Thompson McLeod

Sixteen-year old Anna Chiu has all the responsibilities of and adult She's only in high school and should be worried about grades, clothes, learning to drive, figuring out her next move: college or career? and of course, first love. But Anna is in charge of her entire household. Due to her mother's mental illness, Anna must care for her younger siblings, take care of her mother, work in her family's restaurant and continue to be a competitive student in every class. Her father's expectations are exceedingly high, and it's easy to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Mental illness and the stigma attached to it is rarely addressed in the Chinese American community (author Wai Chim is first generation Chinese American), but this YA novel illustrates the need for more understanding and empathy within the affected family and the larger community. The sweet romance between Anna and Rory is a plus and keeps this heavy subject from being overly preachy or didactic. And there's little in the world more powerful than a good dumpling! Recommended for any romance fan. A solid choice for YA romance collections grades 9 and up. Read all YA reviews at my award winning blog "Young Adult Books--What We're Reading Now"