese calligraphy, maths (which she struggles with a lot).

Her friend Henry excels at maths but has a lot of trouble with English (both the language and the subject) and Wen is trying to help him improve in both for the entrance exam he desperately wants to sit. Henry sees getting into this school as a kind of magic solution to a lot of their problems and although Wen has agreed to sit it with him and their teacher (who used to teach at the school they’re aiming to get into) thinks they are both excellent chances, Wen hasn’t told her parents. She knows her father would never allow her to go, especially because the school is a considerable distance from her house. But also because as a daughter, she’s a disappointment and he’s quick to tell her that as well as berate her about her lack of intelligence each time she doesn’t understand maths.

There’s so much conveyed here, not just Wen’s experience as the child of immigrants but the story of her parents as well and their struggle to build a new life in a country that is not always friendly. Wen’s father faces chronic disappointment and shame that he’s doing the job he is and I feel that he often takes his frustrations about that out on his family. For the most part, Wen’s mother is cowed, living with the fear as Wen puts it, fear of her father’s temper and outbursts. When a tragedy happens with Henry’s family, at first Wen’s mother wants to keep her distance, not get involved, employing a traditional (I think?) attitude towards it. But Wen won’t accept that and she begs her mother to leave food, to accompany her so she can leave homework for Henry when he cannot leave the house.

These small acts give Wen’s mother some confidence, as does an interaction or two with the lady who runs the local pharmacy. Wen begins to see her mother in a different light I think, to wonder about the person she might have been before she married Wen’s father or before the difficulties of life in a new country. Wen’s mother is capable and has a compassionate side that has perhaps been kept hidden – and despite her words, I get the feeling that she could relate to that tragedy much more than she would ever let on.

It was really wonderful reading about both Wen and her mother empowering themselves, about their small acts of rebellion that lead to opportunity. Wen’s mother is basically trapped in the apartment each day, only allowed out to purchase food and given a strict household budget (that seems to be deliberately not enough, just to see what she can do with it, but that could just be the way I view it). It’s obvious that Wen’s father is so miserable in his job where he deals with micro aggressions and racism, where he has to obviously bite his tongue and “yes sir” his way through it that all that rage and frustration has no where to go but to spill over at home. His reactions to things are incredibly out of proportion to the events and quite frankly, are abusive.

Wen’s inner rage at her restrictions comes through so clearly, as does the ways in which she has to dampen her thoughts and actions down, become less, become more, conform to the ideals of the perfect child. Except she’s not a boy, so she can’t ever be perfect and it’s getting harder and harder for her to hold her tongue, to do as she’s told without questioning. Towards the end, she uses her father’s own lecturing back at him, to prove a point and showcase his own hypocrisy and it’s kind of glorious.

This is not an easy read but I was so engrossed in the story. The thing that pins it all together is Wen’s relationship with her mother and how Wen’s own actions actually give her mother the confidence to rebel in her own ways, to perhaps take back some of who she had been, before her marriage, the move, a country where she isn’t confident in the language. Wen’s mother grows stronger in many ways as her daughter does and perhaps it’s seeing the person her daughter is, that reminds her of who she is.

Not going to lie, the ending felt a fraction easy or quick, but the rest of it was so good that I didn’t mind.

[megan⋆⭒˚｡⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the plot of this book, especially since I am the daughter of Chinese immigrants, but I feel like it could have been so much more. To me, a lot of the events in this novel were very abrupt and you don't really get to see the why behind the characters' actions, it just happens. Moreover, the writing style was lacking a lot of emotional depth for me; I feel like some things could've been more hard-hitting if the writing was more descriptive and the author provided more background to the characters' emotions.

[N · Rating 1 out of 5]

Underwhelming.

It ended so abruptly without a real resolution / explanation.Her dad, out of the blue, was perfectly happy to chat with Henry's dad? And had a change of heart about the party because ??. Storyline and characters were underdeveloped.

[Clare Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Let them talk in peace and find a new shape for their lives - the way we are all doing."

[layla · Rating 2 out of 5]

boring, kinda sad

[Angela Y (yangelareads) ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Penguin Teen, Random House Children's and Delacorte Press.

Wen Zhou is a first-generation daughter of Chinese migrant parents. She has high expectations from her parents to succeed in school, especially her father whose strict rules leave her feeling trapped. She dreams of creating a future for herself more satisfying than the one her parents expect her to lead.

Then she befriends a boy named Henry who is also a first generation immigrant. He is the smartest boy at school despite struggling with his English and understands her in a way nobody has lately. Both of them dream of escaping and together they come up with a plan to take an entrance exam for a selective school far from home. But when tragedy strikes, it will take all of Wen’s resilience and tiger strength to get herself and Henry through the storm that follows.

This is a great own voices YA novel about a Chinese growing up in Australia. This book does not shy away from pretty tough issues such as racism, family violence, depression, stigma but it does so in a way that is very accessible for young people. Every character in this book is complex and unique, with their own issues, making this story more unique. However, the writing style really frustrated me. It felt like it was not written for a middle age group. The depth of insight and the sophisticated expression felt more like an adult looking back on a traumatic childhood.

This book has definite depth. It's emotional and painful and could lead to some meaningful conversations. It is definitely not a light or happy read. The ending also felt a little too neatly tied up and too perfect, but the book was still enjoyable. Overall, a decent read.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: domestic violence, suicide of a parent, grief, physical abuse, racial slurs, emotional abuse

Oof. This book was..........a lot. And not in the ways I expected it to be. I didn't expect Wen's father to be abusive and controlling. And I definitely didn't expect Henry's side of the story holy HELL. That being said, this was beautifully written and I loved the way that Wen's story played out.

I did find the ending to be a liiiiiiiittle too neat and tidy - and fast, tbh - but on the whole I'm so glad I read this. It's definitely not one for the younger MG audience though.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I had read this earlier.

The benefits of toilet duty at the athletics carnival [get a book and a half read].

This is such a strong, sensitive novel.

[Barb reads......it ALL! · Rating 4 out of 5]

A triumph!

[Mai H.]

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miłe i mądre! 🥹

[Star · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: racism, parental abuse, parental death (side character), classism.

This one packed a punch.

[duKe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed exploration of the Chinese - migrant experience through the authentic voice of youth.
I felt that despite not being able to empathise with the cultural issues of patriarchal dominance, racism, sexism, and systemic inequality, I was able to gain a deep understanding of how each of these issues can affect a family in a myriad of ways.
The contained setting, characterisation and plot was expertly crafted in a manner that allowed for each character to develop naturally as the events unfolded.

I have not finished all of the shortlisted 2022 CBCA Book Week books yet, but I know that this will be a strong contender.