Owen H., 16Like Spilled Water is a compelling and intriguing read that fixates on the bitter details of Chinese culture. It centers around a young woman named Na who has just completed her first year of studying coal technology, a field of education that she did not have interest in, but due to the priority that her parents placed on her younger brother (Bao-bao), it was her only option. However, her life drastically changes one day as she learns of Bao-bao’s abrupt death. This bombards her with endless questions that set the scene. “Did Bao-bao really commit suicide?” “What could have possibly driven him to this?” “Will she be content as a housewife or will she pursue her dreams?” At the beginning, I was captivated by the gripping storyline, but I soon realized that there is much more beneath the surface. This book grapples with the harsh realities that Chinese people must undergo each day — people belonging to the LGBTQ community are unable to express themselves and are often forced into marriage with members of the opposite sex, women are oppressed and force into marriages with those they do not love also, finding a companion is essentially a job interview, and parents stress their children, specifically males, to do well in their education, so they are able to support them in old-age. People who live in the Western World are not held to these atrocious standards, and ultimately, we are often blind to how easy we truly have it. For instance, American students dread taking the SAT, however, it pales in comparison to the Gaokao which determines whether a student will make it into a prominent university and oftentimes, parents will spend a fortune and many years preparing their children for it. Nevertheless, this novel opens the eyes of its audience and allows them to sympathize with Chinese citizens. The characters of Like Spilled Water are all well-written and exemplify the traditional standards of Chinese people. The main character, Na, was especially fascinating because we are able to follow her on her journey to uncover the truth and find her true passion in life. Furthermore, the overall look into her family gives the reader a chance to comprehend the adversity that needs to be overcome in many family relationships. Like Spilled Water is a fascinating work of literature and teenagers, and people of all ages alike, will love this spellbinding read. Read-alikes REFERENCES
CIN Catalog. (2021). Retrieved from: https://catalog.cin.bywatersolutions.com/ Goodreads [Cover Images]. (2021). Retrieved from: https://www.goodreads.com/ NoveList Plus: Like Spilled Water [Genre/Themes and Read-alikes]. (2020). Retrieved from: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=neh&tg=UI&an=10912792&site=novp-live&custid=s5664038 Overdrive Catalog. (2021). Retrieved from: https://cin.overdrive.com/ Owen H. (2021, March). Teen Review. TeachingBooks [Discussion Questions]. (2021). Retrieved from: https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?a=1&tid=72245
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Teen Review by Hannah H., 16Geese are Never Swans, by Kobe Bryant and Eva Clark, is an inspirational tale of a teenage boy who has only one dream: to swim in the Olympic Games. An irritated soul, yet hardworking main character, Gus, knows that only one coach can get him to his dream, but there’s a slight hiccup. Coach Marks was the trainer for Gus’ older brother Danny, and our protagonist has always lived underneath Danny’s shadow. Even after Danny committed suicide from not making the national swimming team, this shadow continues to grow and swallow Gus. Will Gus’ anger and resentment for his brother, and even himself, threaten to take away all he has worked for? Brief yet intriguing, the chapters in this story are absolutely page-turning and absorbing. I always felt immersed in Gus’ world with his troubles and triumphs. However, the foul language in this book is everywhere, and, therefore, I do not recommend this work for younger readers, and even early teens. Additionally, the dialogue in Gus’ story gives you a more realistic view of the situation without the unnecessary ten-dollar words. Even though Bryant and Clark’s novel highlights incredible hardships that Gus had to face, (and I personally feel that the reader will shed a tear or two) the inspiring message of the value of hard work even when the trauma of your life is overwhelming, truly motivated me. In conclusion, I definitely recommend Geese are Never Swans to an older teen audience due to the language written in this novel. Thank you for reading! Read-alikes REFERENCES
CIN Catalog. (2020). Retrieved from: https://catalog.cin.bywatersolutions.com/ Common Sense Media Review. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/geese-are-never-swans Goodreads [Cover Images]. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.goodreads.com/ Granity Studios: Books [Official Website]. (2020). Retrieved from: https://granitystudios.com/books/ Hannah H. (2020, December). Teen Review. NoveList Plus: Geese are Never Swans [Genre/Themes and Read-alikes]. (2020). Retrieved from: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=neh&tg=UI&an=10662269&site=novp-live&custid=s5664038 Overdrive Catalog. (2020). Retrieved from: https://cin.overdrive.com/ |
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