Tiger Girl

September 15, 2013
Nineteen-year-old Khmer Rouge survivor and Cambodian refugee Nea Chhim sets out to uncover a lifetime of lies in this quietly powerful sequel to Chai's Dragon Chica (2010). It's been a year since Nea found out she was adopted by Ma, and the people she's always known as Auntie and Uncle are her biological parents. Plagued by nightmares about her childhood, Nea decides to confront the past in order to exorcise the ghosts of the present, resolving to gain Uncle's love and approval as his daughter so her mind can rest. Nea is shocked to find that this once-wealthy man is now a low-key bakery owner living a monklike existence, donating most of his inventory to local charities in penance for the guilt he feels over his wife's death. Nea plans to win him over by helping him prosper, but when the bakery becomes a local hot spot, her plan doesn't yield the results she desires. When a family member long thought lost reappears, Nea must learn to let go of what's she been trying so hard to grasp. Nea's narration is meticulous, recapping the events of the earlier book and then proceeding, describing events and emotions in detail. Readers need not have read the previous book to understand this story of family, forgiveness and belonging, and it provides a jumping-off point for further reading about Cambodian history. (Fiction. 15 & up)

COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-Nea, a college sophomore, still struggles to fit in and can't find a way to confront her mother about the truths her sister revealed at the end of Dragon Chica (Gemma, 2010). During Christmas break, she travels from Nebraska to California to visit Uncle, who is really her father. Once there she tries to bring new business to his doughnut shop, with the hope that he will recognize her as his daughter. Instead, her efforts lead to the return of her older brother-long thought to have been murdered by the Khmer Rouge. Chai weaves together Cambodian mythology, proverbs, and modern history as Nea fights for recognition from her family. The language is lyrical, but the protagonist lacks the maturity one assumes from a college student. The first half of the novel drags as Uncle's intentions and feelings are obvious to readers but not to his daughter. The plot and pacing pick up once the long-lost son appears. Those willing to get to that point will not be disappointed. Enough backstory is worked in that readers do not need to have read the earlier novel to enjoy this one.-Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.