8 /10 1 Votes
Language English ISBN 978-0545162166 | 4/5 Goodreads Pages 320 Originally published 2011 Page count 320 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Original title The Great Wall of Lucy Lu Similar The Way Home Looks Now, The Fingertips of Dunca, Addie on the Inside, When Life Gives You OJ, A Dog's Way Home | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Great Wall of Lucy Wu is the 2011 debut novel of Wendy Wan-Long Shang. It was first published in January 2011 through Scholastic Inc.. The work focuses on the concept of a young girl starting the sixth grade and dealing with the troubles that come with growing up but also with having a split cultural identity. The book is considered suitable for girls age 8-12.
Contents
The great wall of lucy wu
Plot
Lucy Wu is a sixth grade girl that dreams of becoming both a famous basketball player and an interior designer. She's sure that this is going to be the best year of her life, as she's certain that she'll not only finally get control of the room she shares with her sister but also become the captain of the school basketball team. Several things threaten to ruin those hopes. Not only is a bully trying to push her off the basketball team, but her great-aunt Yi Po comes for an extended visit and has taken up residence in Lucy's room. This, along with several other issues, makes Lucy believe that everything is going sour but she's soon going to find that every cloud has a silver lining.
Reception
Critical reception has been positive, and Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center stated that "Shang’s debut novel is a well-blended cornucopia of the multicultural tween’s challenges." The Los Angeles Times wrote a favorable review for the book, which they felt would appeal to "young readers struggling with issues of self-identity, whatever their heritage." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books also praised the book and commented that "Bits of Chinese history and culture as well as allusions to incidents of prejudice and racism are effectively integrated without melodrama, leaving the focus entirely on Lucy’s preteen and familial experience. Her struggle to determine what and who is important to her will most certainly resonate with young readers."