Asian-American Books

I bought this book for the pupose of someday using it in the classroom (of a history class in middle school or high school), and I find that it would be very useful for a lesson dealing with that time period in U.S. history. The book is well-written and is an easy read with a solid message. It makes me want to read the follow-up book. I would recommend this book to anyone searching on a book related to discrimination or the U.S. during WWII.

I read this book last summer and I thought it was really good! I was almost going to put it down after the 2nd chapter but I told myself to read at least 5 more. And I am so glad that I made my self do that! It was quickly moving and it is a book you will want to read again! I am planning on reading it again this summer. Happy reading!

i put off reading this bc i usually hate war books. after i picked it up though, i couldn't put it back down.
my heart broke for the men to whom this book was dedicated, and patriotism takes on a whole new meaning for me.
the atrocities suffered by eddy and his friends are almost unbelievable. the fact that they remained loyal to their country and their government makes them so much better than me.
i'd say more, but i am afraid i'll begin to make comparisons to the current administration and this isn't the forum:)

I recommend this to anyone interested in WW II stories, and particularly people from Hawaii, or of Asian ancestry.

A thoroughly engaging book. I live in Hawaii, and I know lots of people just like the men described here.

It seems laughable now that intelligent people once thought that Asians smelled different that Caucasians, but here's the story, folks.

Eyes of the Emperor By graham Salisbury is a great book. It as made a grat impact on me and my outlook on history of WWII. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read stories that can be easily followed and to anyone interested in war especially WWII. This story portrays many great qualities and characteristics that any young man should have, Such as loyalty, bravery, and honesty and other strengths that they can use to prove themselves by using in the real world. The book follows a young Japanese man and his Japanese friends as they go through daily life of being in the United States army. How they are treated and the jobs they get and they trust they don't.

Not only does the book teach you about life in the army but it teaches you about respect for your country and for you family. The book has a strong cultural influence in which it portrays the a message stating that when you leave you family life becomes harder and there may not be someone alongside of you to help you along your way.

Poised at the Edge Book Review

GIRL OVERBOARD

Justina Chen Headley


The worst part of having it all is having to deal with it all--the good, the bad, and the just plain weird. So begins the story of Syrah Cheng. Everybody assumes that life is breeze for Syrah. Her father, Ethan Cheng is famous billionaire; she lives in a veritable palace, anything she wants is at her fingertips, right? But what people don't know is she hardly ever gets to see her globe-trotting parents, her half-siblings refuse to treat her like she's part of the family, her best friend's girlfriend is sabotaging their friendship, and she just got used and humiliated by an egotistical (quasi)-pro snowboarder, who referred to her (bank account) as his "free-pass to paradise."

Life is anything but rosy for Syrah. After a serious (and seriously foolish) accident leaves Syrah with a severe knee injury, she is no longer able to escape to the mountains and snowboard. Even worse, she has to forget her dream of going pro. But down-time, and a series of astonishing events, leads Syrah down a path of self-evaluation and personal growth.

I don't want to say much more about the plot, because I want everyone to read GIRL OVERBOARD, a story so rich in plot, theme, and content, that it left my head spinning. Justina Chen Headley gracefully weaves issues of race, socio-economic class, gender, feminism, body image, complex extended family, deep-dark secrets, jealousy, and enlightenment. How did she do it? This is a smart book to be treasured by girls, and women of all ages!

Review by Melissa Jauregui

Reviewed by Emily Robbins (age 13) for Reader Views (3/08)

"Girl Overboard," by Justina Chen Headley, is about Syrah Cheng, the daughter of a billionaire, the famous Ethan Cheng. Decked out private jets, expensive designer snowboards, all of the latest hot fashions, it's all hers. She is definitely living large. The only problem is that she hates it. Instead of parties, Syrah would rather be up on the tall, snowy mountains doing what she knows best, skateboarding.

Syrah's life is just going downhill. Her best friend's girlfriend is ruining their relationship. Her knee was supposed to have healed by now, after a horrible snowboarding accident she had a while back, but it is still giving her troubles. She's also struggling with trying to figure out who her real friends are, and who she herself is.

My favorite character is definitely Lillian, one of Syrah's friends. She is energetic, kind, and seems like the best type of friend a person could have. Unlike the rest of Lillian's popular friends, she is more concerned about the sick and deathly-ill kids in the hospital than the juicy gossip her friends enjoy so greatly.

Wayne, Syrah's unkind brother, completely does not understand Syrah. He is just after his very large share in his father's very large inheritance, and making loads of cash. So, instead of trying to understand her, he is just a cruel sibling, trying to ruin her snowboarding dream. Wayne is unquestionably, my least favorite character of them all.

"Girl Overboard" was an inspiring book. I really liked how it really went into her lifestyle, trying to show you just how much she loathed it. The author did a really good job with all the diverse characters, and showing their different personalities. Some parts in the book I admit were a little dull and monotonous; in those sections I just skimmed over those paragraphs, but all in all it was an all-around great book! Two thumbs up, and I would definitely recommend "Girl Overboard," by Justina Chen Headley.

I know I am not the prime audience for which this book was written. I am many generations removed from the current youth this book was written for and about. Growing up before Title 9, I did not have the sport opportunities available to girls since that milestone legislation. Despite the lack of organized sports, I was a young female athlete, one who had set her sights on representing her country in the Olympics one day.

At that time, I chose the Olympics because it was one of the only avenues available for women athletes to perform on a high level, at least those were my dreams until I tore my ACL at age 13 and had my world tossed upside down. And so, when I meet Syrah Cheng, up and coming snowboarder, who is trying to come back from the same potentially career threatening injury, my heart is with her all the way.

I know the battles female athletes have fought and continue to fight even today and so does Justina Headley Chen, the author. Ms Headley, who says she conceived the novel as she was being trundled down a mountain by the ski patrol after having a similar accident may never have been an up and coming boarder but she knows well the struggles young girls face in our society. That is why she and several other talented YA authors have established "Readergirlz.com" a web community for "gutsy girls" wherever they may be and whatever their passions.

"Girl Overboards' Syrah Cheng has many battles to fight as she struggles to find her niche in the world. Issues of sexism, classism, and cultural identity are all handled with delicacy and power. There are no simple solutions here. Syrah may have been born into a family with many privileges but living in the spotlight of media and community scrutiny only magnifies the struggle to live up to the image of the "perfect daughter". This image includes the struggle of meeting the unhealthy demands our societiy places on the perfect, female body as well As a young female athlete trying to build a body that can meet the demands of the sport she loves, Syrah must also deal with the expectations of both her mother and potential snowboarding sponsors, an image that Syrah has subconsciously accepted until she recognizes it herself.

Which brings us to another wonderful element of the book, Syrah is also a budding illustrator and writer of Manga. In her Manga journal, Syrahs' alter ego Shiraz is able to fly high above the rest in her snowboarding exploits but also ends up teaching Syrah even more about herself.

Which brings me to my only regret about the book. It would be fantastic if future editions of the book could contain some panels representing the journal. Manga is a very hot ticket and would attract a whole other segment of readers. Perhaps there could even be a graphic novel/Manga spinoff or series based on the characters?

This is a compelling read which will speak to many girls and young women. If you have a "gutsy girl" in your life get the book for her today! She won't be sorry!

Syrah Cheng has it all- a lavish lifestyle, a big-name corporate dad, great friends, and a strong inclination and talent for snowboarding. Through her manga journal and narrative, Syrah shows that beneath the alluring exterior of her lavish life, it's not all it's cracked up to be- her half siblings hate her, the girlfriend of her best friend wants her to stay away from him, and her knee injury keeps her from going back on the slopes to snowboard. When she meets her new friend's little sister, who has leukemia, Syrah comes up with a big idea to help her out and just may be able to find her own self worth, and maybe become closer to her family as well.

While this may seem like a boring, predictable sports novel about snowboarding, it is not like that at all. Snowboarding is hardly even mentioned in the book; the focus is more on Syrah finding her way in the world, and new family she's found herself in. Filled with wit, vivid details and a powerful, engaging narrative, this is another great and original book from the author of "Nothing But The Truth (and a Few White Lies)".

If you are looking for a rags-to-riches story, don't pick up GIRL OVERBOARD. On the other hand, if you are looking for a story about a rich girl struggling to be a normal, well-adjusted girl, than this one is for you.

Syrah Cheng is the daughter of privilege. Her father, Ethan Cheng, made the cell phone what it is today. Her mother, Betty Cheng, is the queen of charity fundraising, and demands only the best. Unfortunately, all the splendor and wealth surrounding Syrah leave her feeling uncomfortable and unloved.

Syrah's dream is to become a sponsored pro-snowboarder; however, a recent life-threatening accident has sidelined her with a bum knee. Her doctor says she is ready to resume normal activities and even some cautious snowboarding, but her globe-trotting parents have forbidden her participation in the only activity that makes her life worthwhile. She fills her days with school and manga drawings of a superheroine snowboarder named Shiraz.

Not being able to snowboard is only the beginning of trouble for Syrah. Her best friend, Age, has a new girlfriend who doesn't believe there is room in their relationship for Syrah. Bao-mu, Syrah's dedicated nanny, has announced that she is leaving to go help her granddaughter with her new baby. And to top it all off, Ethan Cheng has announced his retirement and his intention to move the family to Hong Kong.

There is never a dull moment in GIRL OVERBOARD. Syrah may seem about to give up on her dream, but she finds a way to combine her love of snowboarding with what she discovers are her many other assets, to help a new friend in need, and make her family proud of her. Author Justina Chen Headley shows her readers what truly lies beneath the glittery surface of a girl who has it all, but learns that family, friendship, and love can surprise us all.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

The War in Iraq rages on - but the rebuilding has already begun. "Howling in Mesopotamia: An Iraqi-American Memoir" is the story of one Haider Ala Hamoudi, one who has dedicated his life and well being to restoring the country he loves. He tells his story of rebuilding and how the events of these past few years have changed his life and the lives of the people around him. A different look at the Iraq conflict, "Howling in Mesopotamia: An Iraqi-American Memoir" is highly recommended to community library current events shelves.

'Howling in Mesopotamia: An Iraqi-American Memoir' will remind you that Iraqis are individuals just like everyone else in this world and even though the US government and media will many times make it sound like they are lesser people because of the harsh world that they live in, this book is a stark reminder that given the right opportunities they are no different than anyone else. Read this book and learn more about Iraq and decision that were made which put the country in the state it it currently in. A thoughtful and interesting piece of work that is well worth the time.

**** RECOMMENDED

Written with disarming honesty, this memoir of an Iraqi American is a fascinating look at the Iraqi people during the American occupation. Professor Hamoudi returned to the land of his family after the invasion in 2003 with high hopes. As a bilingual lawyer from a prominent Shi'a family, he was in a good position to help with the building of the hoped for democracy. He is obviously a privileged and highly educated man, idealistic and religious but also secular. He hated Saddam Hussein and what the psychopathic dictator had done to his country. But Hamoudi is not just some ex-pat returning to his homeland in other to reap the spoils of war. Instead, as one cannot help but know from reading his engaging account, Hamoudi sincerely believed in the American effort and wanted nothing more than to be an instrumental part of bringing about a secure, happy and prosperous life for Iraqis.

In this he failed as he tells us in the final pages. He tells us why candidly. He writes: "...between air conditioning failures, power cuts, limited grocery options, appallingly slow internet connections, a near entire lack of recreation, and, of course, a constant fear of annihilation, life was becoming unbearable, my ability to write limited, and my efforts to teach Iraqi students psychologically exhausting, I felt myself wasting away." (p. 271)

Note well the practical and personal nature of his concerns. How easy it would have been--and how empty--for Professor Hamoudi to say he could not achieve success because the American occupation had been so poorly planned and executed, because the uneducated and warring Iraqi fractions were at one another's throats and were not ready for democracy. How easy it would have been to blame others, but characteristically Hamoudi blames himself and accepts personal responsibility for his "failure."

But it was not a failure because one of the things that came from his experience was this book. It is a great success itself because it shows the Iraqi people--and especially this particular Iraqi, himself--in a genuinely human way, complete with shortcomings and strengths, complete with differing ideas and beliefs, but with very much the same humanity that we all share.

Curiously enough this memoir is also a charming love story that takes the reader by surprise. Here is how Hamoudi recalls the first conversion with his future wife, Sara, whom he met while working in Kurdistan Iraq.

"'I am sorry, remind me of your name one more time?' I asked.
"She looked confused, but replied, `Sara.'
"'Sara, Professor Saman said you were interested in applying for a Fulbright, and I would like to help you. Have you completed the application?'
Sara is confused. They are conversing in Arabic, but that is not Sara's native tongue. After some further confusion, Hamoudi asks again, "'Did you not actually apply for the Fulbright? Do I have the wrong person?'
"She shook her head from side to side and stared at me, unsure of what I was saying."
At this point Hamoudi decides to go and fetch Professor Saman.
"I turned to the door. Suddenly I heard a lovely voice.
"'O thou Professor, dost thou refer to the application whose pages must be completed in full along with the most favorable recommendations sent by professors that doth hold me in the highest regard?'"
Hamoudi says, "Huh?" And then gets an inspiration: "'What dost thou say?'
"With this the most beautiful smile I had ever seen appeared on Sara's face. `I understandeth thy latest utterance thou professor of wisdom!'
"'Dost thou understand only classical Arabic?' I was feeling rather stupid speaking this way but had no alternative." (p. 200)

As they say in Hollywood: Boy meets girl, cute!

Of course love in Islamic lands is rather formal. They can hardly be together and certainly not alone. He can buy her a friendship present, maybe, but not a romantic one! And to use the word "love"--well, here is how they managed it over the telephone:
"'Haider?' she asked, as I was preparing to hang up the telephone.
"'Yes, Sara?'
"'I want to teach you a new Kurdish word before you go.'
"'Okay.'
"'In case one day you want to tell your mother, or maybe your aunt, "I love you" in Kurdish, this is how you say it--Khoshem Ewet.'
"'Got it. I am sure my Arab mother and aunt will like that.'
"'Goodbye again, then, Haider.'
"'Khoshem Ewet, Sara Khan.'
"A pause, then, in English, a language she did not know well, `I love you too.'" (p. 217)

I came away from reading this book with a new understanding and appreciation of the Iraqi people. Initially I was disposed to question Professor Hamoudi's motives, figuring that he was just another of those privileged exiled Iraqis, like Ahmad Chalabi, who promoted the invasion of Iraqi for personal gain. But Hamoudi reveals himself (as one must in telling such a long and personal story) to be sincere, hardworking, intelligent, diplomatic (very! and patient), vulnerable, more heroic than he knows, a man of the world who understands better than most of us not only what has happened and is happening in Iraq, but a man who has that understanding as both an American and an Iraqi who is an Arab Muslim. If we had more people like Professor Hamoudi in this world, the quarrels, the misunderstandings, the suspicions and hatreds that exist among people would be largely quelled and the world would be a better place.

I hope this book is widely read, as it deserves to be.

Whether you were for the initial invasion of Iraq, against the initial invasion, for a continuing large military presence in Iraq, against continuing a large military presence, for some type of military presence in Iraq, against any type of military presence, or just not sure, this book is a must read. It gives an account of what it was like, and probably still is like, to be an ordinary person living in Iraq. The author uses superb analogies of American culture to explain Iraqi culture. When reading the book, keep in mind Robert McNamara's rationale for why we lost in Vietnam, in that we did not understand the history and culture of that Southeast Asian nation. History does repeat itself, but never in the same way.
This is an intriguing book which is hard to put down.

Howling in Mesopotamia is a very good book written by an Iraqi- American who decided to revisit Iraqi during its initial post- Saddam Hussein years. Author Haider Ala Hamoudi was sent to Iraq on official university business with one main goal in mind: To educate the people of Iraq on the rule of law and help the nation transform itself to a democratic and just society. During his two years in the land of his forefathers, he does get to work with educators but he also has time to spend with his family, explore the different areas of Iraq, and witness first- hand what Iraq is like now that Saddam Hussein is gone and the nation is controlled by the American military.

Hamoudi traverses the Iraqi nation and gets to talk and interact with Iraqi natives and Americans who are there to help rebuild the nation. He listens closely to the personal stories of Iraqis and gets a perspective on how they feel about the changes that have taken place in the past few years. He takes part in different Iraqi festivals and soaks up the culture. He exchanges words with Iraqis who don't quite understand the American way of life and cannot understand why Americans speak and act the way they do. He comes away from his experience with a feeling of despair but also a glimmer of hope. Conditions are bad, and many Iraqis fear for their lives every day. But there is always that small chance that, one day, Iraqi will be able to stand on its own, defend itself, and offer a stable government for its people.

The collective mood of the Iraqi people is certainly foul, but there are a few bright spots. One is the fact that Saddam Hussein is no longer in charge of the government. The book is quick to point out the jubilation that was felt by the majority of Iraqis when Saddam Hussein was no longer a threat and the equally joyous occasion when Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay, were killed in a gunfight. Hussein's brutal regime was largely feared and despised in Iraq, and few if any tears were shed when Hussein and his boys were eliminated from the country. But does this mean that Iraq a safe place to be?- Far from it, in the eyes of the author and those living in Iraq. Even though Saddam is gone, the country is in complete disarray and frequent mention is made of the seemingly indifferent attitude of the Americans in Iraq and how they have done little to nothing to help transition the nation from dictatorship to democracy. In the minds of the Iraqi people, the American forces either do not care or do not know what to do. With people dying from gunfire on a daily basis, Iraqis don't feel much safer than they did under Saddam and they long for the day when the U.S. forces are gone and they can reclaim their land.

This book offers many personal stories about the time Hamoudi spent in Iraq and he lets his own feelings shine forth on many occasions. His whirlwind of emotions is one of the book's many strong points. He feels for his family and misses them dearly. He is saddened by the tragedy that has befallen his nation and wishes it would improve quickly. He is appalled by the sight of filth in the cities and in the countryside. But he is also very excited at the book's end when he meets the woman he will eventually marry. Still, the overall feeling is bleak. Hamoudi came to Iraq hoping to offer a helping hand in the reconstruction of his homeland but his optimism gradually diminishes with each passing day as he bears witness to the ruined nation around him- a nation no closer to political stability than it was in the days of Saddam.

Howling in Mesopotamia is a very personal and powerful book about one man's journey to his homeland and his interactions with his family and fellow countrymen. The writing in this book is impeccable, and it makes for a great companion when you're in the mood for some reading that almost seems too surreal to be true. Some parts read like a work of fiction. But make no mistake: this is a work of non- fiction through and through, even though the author probably wishes it was a fictional novel rather than the cold, hard truth.

Regime change in Iraq hasn't been easy. Saddam is gone, but chaos and disorder are still part of life in this ancient land. The poor living conditions of the people, the turmoil of the government, and the ruinous state of the economy are all realities in post- Saddam Iraq and while the situation looks gloomy, there is still an iota of hope that Iraq might be a stable country once again. Howling in Mesopotamia explains it all, from the perspective of a man who grew up in Ohio to Iraqi parents and still hopes his homeland will be safe and secure in the not- too- distant future. Hope is all that many have left, as the war continues to drag on and on with no end in sight and little or no progress toward stability. This book explains the current situation well, and it ranks as one of the best books I have read on this subject.

It is great to have a look into Mao's China from the eyes of a child. I agree with many of the good things said, and just want to say this is a great book. Lyric, and a child's view, and great insight.

It's one thing to read the history of China's Cultural Revolution, quite another to see it through the eyes of a little girl who lived through it. In "Little Green," Chun Yu, born the year the Cultural Revolution began (1966), chronicles the first ten years of her life, from the revolution's inception to its ending with Mao's death.

What's startling about "Little Green" - the title comes from Yu's childhood nickname - is not just the vivid clarity of her memories but the beauty of her words. Written in verse, the book has the crystalline luminosity of Peter Matthiessen's prose and David Whyte's poetry. On one page Yu will speak eloquently of the gift of a blue silk ribbon; on another she'll share her pain - without being overly sentimental - at having her family's garden torn out after the state decided that private gardens were capitalistic.

"After a whole spring and early summer
of planting and watering,
the tomatoes were just starting to ripen under the green leaves.
Some melon flowers were still blooming on the fence.
The biggest melons had grown to the size of my little fists.
The sunflowers along the roadside
were only a couple of feet tall,
with tender yellow flowers following the sun around.
Nainai [Grandma] sighed.
'It hurts the conscience to destroy these crops.
What crime did the plants commit?' "

In this slender volume, Yu shows how her family is affected by the Cultural Revolution. Her mother, a teacher, becomes a target of the anti-intellectual movement; her father is sent for several years to a reeducation camp. In "We Saw Baba Only Twice a Year," Yu writes:

"Baba lived in May Seventh Cadre School,
where he was being reeducated.
The cadre school could only be reached by boat,
slowly moved by a long bamboo stick.
It took a whole day each way.
We saw Baba only twice a year,
in the summertime
and Chinese New Year.
After not seeing him for a long time,
it felt so strange to call him 'Baba' again."

The cover quote, from Maxine Hong Kingston, calls "Little Green" a "miracle" which initially sounded a bit over the top. But as I read the book and learned Yu's story, I didn't find this to be an exaggeration. For someone who learned English as an adult and spent much of her time in this country studying science, "Little Green," written with elegant simplicity in English, truly is miraculous.

I found "Little Green" so enjoyable that I began rationing it, reading just a few pages a night, to make it last. Thankfully, this is the first book of a trilogy, and Yu says she's already finished the second volume. I'll eagerly await its publication. Until then, I'll return often to Little Green's clear, bright lines.

Little Green is a wondrous work of art, like an ancient Chinese painting brought forward into modern time. Where a Western painter might fill up the entire canvas with paint, traditional Chinese painters used sparse brush strokes to vividly illuminate the very essence of their subject. So does Chun Yu use her poetry to bring to life the world of a ten year old child in the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Like the unfolding of a Chinese scroll, to read her verse is to journey across the landscape of that time. We see her family, other children, revolutionaries and "counter-revolutionaries," political struggle meetings, war trainings, cold streams, warm meals, forbidden ancient poetry, and the sound of snowflakes falling past her ear.

Little Green is suitable for all ages, both children and adults. From her readings in the San Francisco bay area, I also learned that this book is the first in a coming trilogy. I give it five stars.

This book powerfully tells what life was truly like under Mao and his cohort. Chun Yu brings a new voice with an amazing ability to enable the reader to imagine life inside China during the Cultural Revolution.

This is a fresh and new voice to the history of that era.

PS I am not a kid although submitting a review as a child is easier as there is no password stuff to climb through.

Chun Yu's "Little Green" is a great corrective to much of the highly effective propaganda that emanated from China during Mao Tse-Dong's Cultural Revolution. Chun Yu has achieved this with a unique voice and with a unique literary form that is unusually poetic and that is not in itself a propaganda piece.

I believe that "Little Green" should be classified as suitable for all ages. While children will undoubtedly enjoy and learn from "Little Green," I think it ought more properly to be included with literature also intended for adults.

Anyone who is interested in unravelling the confusion and complexities of the single greatest disaster in American foreign policy should read this indispensable book.

Despite looking like a novel, a novel it is not. What it is, is a 'bird's eye' view, an almost detached retrospective of an individual's rôle in the Vietnam war; a humanising of a conflict so often regarded as the antithesis of that - inhuman. Starting from the viewpoint of an average, unremarkable individual, this autobiography progresses into something much more profound, a story of human growth; development and metamorphosis. From his experiences and courage the author was eventually transformed into a remarkable, and anything but average human being, and this book catalogues that physical, mental and spiritual journey.

In addition to the details of what life was like on the ground, this book's strength is undoubtedly the author's ability to put the pieces of an enormously complex puzzle together, to correlate the seemingly impossible. He succeeds in stringing many seemingly incoherent facets of the Vietnam War together into one huge coherent structure. Threading these memories together Calloway eventually leads the reader to a greater depth of understanding of the war, than had he simply tried to shock us with the grisly details and heart-rendering episodes of that sorry affair. Because Calloway took the more intelligent route, what we have is altogether much more readable, more profound and essentially a much more sincere account. Overall an excellent book.

(+)
i. A quick read.
ii. Largely unbiased, well-rounded, insightful, complex and honest.
iii. Nice pre-amble, good foundation to essentially personalise an impersonal war.

(-)
i. Requires much better editing and organising. Within the same paragraph the topic often changes.
ii. Needs work on the continuity. Again, as above sometimes the progression and ideas are very erratic.
iii. This imprint's paper is shockingly poor, not good for highlighting nor marking noted, very cheap feel.

Joe Callaway has managed to write a book that tells the real truth of how it was for him and the rest of us in the Mekong Delta. He is able to capture the truth of the Vietnam War experience, the truth of the political issues surrounding the war and the true compassion that he felt for the soldiers who served with him. When I read "Mekong First Light" I was overwhelmed by the realizm and sincerity contained in Joe's words. His description of the infantryman's life in the Delta is not sugar coated or glamorized. It is sometimes sad, sometimes funny, sometimes peaceful and sometimes catastrophic but always real. I have read many books about the Vietnam War and "Mekong First Light" is on the top shelf among the very best. Ernie Parker, A Co., 2/60th Infantry.

I was in Joe Callaway's OCS class and was assigned, with him, to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry after graduation. We went through training raw recruits, and ourselves, to be a unit at Ft Riley then shipped over to the Mekong Delta. Joe has captured the demands of being an Infantry platoon leader in combat in an exceptioal way. The stress, both physical and mental, of combat operations is accurately stated in human terms. His dealings with the realities of combat are especially relavent to anyone preparing to be a combat leader. Men's lives hinge on your decisions and Joe's soul searching when one is lost is an experience shared by all leaders since we began warfare. I experienced the same feelings and stress. We had to deal with it and Joe vividly describes how he did.

I have recommended this book to other veterans of C Company and all have responded to it in a positive manner. If you want to know what a young man thrust in to a leadership role goes through, read this book.

As a retired Army officer who served during the Vietnam Era (but not in Vietnam) and in Desert Storm I highly recommend this book. The section of the book explaining how we were led into the morass of the Vietnam war is superb. I have reread the last several chapters many times as CPT Callaway so eloquently explains his personal feelings about war. I especially loved his chapter to his sons. I am haunted by this book and how it portrays the similarity (my thoughts after reading his explanation of how we got into Vietnam) between our entry into Vietnam and our entry into Iraq. I commend CPT Gallaway for an excellent piece of literature.

Captain Callaway gives us a citizen soldier's perspective of the horrors of war and the folly of America's involvement in the Vietnam War. Joe Callaway was a kid who no one thought would ever amount to much but enlisting in the Army as a private, he would eventually become an effective combat platoon leader. I appreciate his honesty in sharing with his readers the pain he experienced in losing so many friends and his retrospective thoughts on the war, the army, lost friends, leaders, and returning to a different America. Thank you, Joe for writing a very personal book and for helping us connect with the emotions and difficulties of that time and war.

I read this book and watched the Sagwa TV series and I want to see more stories by Amy Tan aimed at children.The two stories are well written and in my opinion would recommend it to all parents even though I am not one.The best thing I like the two children's story Amy Tan wrote is that they keep you glued to them.Thanks Amy for the two good stories and I want to read more of them.

Beautiful illustrations will entrance children of all ages as Amy Tan shows she can entertain both children and adults.

Amy has shown she can captivate children as well as adults. Her illustrations are beautiful and wonderful and my 5 yr old daughter loved them as well. Wonderful story.

In The Moon Lady, Amy Tan author of The Joy Luck Club and The Bonesetter's Daughter, presents a small tale for young children which adults will also enjoy. Focusing on a story set in China, Tan brings her wealth of knowledge about China and its folktales as well as her love for this country and its traditions. In addition, the illustrations by Gretchen Schields add a wonderful dimension to the story since readers can also visualize the tale by viewing these pictures.

On a rainy day as grandchildren whine that they can't play outside their grandmother tells them a tale based on her own experiences as a child. Using this method Tan provides an allegorical tale concerning children and their wishes. Telling the children of her wishes as a young girl, Ying Ying tells the children a story about her own wishes at the times of the Moon Festival. And as all folk tales provide, Tan is adept at providing her readers with an adventurous tale compete with the mysterious Moon Lady and a moral to the story.

This is a good book for young children who cannot only learn about the Chinese culture but the saying "Be careful what you wish for." I also recommend this book at any age since it is also important to remember this as we move on in life.

Researchers constantly find that reading to children is valuable in a variety of ways, not least of which are instilling a love of reading and improved reading skills. With better parent-child bonding from reading, your child will also be more emotionally secure and able to relate better to others. Intellectual performance will expand as well. Spending time together watching television fails as a substitute.

To help other parents apply this advice, as a parent of four I consulted an expert, our youngest child, and asked her to share with me her favorite books that were read to her as a young child. The Moon Lady was one of her picks.

Adapted from Amy Tan's best selling book, The Joy Luck Club, The Moon Lady is a perfect book for encouraging children to read with and talk to their grandmother. The book also very subtly encourages children to take more responsibility for their own lives. The story provides a model for parents and grandparents for how to create their own stories to help children learn important lessons.

The story begins as three girls, Maggie, Lily and June, are bored because they have to stay in on a rainy day and can think of nothing that they want to do. Their grandmother, Nai-nai, is with them. Nai-nai tells them a story about when she was a young girl in China, and she ran and shouted and could not stand still also.

The story is about the day she told the Moon Lady her secret wish. Then unfolds a wonderful story of a young girl's adventure on a special trip to see the Moon Lady. Along the way, she sees many things she has not seen before, falls overboard, is rescued by a fishing family, and finds her family again after meeting the Moon Lady. In the process, she has one of those epiphanies that make all of our lives better -- that she is in charge of creating her own future.

The story is filled with references to family bonding and what is and is not proper behavior. The story also shows what family life was like for a somewhat well-to-do Chinese family in China at the beginning of the 20th century. These references are made all the more realistic by a wonderful series of drawings by Gretchen Schields with bright colors, beautiful detail, and authentic depictions of the China of years ago. It's almost like living a beautiful dream.

Then Nai-nai takes her granddaughters out to dance in the moon after the story is over.

Of all the children's books I have read, I place this one in the top ten for the 4-8 age category.

A central problem for many children today is that too much television, too many structured activities, and too little free time leave them feeling lost when nothing is on the agenda. Our misconception is that they need regimented lives like those that soldiers lead to fulfill their potential. This book will encourage you to readdress that misconception, and focus on how to make your children more competent in thinking about others, being more independent, and designing their own beneficial activities. That is all very important to actually unleashing their full potential. When you are done, think about how perhaps your own life needs a little improvement along these same lines.

Enjoy!

Donald Mitchell (donmitch@2000percentsolution.com)

Yoon is a little girl who has moved to America from Korea. She feels very displaced and is unhappy with having to write her name in English. Korean writing is much more beautiful to her. This story illustrates how difficult it can be to move to another country and learn another language. It's hard and it often implies that a person must give up ways of living that the person holds dear. This story provides a smidgen of insight into this conflict.

This book is a great ice breaker for those first few days of school. The story is well written, and beautifully illustrated.
Young students can relate to the character, Yoon, on many levels.

In 2001 a book came out entitled, "The Name Jar" about a girl from Korea who had moved to America and wanted an Americanized name. Then, in 2003, "My Name Is Yoon" came out with practically the same plot. Normally, I have little sympathy for children's books that mimic their predecessors. In this case, however, there can be little doubt as to which book is the better of the two. "My Name Is Yoon", is a complex tale of imagination, flights of fancy, and gradual acceptance. By contrast, "The Name Jar" was simply okay. You can find ho-hum picture books lining the shelves of most libraries and bookstores around the globe. It is far rarer to find books quite as remarkable as the stunning, "Yoon".

Yoon isn't exactly thrilled to be in America. Wherever she looks, she sees that life is different in this strange new land. In Korea, where Yoon was born, her name meant Shining Wisdom. Despite her father's assurances that it means the same thing here, Yoon isn't so sure. And then there's the fact that when she writes her name using English characters, it's just a series of sticks and circles, whereas in Korean, "The symbols dance together". She's right. They do. Yoon carries her unhappiness to school where each day she learns a new word and makes that her name. One day it's cat. Another it's bird. Still another (and most amusingly) it's cupcake. In the end, Yoon learns to like her new country, supposing perhaps that maybe that being different can be good too. And in the end, she embraces her real name. "It still means Shining Wisdom".

I hate summarizing picture books where the plot, when written down, sounds so much hokier than it feels on the page. What I've just written sounds nice but bland. The book is anything but bland. Yoon's a distinct and remarkable character. With each new name she adopts, she becomes that object in her dreams. For example, when she becomes BIRD she wishes she could fly back to Korea once again. The book also skips what I've come to feel is the obligatory foreign-child-gets-teased sequence. The kind of thing you tend to find in books like, "Molly's Pilgrim". I was grateful for the oversight. "My Name Is Yoon" is tackling more important problems here. The acceptance of one's own self in a foreign environment, for example. Becoming your own name. Becoming your own self. What could be greater than this?

The pictures, for their part, don't hurt. Artist Gabi Swiatkowska is perhaps best known for this book and the title, "Silk Umbrellas" by Carolyn Marsden. "My Name Is Yoon" is good as a story, yes. But the Yoon we see here is a complex original human being. A one-of-a-kind gal. When her imagination soars it takes off like nothing else, aided by Swiatkowska's realistic images. I especially liked looking at the pictures of her in her home. Here, the black and white tiles of the floor bend and twist in strangely surreal patterns. I'll be honest with you, though. The book could've been awful and I still would have loved it just so long as it continued to contain the picture of Yoon floating through her classroom window as a delicious fluffy cupcake.

Realism is what grounds "My Name Is Yoon". Surrealism sets it apart from the rabble. If you're stocking your personal library with only the most essential picture books out there, you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to include this truly delightful title.

This is a wonderful story about a young Korean girl who has moved to America with her family. At school when she write her name Yoon in English for the first time, she decides that she likes her Korean characters more than the English version because, "My name looks happy in Korean. The symbols dance together."

She decides that she would like to go back to Korea because everything is different in America. Every day at school, her nice teacher asks her to write her name on a paper, and Yoon instead writes a different word that she has recently learned. The beautiful illustrations go along with these words, showing Yoon as a bird, cat, and cupcake. In the end Yoon realizes that perhaps America will be a good home, and that, "maybe different is good."

A great story for children to read, to aid in understanding and acceptance.

Immigrant kids recognize that hesitation during roll call when a new teacher gets to their name. I used to dread it, but the experience depended on how a grownup handled these encounters with the unfamiliar. If only all teachers (and immigrant parents) were as wise as the ones in this book! Recorvits' poetic, spare text and Swiatkowska's imaginative paintings explore one aspect of feeling "foreign" -- an immigrant child's name. In a new language and a new alphabet, Yoon's beautiful Korean name seems foreign even to herself. Are you still "Yoon" when people outside the family pronounce your name differently? When they don't know that it means "shining wisdom?" For a child to feel at home in a new country, she needs a loving circle of teachers, parents, and classmates, as well as a good measure of her own courage. Reading My Name is Yoon might compensate somewhat if any of those crucial ingredients are missing.

i enjoyed this book. i was in the book store one day and it caught my eye so i flipped through it, and i'm glad i did. its about a little girl who comes from korea and moved to north america. she goes to school and doesn't want to tell the class her name because it is different, so she says she doesn't have a name, so her classmates make a name jar for her and put in names that she can use. then she gets a letter from her grandmother who is still in korea saying how much she loves her and in the letter was a seal with her name on it. after getting this she is once again proud of her name and goes back to school and tells her class mates her real name and what it means (i apologize if i got some of the details mixed up it was a while back that i read it). this book was a tear jerker for me. i'm not korean, nor have i had major problem with my name (though people often mispronounce it when reading it), but the struggle for the acceptance of one's self and one's own difference in comparison to others is something we all go through, and this story successfully displays that struggle and overcoming that struggle in a simple way. i think its a good way to get children to understand that though they are different, they will be accepted by someone, and opens them up to other cultures at the same time. worth the read.

Unhei is starting school in America. Although she has a lovely Korean name that means "grace," she thinks maybe she would like a more American sounding name. Her classmates make a name jar and offers suggestions. This story is affirming of the multicultural experience. When Unhei complains about her name, saying that she doesn't want to be different, her mother counters, "You are different, Unhei....That's a good thing!" Choi superbly illustrates her own story. The characters, though simply painted, have expressive faces.

Today Room 10 in Oxnard, Sheltered Immersion First picked to hear "The Name Jar".
It's not the easiest pick for a second language learner one year into English. It's a longer text and not patterned and predictable. But what it offers is something very tangible, the experience of going into a new cultural context, experiencing school, having a name that is loved and chosen by family and then confronting others who tease you for it, also encounter those unable to pronounce your name and seem unable within their context to respect your name as who you are and value its meaning. At least at first.

So my class had the legs to listen as Unhei's story was told.They know the feeling. She comes from Korea with a block wrapped in silk that says her name(from Grandmother). She highly values this block and all it represents. On her first bus trip to school which she is doing alone(hum) she is teased about her name and feels the sting of total humiliation by students on the bus. At school she does not reveal her name and that piece where teacher assists and does reveal it oddly blanks out. I accept the need for this in the tale, but it's just not exactly what happens. In time students bring in a jar to hold suggested names for her, they are concerned about a nameless girl.She can't explain her fear of rejection of her name either of course.It's too complex and too personal. Meanwhile she is sharing at home that she wants an "American name" which is distressing to her mom. She considers the names and makes an American friend who eventually overhears her true name at the Korean Market. I suppose I expected the friend to out her, but he just takes her jar away and after an exhaustive search she shares her real name, how it looks from her chop and she and her friend are on their way to understanding. A few things about respect for school, writing systems are shared from the perspective of a Korean child, but not as much as I expected.
Why this story was appropriate today for our class was simple, my student teacher had shared the meaning of his name. Both parts of his name are to me hard to pronounce and they have interesting meanings. Unhei's name means "grace". That's an interesting concept to talk to children about all around. Anyway I felt I wanted to return to what he shared about the "meaning" of names and will follow up tomorrow by looking at the student names and what they mean, how they say them. Refining our ear and our respect for each person.Also I sent letters home for parents to explain why they chose their child's name. At the beginning of the year we learn to read and write all our names and this extends that into the part that allows me to personalize and help create respect for one another. I think the book is a quiet one, as relevant for dominant culture as those that experience name issues at the hands of those speaking in the dominant tongue but through good instruction it serves all students in consideration of the importance of respect for honoring the first gift we really are given after life, our name.

Yangsook (Rachel) Choi has written AND illustrated another illuminating book. Unhei has moved from South Korea with her family to America; she has brought her clothes, bags, and a name "chop" stamp from her grandmother. Her schoolmates cannot pronounce her name on the bus, so she doesn't reveal her name to her classmates. Is it good to be different? Should she embrace her difference? In America she can still eat seaweed and kimchi; she can shop at Kim's Market and Fadil's Falafel. But maybe a name of Amanda, Miranda, Daisy, or Tamela would be better than Unhei (Yoon-hye). The kids at school put name suggestions in a jar on her desk, but on the day she will choose her name, the jar has disappeared. Who took it? What will Unhei decide to do? Did Mr. Cocotos her teacher have a hand in this? Will all the kids want to choose a new name? A must read for every elementary school.

I love this book because it reinforces the idea that people have a right to their given names and that they have a right to expect people to learn how to pronounce them. I work with many Chinese, Korean and Japanese students and it is common for these kids to feel the obligation to change their name, allow teachers and students mispronounce them if they do use their given names, and their parents often tell them to get used to it rather than teaching them to assert themselves and expect people to learn how to pronounce them. If the child feels that they have a right to their name, the keep it, teach people how to pronounce it and feel better about themselves. If they change it, the given name still pops up on paperwork, people still mispronounce it and they are always trying to hide it away before it pops up again. Accepting your name and teaching people how to pronounce it, provides people with empowerment and a sense of some control over their lives. It helps a lot in the acculturaltion process.

"Next of Kin" is a remarkable first-person memoir that reads like a novel. Tom Reilly's story will take your breath away, whether or not you accept all the details. This is not another war story that revisits battles and the soldiers who fought them. Instead, this is a coming-of-age story that is catalyzed (but not defined) by the Vietnam War. Thanks to clean, straighforward writing, Reilly's story is a breeze to read. Critical readers may wish to see additional corroboration or evidence of this harrowing journey. The more casual reader will take it at face value and may appreciate the brotherly bond that made this story possible. May we all be so fortunate to experience such devotion.

Just a great story about the caring relationship between two brothers, about love and commitment, set in the era of Vietnam.

An adventure that covers half the world by an 18 year old from the midwest who lost his brother. He had to know what happen and it was clear, it was not war reltated.

This was a great read, a story that was hard to put down at night and when the book was finished, I felt like I lost a
friend.

The book is outstanding. I had my daughter pick me up a signed copy because the author lived in my town and I have always been interested in Vietnam as it was from my era.
I had no idea that I would be so enthralled from the very first page. I feel like I know the whole family and recognized all the places that the author speaks of. The pain and courage of both of the brothers reached out from the pages into my heart.
This book was so great I hated to have it end.

What a great story. What a dedication to a brother. we all could learn from this man. This is what family is all about. I highly recomend this read to everyone.

I am a woman in my early 40's and don't usually read books on war or enjoy hearing about war, but I couldn't put this book down. It was written so well that I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. It begins with young Tom Reilly, losing both of his parents and how his brother, Ron, was a constant in his life. Tom, at the age of 19, goes to Vietnam to find out the truth about his brother's death and his "adventure" over there. Tom has written a wonderful, loving dedication to his brother that will touch each and every person that reads this story. It doesn't matter if you are a man or woman, young or old, this is a book you'll want to read. You'll have such a good feeling when you finish.

We bought this book for my 4 year old son as a christmas present based on a review in the San Francisco Chronicle's "The Poop" blog and we couldn't be happier with it! This is wonderful adventure that had an extra benefit in that the monster is in fact a very lonely octopus (which my son sees as a giant squid ala Pirates of the Carribean). This has become his favorite book since christmas, and once you see the pictures and read the story you will understand why. Highly recommended!

This book is fabulous. It's incredibly innovative with appealing characters that conjure up Hello Kitty or Pokemon -- without the mass market/cult following; the story is sweet and adventurous, focusing on individualism and friendship; the art is exciting; the presentation is sometimes daredevil. Like that last description? What I mean is that this book takes exciting risks. For example, four fold-out pages are devoted to the octonauts and the lonely sea creature traveling to extreme places underwater on the planet -- so when they go south, for instance, the two-page spread is upside down. This is confusing and funny, especially when you turn the next page, and/but it really works. A terrific book.

I bought this book today at the Long Beach Aquarium for my almost five year old. She LOVED it. Every page is a blast, and she keeps going back to see something she saw before. I'm sure this would be great for an older child also.

Like Pixar films, this book offers as much for adults as it does for kids. First off, it's beautifully designed with fun little details that you notice over time. Anyone interested in old school book illustrators (Maurice Sendak, Ezra J Keats) will appreciate how closely knit the story is to it's lush imagery. This works really well.

The basic story is about this group of unique critters in an underwater world who wake one morning to find their submarine is under attack. When they go out to explore, they find an enormous octopus-like creature who took a liking to their submarine (which looked a lot like itself and is even called an octopod!). The octopus monster was as so lonely for companionship that it just hugs their little submarine. And that begins their adventure: the cast of critters head off with the big octopus monster to help it search for another of it's kind.

It's an adorable and imaginative story about friendship, told in a style that kids and adults will love.

The Octonauts & the Only Lonely Monster is the debut picturebook story about the Octonauts, eight talented animals who seek undersea adventure, roaming the ocean from their "Octopod" base. The stunning, stylized color illustrations emphasizing simplicity, curves, and a "big head/small eye" anthropomorphic look gives Octonauts a unique appearance, while the story tells of their encounter with a lonely sea monster leading to an important lesson about the values of friendship and individuality. A wonderfully imaginative and enchanting tale.