Review: American Panda by Gloria Chao (L)

Synopsis: At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents' master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies. With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can't bring herself to tell them the truth--that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese. But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels? (from the online description)

Review: After seeing this on a TBR by Tea Hags, I picked this up at the Library.

Mei is a cute, likeable character. Born from first-generation Taiwanese parents, she constantly struggles between her parents’ world and her own. Gloria Chao handled this conflict with an expert hand – giving all the character depth and flaws. This could have easily slipped into the overbearing-parent-freedom-seeking-child trope but instead, gave the reader a picture of a complex family. The story doesn’t just follow Mei’s growth, but the growth of her mother and brother as well.

The addition of the Taiwanese, including the language, gives the book an authenticity that gives the story richness. Chao includes small details, like Taiwanese food, habits, and words, which make the book so much more than just your average contemporary YA

My qualm is how quickly Mei fell in love. She was willing to defy her family after only a few moments with the boy she likes. This almost ruined the story for me. It felt rushed and silly.

If one can overlook that, this is a fun, easy read – perfect for a summer by the ocean.  

Bookmarks: 3.5 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-1-4841-9910-1
Year Published: 2018
Date Finished: 5-14-2018
Pages: 310