Red Seal
By Rosa Kwon Easton
4⭐ I absolutely loved this story, and hearing the author’s notes at the end made me appreciate it even more. Knowing the author has a personal connection to the narrative makes it truly special! However, while I loved the book, I felt like a little something was missing. I’m not sure if it was the audiobook narration, but I didn’t connect with the characters as deeply as I wanted to. At times, the pacing felt a bit uneven some parts felt rushed, while others dragged.
I also struggled with the mother’s choices. While they occasionally seemed selfish, they were ultimately understandable. It is heartbreaking to imagine a world where you have to make devastating, life or death decisions while fighting to stay with your child. I really appreciated that we received a full life story that extended well past the war. Following the characters into adulthood was exactly what the book needed. Like Ko-chan, I struggled with forgiving his mother, and I needed to see that journey through. I think if Miyoung had been more emotionally open, it would have been easier to connect with her. However, her emotional distance and lack of vulnerability seemed to be a cultural trait passed down by her eldersthat was simply how things were done.
I really enjoyed learning about the history surrounding North Korea, South Korea, and Japan, and how it shaped the world we see today. Connecting a deeply personal story to this specific historical era made the overall impact so much more powerful. Reading this has definitely inspired me to look up more information and dive deeper into the history of this time period.
Chinese Lady
By Bo Wang
3.75⭐ “The Chinese Lady” by Bo Wang
Is a story about the life of Afong Moy (Little Sparrow), the first Chinese woman brought to the United States in the 1800s. Her hardships begin long before her journey across the ocean; she was born to a mother who didn’t want her, a concubine and the third wife of a man who quickly fell out of love with her. After her father passes away, Little Sparrow’s older brother sells her to an American. She is taken to America and thrust into what is, in reality, just another form of slavery.
Her owners, Margaret and William, like to think of themselves as kind, good people, and they definitely don’t let anyone forget it! There is a specific story involving peanuts that is absolutely hilarious and terrifying all at the same time. Throughout her journey, Little Sparrow constantly encounters some of the most evil people imaginable, all of whom ironically claim to be “good.”
Learning about the racism that Asian people endured was incredibly eye opening, though unfortunately not surprising. The book clearly highlights how, from their very inception, the white men in the story believe they are superior beings entitled to everything in the world, viewing everyone else as beneath them. This dynamic plays out several times during the book, and it should rightfully infuriate anyone reading it. Little Sparrow’s life was essentially a living nightmare, a horror story and the brief moments of agency and power she managed to carve out for herself were tragically short lived.
Ultimately, I received this story very well. While it made me angry, I gained a lot of valuable education and knowledge from it, which I truly appreciated. My only real critique is that The Chinese Lady left me with more questions than answers at the end; the conclusion felt a bit abrupt and left me hanging when I needed a little more closure. Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed most of it and highly recommend it for its historical insight
