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In the Beautiful Country #1
In the Beautiful Country
A novel in verse about a young Taiwanese immigrant to America who is confronted by the stark difference between dreams and reality.
Anna can’t wait to move to the beautiful country—the Chinese name for America. Although she’s only ever known life in Taiwan, she can’t help but brag about the move to her family and friends.
But the beautiful country isn’t anything like Anna pictured. Her family can only afford a cramped apartment, she’s bullied at school, and she struggles to understand a new language. On top of that, the restaurant that her parents poured their savings into is barely staying afloat. The version of America that Anna is experiencing is nothing like her dreams. How will she be able to make the beautiful country her home?
Anna can’t wait to move to the beautiful country—the Chinese name for America. Although she’s only ever known life in Taiwan, she can’t help but brag about the move to her family and friends.
But the beautiful country isn’t anything like Anna pictured. Her family can only afford a cramped apartment, she’s bullied at school, and she struggles to understand a new language. On top of that, the restaurant that her parents poured their savings into is barely staying afloat. The version of America that Anna is experiencing is nothing like her dreams. How will she be able to make the beautiful country her home?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2022
About the author
Jane Kuo
2 books52 followersJane Kuo is a Chinese and Taiwanese American writer who grew up in Los Angeles. Also, she once borrowed a pencil from Maxine Hong Kingston.
Jane lives in California with her husband and two kids. Her novels, In the Beautiful Country and Land of Broken Promises are based on the events of her childhood.
Jane lives in California with her husband and two kids. Her novels, In the Beautiful Country and Land of Broken Promises are based on the events of her childhood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
November 8, 2023
If you're a native speaker of something other than Mandarin, I have a question for you: Have you ever studied a Chinese language?
I have. Briefly. I signed up for Mandarin lessons as soon as we had a match with First Daughter in China.
I'm good at languages. I don't mean this to be arrogant; it's just a particular gift of mine. Mandarin? Impossible. After the first few classes, the teacher put her hand on my shoulder and said, “You should stop now. You'll never learn to speak it.”
According to most linguists, the hardest language adaptation that a human being can make is to go from speaking Mandarin to English. I can't confirm or deny this, but I've heard it and read it, and I have no trouble believing it.
Yet. . . for more than two centuries we have been receiving Chinese immigrants into this country and laughing at their “broken English” and their inability to properly pronounce certain words (flied lice, so funny!).
How bizarre is it, that so many of us have guffawed and chortled at the “dumb” immigrants as they stumble through the complexities of English, not realizing that most of those “dummies” hold post-graduate degrees and that most of us would be lucky to make it through one semester of Chinese with a D.
Such are the themes of IN THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.
Author Jane Kuo, who is both Chinese and Taiwanese, moved to California in the 1980s and was dropped, just like a dumpling, into a hotpot of racial stereotypes, bullying and the frequent and “hilarious” usage of the word “chink.”
This is a middle grades read, and a mother-daughter read aloud with my 13-year-old (who happens to be Chinese-American and who originally spoke a regional dialect of Cantonese that I'd have had as much luck learning as I would have Vulcan).
This is a novel, not a memoir, but we sensed it was largely autobiographical. We both thought that it was an important novel, but certainly not an easy or a breezy one. To be honest, it's often a little dark, and, even though I don't like forced “happy endings,” I really started hoping, at the 75% mark, that this was going to end on a good note.
The protagonist is bullied (at an elementary school level, nasty, but not violent), and the family suffers racial bullying and vandalism at their new restaurant.
Life isn't easy for any immigrant, but things do perk up after the family's first year, and I was surprised by the “learning” that 12-year-old Anna does by the novel's end.
From her teacher at Sunday school, Anna learns that sometimes we need to “hold on,” and other times we need to “let go.” She breaks this down into her new mantra: Be kind. Hold on. Let go.
Also: we're not nice, straight lines. . . we're crooked, zigzagging lines. Too true.
Humanity: a work in progress. (Now just try saying that in Chinese!).
I have. Briefly. I signed up for Mandarin lessons as soon as we had a match with First Daughter in China.
I'm good at languages. I don't mean this to be arrogant; it's just a particular gift of mine. Mandarin? Impossible. After the first few classes, the teacher put her hand on my shoulder and said, “You should stop now. You'll never learn to speak it.”
According to most linguists, the hardest language adaptation that a human being can make is to go from speaking Mandarin to English. I can't confirm or deny this, but I've heard it and read it, and I have no trouble believing it.
Yet. . . for more than two centuries we have been receiving Chinese immigrants into this country and laughing at their “broken English” and their inability to properly pronounce certain words (flied lice, so funny!).
How bizarre is it, that so many of us have guffawed and chortled at the “dumb” immigrants as they stumble through the complexities of English, not realizing that most of those “dummies” hold post-graduate degrees and that most of us would be lucky to make it through one semester of Chinese with a D.
Such are the themes of IN THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.
Author Jane Kuo, who is both Chinese and Taiwanese, moved to California in the 1980s and was dropped, just like a dumpling, into a hotpot of racial stereotypes, bullying and the frequent and “hilarious” usage of the word “chink.”
This is a middle grades read, and a mother-daughter read aloud with my 13-year-old (who happens to be Chinese-American and who originally spoke a regional dialect of Cantonese that I'd have had as much luck learning as I would have Vulcan).
This is a novel, not a memoir, but we sensed it was largely autobiographical. We both thought that it was an important novel, but certainly not an easy or a breezy one. To be honest, it's often a little dark, and, even though I don't like forced “happy endings,” I really started hoping, at the 75% mark, that this was going to end on a good note.
The protagonist is bullied (at an elementary school level, nasty, but not violent), and the family suffers racial bullying and vandalism at their new restaurant.
Life isn't easy for any immigrant, but things do perk up after the family's first year, and I was surprised by the “learning” that 12-year-old Anna does by the novel's end.
From her teacher at Sunday school, Anna learns that sometimes we need to “hold on,” and other times we need to “let go.” She breaks this down into her new mantra: Be kind. Hold on. Let go.
Also: we're not nice, straight lines. . . we're crooked, zigzagging lines. Too true.
Humanity: a work in progress. (Now just try saying that in Chinese!).
July 30, 2024
This was such a quick read, but also excellent. It's taken me forever to pick this one up, but I'm glad that I finally did. CW: racism, bullying, vandalism
In the Beautiful Country is a middle grade novel written in verse that follows the Zhang family as they move from Taiwan to the US in search of new opportunities. Although they were supposed to receive help from a family friend when they arrive, they find that they must start over from scratch by opening a fast food restaurant. Kuo beautifully captures the every day experiences of this immigrant family as they attempt to adjust to live in a new country and city.
What Worked: The writing was absolutely beautiful. Kuo is a master storyteller that's able to capture so many different aspects of this family's experience through verse. Anna's voice is so strong and as a reader you truly connect and empathize with her feelings of loneliness, frustration, and heartbreak. Kuo maintains this difficult balance of having Anna keep the voice of a child, but still illustrate the complexity of immigration. And while the story itself is dark at times, Kuo is sure to maintain a semblance of hope for both the readers and the characters. It's been a while since I've been so invested in a family of characters, but Kuo had me rooting for each one of them until the end of the book.
What Didn't Work: Unfortunately, this book technically is a historical fiction, but quickly looses that feeling due to lack of descriptions. To be quite honest, I kept forgetting that this book takes place during the 1980s instead of present time. Although everything covered definitely can take place now, I wish that Kuo would have provided more elements that were reflective of the established time.
Overall this was a great read and I'm definitely looking forward to diving into the companion novel.
In the Beautiful Country is a middle grade novel written in verse that follows the Zhang family as they move from Taiwan to the US in search of new opportunities. Although they were supposed to receive help from a family friend when they arrive, they find that they must start over from scratch by opening a fast food restaurant. Kuo beautifully captures the every day experiences of this immigrant family as they attempt to adjust to live in a new country and city.
What Worked: The writing was absolutely beautiful. Kuo is a master storyteller that's able to capture so many different aspects of this family's experience through verse. Anna's voice is so strong and as a reader you truly connect and empathize with her feelings of loneliness, frustration, and heartbreak. Kuo maintains this difficult balance of having Anna keep the voice of a child, but still illustrate the complexity of immigration. And while the story itself is dark at times, Kuo is sure to maintain a semblance of hope for both the readers and the characters. It's been a while since I've been so invested in a family of characters, but Kuo had me rooting for each one of them until the end of the book.
What Didn't Work: Unfortunately, this book technically is a historical fiction, but quickly looses that feeling due to lack of descriptions. To be quite honest, I kept forgetting that this book takes place during the 1980s instead of present time. Although everything covered definitely can take place now, I wish that Kuo would have provided more elements that were reflective of the established time.
Overall this was a great read and I'm definitely looking forward to diving into the companion novel.
October 13, 2022
4.5⭐
I teared up at this emotional story told through the eyes of young Anna, who grapples with identity and belonging after her family moves from Taiwan to California.
Anna's voice is incredibly authentic and my heart ached for all that she went through. In fact, this lyrical novel-in-verse reads like a memoir because it deals with very real themes such as racism, bullying, financial struggles, the immigrant experience and pursuit of the American dream.
Sprinkled with moments of hope and kindness, In the Beautiful Country is also uplifting, bittersweet and heartwarming all at once. I was brought on a rollercoaster of emotions and this is a book that I will keep recommending to everyone regardless of age.
I teared up at this emotional story told through the eyes of young Anna, who grapples with identity and belonging after her family moves from Taiwan to California.
Anna's voice is incredibly authentic and my heart ached for all that she went through. In fact, this lyrical novel-in-verse reads like a memoir because it deals with very real themes such as racism, bullying, financial struggles, the immigrant experience and pursuit of the American dream.
Sprinkled with moments of hope and kindness, In the Beautiful Country is also uplifting, bittersweet and heartwarming all at once. I was brought on a rollercoaster of emotions and this is a book that I will keep recommending to everyone regardless of age.
April 2, 2023
I cried while reading this up at my grandparents. It's a beautiful hopeful story and I cannot wait for the sequel.
May 15, 2023
6 stars
this book hurts me viscerally. it's short, told in verse, and details pieces of an immigrant child's life forced to grow up too soon in a racist world. this book will stick with me forever, but there are three scenes specifically that hit me in the gut: the grocery store scene when she was in line with her mom, when she gave a girl her chinese name after being asked thinking she wanted to be friends, and when she protected her mom by not translating what the racist man in their store said before leaving. i LOVE this book. it's concise, it's beautiful, and it's honest. the irony is that america's chinese name, 美国 / "mĕiguó", literally translates to "beautiful country" making the title more intentional. I LOVE IT. in the beautiful country should be considered an american classic because there is almost nothing more true to the american story than this and children need to be taught how their words, actions, and microaggressions hurt us.
this book hurts me viscerally. it's short, told in verse, and details pieces of an immigrant child's life forced to grow up too soon in a racist world. this book will stick with me forever, but there are three scenes specifically that hit me in the gut: the grocery store scene when she was in line with her mom, when she gave a girl her chinese name after being asked thinking she wanted to be friends, and when she protected her mom by not translating what the racist man in their store said before leaving. i LOVE this book. it's concise, it's beautiful, and it's honest. the irony is that america's chinese name, 美国 / "mĕiguó", literally translates to "beautiful country" making the title more intentional. I LOVE IT. in the beautiful country should be considered an american classic because there is almost nothing more true to the american story than this and children need to be taught how their words, actions, and microaggressions hurt us.
April 18, 2023
A moving middle grade novel in verse about a young Taiwanese immigrant girl who came to America with her family and is finding it difficult to fit in or feel like she belongs. Great on audio and perfect for fans of Kelly Yang's Finally seen. I'm excited for the next companion volume coming out in June!
April 25, 2022
I hate that this book is so timely even though it's set in 1980... It's a beautiful book written in verse that is both painful but also full of hope.
cw: anti-Asian racism, bullying, vandalism
cw: anti-Asian racism, bullying, vandalism
July 9, 2022
'If there's one thing
I want you to learn it's this:
hold on to what is good.
With all your strength,
grab hold of the good
in this world
and never let go.
Such a telling tale and somewhat a semi-memoir of a Taiwanese-Chinese family who moved to America in hopes in living the America dream.
Personal Ratings : 4.25🌟
The novel in prose was written in 4 parts, in which each part tells the journey of Anna and her family on their moving to America. The Beautiful Country or known as America is a place where immigrants especially asians come over to find more opportunities for work and a better life. In the case of Anna, we get an insight of her moving to Los Angeles at 10 years old, with her parents and her have no proficiency in English. There we see not only the Racism and constant snide remarks and gaslighting that children of immigrants usually has to face, the author also showed the harsh reality of what it means to be poor, in an unknown land, in search of finding a place to call Home .
Since Anna's family is a mix of Taiwanese and Chinese, we not only get an insight of the racism that happens in America, we also get the racism among their own race as well, where Taiwanese are not considered "as Chinese" as the people from the mainland. Even though this book is targeted for middle grade readers, its also an eye opening read from the eyes of an adult, where the perspectives of children are often honest and makes your heart go 🥺 as Anna was only a child but had to act as an adult. We also see her character growth from being a loner, into accepting her culture and introducing them to the people at her school. Targeted bullying is not something not common and we often see it with immigrant children, where they grew up to not know which place to feel belonged too. I liked that the author took this topics at hand, and as it almost a semi-memoir as its told on the author's real experiences as well, it makes the story more heart-wrenching.
Overall, whilst the technicalities in writing could be done better, I feel that this book is such a good read for its targeted audience, and even an eye opener, especially to APOC and immigrant children living in America. It portrays the harsh reality of the "land of dreams" while also showing at the end of the day, what is important that is we stay true to ourselves and the concept of 'home' is something that we create, made of the people we love and cherish.
Highly Recommended!
Thank you so much to Times Reads for generously providing me this gorgeous copy of the book.
Disclaimers: All my reviews are my thoughts of the book and according to my personal preferences. Even though I had received a review copy, it does not affect my review and honest thoughts for the book.
January 18, 2022
In 1980, ten-year-old Anna and her parents finalize their immigration from Taiwan to California, and their new town isn't quite what she imagined-- there's no beaches or Hollywood signs, and she's the only Asian kid in her class. Everyone back home said they were so lucky to move to the beautiful country of America, but Anna isn't sure she feels so lucky after all. I loved this historical novel-in-verse loosely based on the author's own life! Anna is such a smart, thoughtful, and occasionally snarky character, and her journey is more than just struggle-- it also highlights the importance and impact that forming your community can have on your livelihood. Fans of Kelly Yang's Front Desk will love In the Beautiful Country.
June 21, 2022
Thank you Quill Tree Books for an early copy of this book!
I could NOT put this book down.
Beautiful poetry and a powerful story of immigration and first generation families in America. A must read for all ages, although it is aimed for middle grade.
For adults, I am reading Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang and think that would be a great pairing.
I could NOT put this book down.
Beautiful poetry and a powerful story of immigration and first generation families in America. A must read for all ages, although it is aimed for middle grade.
For adults, I am reading Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang and think that would be a great pairing.
November 27, 2022
Middle grade immigrant stories told in verse is my genre of choice, so, loved it. Heartbreaking, sweet, and hopeful. Reminder to choose kindness and bravery in small ways even in the face of difficulty and discouragement
March 6, 2023
it was a good book
April 3, 2023
Ai shi, who goes by the english name Anna, is born and lived in Taiwan, but moves to the beautiful country, Mei Guo—meaning beautiful country, because her parents wish to make a better life for her. The journey to the west is painstakingly difficult for her family; it’s a long shot, but Anna’s father has already made the voyage to the beautiful country. When they arrive, it’s nothing like the American dream. Anna experiences difficulties integrating, communicating, socializing, and at home. Her parent’s run a quaint fast food joint, Dino’s, that’s quickly becoming a money pit. While Anna and her family face much hardship, eventually their resilience and familiar bonds triumph over bigotry. The story tackles many difficult themes that are a reality too far too many children. Anna is constantly and consistently bullied in school and while working at Dino’s. But no matter how long, how patient she is, as she waits for the joke to stop being funny, anything she says or does becomes fuel for the bullies. An over arching theme is resilience; from her family coming together and weathering the stresses of immigration to Anna’s fight against her bullies, it all boils down to resilience. The genre of this book is contemporary realistic fiction. The story is based off of the author’s real life and was published within the past 20 years. Most reading this book will gain a sense of gratitude for the life you have, the privileges, relative comfort, and security of your life and or relate to Anna’s story, of immigration, resilience, and learning how to be yourself without the need for other’s validation. Through this story, I have learned a lot of the first generation East Asian immigrant’s struggles. The language, cross-cultural, and differences in societal norms are all key struggles that are illustrated, explained, and explored throughout. These themes also allow this book to be used as a powerful learning tool, a try to wear their shoes if you will! This book is definitely a WOW book through its realistic story telling, excellent plot development, creative writing style, and its unabashed ability to tackle difficult subject matter without dehumanization.
This book is wonderfully unique in the format, stylistic choices, and content. The book reads in verse, the book alludes to many societal issues that are analogous to today’s. The author’s nuanced approach to buildup conflicts, her parents complicated marriage, her fight against her bullies, and her eventual self discovery are all planted in the first half of the book. The seeds become fruits when the author expertly weaves realistic situations where the themes (bullying, cultural conflicts, etc) can be developed and are allowed to unfold in a realistic manner without the dehumanization of the victims or assailants. The story keeps a narrow window of what characters are introduced and used to drive the plot to keep the focus on Anna and her family. The resilience they show is astounding; facing hardships that would shake many peoples conviction of staying in this beautiful country. This book is an exceedingly exceptional example of an anti bias book, because it presents and examines the disgusting hypocrisy of bigotry and bias. Through reading this story, you are able to see how deep the bullying and harassment, formed from racism and stereotypes. Jane is able to employ negative terms and stereotypes, without using the gratuitously or distastefully, to prove how damaging they are to Anna and her family. This book is an excellent example in why anti bias books are so important. The portrayal of an East Asian families’ struggle in, through, and after immigrating is powerful representation. Readers do not need to be immigrants to see, up close and personal, the struggles immigrants go through. Every immigrant’s story is unique, but I have no doubt in my mind that many can and will relate to Anna’s story.
This book is wonderfully unique in the format, stylistic choices, and content. The book reads in verse, the book alludes to many societal issues that are analogous to today’s. The author’s nuanced approach to buildup conflicts, her parents complicated marriage, her fight against her bullies, and her eventual self discovery are all planted in the first half of the book. The seeds become fruits when the author expertly weaves realistic situations where the themes (bullying, cultural conflicts, etc) can be developed and are allowed to unfold in a realistic manner without the dehumanization of the victims or assailants. The story keeps a narrow window of what characters are introduced and used to drive the plot to keep the focus on Anna and her family. The resilience they show is astounding; facing hardships that would shake many peoples conviction of staying in this beautiful country. This book is an exceedingly exceptional example of an anti bias book, because it presents and examines the disgusting hypocrisy of bigotry and bias. Through reading this story, you are able to see how deep the bullying and harassment, formed from racism and stereotypes. Jane is able to employ negative terms and stereotypes, without using the gratuitously or distastefully, to prove how damaging they are to Anna and her family. This book is an excellent example in why anti bias books are so important. The portrayal of an East Asian families’ struggle in, through, and after immigrating is powerful representation. Readers do not need to be immigrants to see, up close and personal, the struggles immigrants go through. Every immigrant’s story is unique, but I have no doubt in my mind that many can and will relate to Anna’s story.
May 2, 2023
In the book “In the beautiful country” by Jane Kuo. In the story, a Taiwanese family moves to the United States, the family was really happy and told Ai Shi that she was really lucky to go to the beautiful country, however, the American dream loses its luster as language barriers fade. , isolation, financial stress and racism are present on a daily basis. Ai Shi remains silent about the bullying and her own unmet needs of hers. I love how Kuo's book gives me a lot of details, things I wouldn't know or imagine, that help me understand Ai Shi's experience. In addition, the poems establish carefully placed images and details that allow us to understand the text. The genre of the book is poetry and the topics that are addressed are immigrant experience and finding belonging. Therefore anyone who reads this book can learn that a culture does not determine the quality of person you are. As a result of this reading, this book was a WOW for me since it includes elements of reading for comprehensions, since reading draws basic inferences about the purpose of the text and the context, since reading presents a relationship with the synthesis of social and cultural contexts. In the element of reading for comprehension, the book is simple and presents cultural and ethnic difference as the main theme in all verses. On the other hand, in the context element, this migration has caused, and rather continues to cause discrimination, which is a social and cultural problem that must be addressed. Ultimately this book is anti-bias because the author included ethnic diversity and multiple perspectives on racial differences and how that makes us different and beautiful. So writing a book about this difference is really beautiful so that children can grow up with the thought that we are all the same no matter where we come from.
September 2, 2023
I love reading books about the immigrant experience. It’s truly fascinating to me - as an immigrant myself.
When I came to the US I was only 3 years old, and while I do have some very vivid memories of those beginnings, there aren’t many.
This book captures the experience that I imagine my parents having when we first came - beginnings being very difficult, and even discouraging at times.
I appreciate that this was written in verse - I often think that books written in verse are able to capture emotion in such a unique way, and this one does that. I really sympathized with Ai Shi (or Anna - her American name).
Jumping into the sequel immediately!
When I came to the US I was only 3 years old, and while I do have some very vivid memories of those beginnings, there aren’t many.
This book captures the experience that I imagine my parents having when we first came - beginnings being very difficult, and even discouraging at times.
I appreciate that this was written in verse - I often think that books written in verse are able to capture emotion in such a unique way, and this one does that. I really sympathized with Ai Shi (or Anna - her American name).
Jumping into the sequel immediately!
March 8, 2023
Middle grade and written in verse? Sign me up! These are some of my favorite books and this was another winner!
Our main character is Anna. Her mother and her are about to join her dad, in America. She is scared to leave her country, but excited for all the possibilities in America.
Her excitement doesn’t last long. She doesn’t fit in at school. She is mocked and can’t make a single friend. Her parents are also struggling with their store and remaining positive. But even with all that, there is hope and kindness throughout the book, and you can’t help but root for this family.
This will remain a favorite book of mine for quite some time! It’s an emotional, authentic, immigrant story that is perfect for any age! Highly recommended!
Our main character is Anna. Her mother and her are about to join her dad, in America. She is scared to leave her country, but excited for all the possibilities in America.
Her excitement doesn’t last long. She doesn’t fit in at school. She is mocked and can’t make a single friend. Her parents are also struggling with their store and remaining positive. But even with all that, there is hope and kindness throughout the book, and you can’t help but root for this family.
This will remain a favorite book of mine for quite some time! It’s an emotional, authentic, immigrant story that is perfect for any age! Highly recommended!
February 13, 2023
I read this one aloud with Finley. It was heartbreaking at so many points but we liked it a lot. It’s based on the author’s experience working in her family’s restaurant during the summers. Young Anna immigrates to the beautiful country with her family and sadly, like so many immigrants, this country proves to be anything but beautiful for the poor and the othered. The book itself was beautiful though.
July 3, 2023
So many times while reading this I wanted to gather the main characters and urge them to go back home where their lives were obviously better. I wanted to hug them and shield them from racism and hurt and hate. This was a tough read and I had to stop several times and sit with the author's words. Just pause and reflect.
I have the sequel but I'm reading a few books in between to take a break.
I have the sequel but I'm reading a few books in between to take a break.
May 30, 2024
I think I would’ve enjoyed this more if I read it instead of listening to the audiobook, just to get the full effect of the poetry!!
November 4, 2022
A beautiful story in verse highlighting the struggles of a family immigrating from Taiwan. Realistic, yet very hopeful.
"Be Kind.
Hold On.
Let Go.
I want to do all three. "
"Be Kind.
Hold On.
Let Go.
I want to do all three. "
December 3, 2023
A stunning, easy-to-read novel-in-verse about the author's experience immigrating to the United States in the early 1980s.
September 5, 2022
In the Beautiful County is nothing less than a beautifully written poetry and prose detail of what life of a young immigrant Asian child looked and felt like.
While reading this recounting of her life and what their first year here in America was like for her and her hope-filled family, I remembered something from my childhood...
I remember that song!
I remember boys and girls no older than she herself was when she first heard it, singing:
"Chinese, Japanese, Dirty knees"...but I also recall a final line that said, "look at these", where the boys would pull up their shirts and girls would just point to the chest
Horrible!
Where DO childhood songs come from?!
Children can be so cruel.
Where does that stem from?
Bad parents? Home life?
Or something simpler?
The need to not be noticed. To not stand out for wrong reasons. To get the laugh before becoming the laugh.
It's amazing how such small children can have such "coping/social survival skills".
But little Anna (Zhang Ai Shi) learns more than that in this coming to America story.
She also learns how honesty, kindness, sharing, caring and the smallest acts of goodness need no translation.
Love is universal.
Love needs no single language, no words.
I find it very interesting how many think true-born Americans "have it all", when in reality, many of us have each struggled to survive this life, regardless of being born in "the beautiful country".
Because life...it isn't always caring or fair. It cares nothing of where one is born what color or country you call your own.
It can tear apart, flip over, take almost everything, and then, all of a sudden...
turn and make everything beautiful.
There's no rhyme or reason.
No luck or unlucky.
Its all how we, like Anna's family, choose to approach the things life throws at us.
Some have had a more difficult time.
Others simpler.
But in the end all that matters is how we decide to view it all.
I'll end with this great line from after young Anna gets back from Disneyland with a good, caring family who felt she needed to know how to just be a kid without adult worries:
" I wish I could take all that happiness and put it in some sort of container, something I can hold on to forever. Then I realize, I am that container."
We hold what we choose inside ourselves.
Let's make it the most beautiful life offers us each moment it does so!
While reading this recounting of her life and what their first year here in America was like for her and her hope-filled family, I remembered something from my childhood...
I remember that song!
I remember boys and girls no older than she herself was when she first heard it, singing:
"Chinese, Japanese, Dirty knees"...but I also recall a final line that said, "look at these", where the boys would pull up their shirts and girls would just point to the chest
Horrible!
Where DO childhood songs come from?!
Children can be so cruel.
Where does that stem from?
Bad parents? Home life?
Or something simpler?
The need to not be noticed. To not stand out for wrong reasons. To get the laugh before becoming the laugh.
It's amazing how such small children can have such "coping/social survival skills".
But little Anna (Zhang Ai Shi) learns more than that in this coming to America story.
She also learns how honesty, kindness, sharing, caring and the smallest acts of goodness need no translation.
Love is universal.
Love needs no single language, no words.
I find it very interesting how many think true-born Americans "have it all", when in reality, many of us have each struggled to survive this life, regardless of being born in "the beautiful country".
Because life...it isn't always caring or fair. It cares nothing of where one is born what color or country you call your own.
It can tear apart, flip over, take almost everything, and then, all of a sudden...
turn and make everything beautiful.
There's no rhyme or reason.
No luck or unlucky.
Its all how we, like Anna's family, choose to approach the things life throws at us.
Some have had a more difficult time.
Others simpler.
But in the end all that matters is how we decide to view it all.
I'll end with this great line from after young Anna gets back from Disneyland with a good, caring family who felt she needed to know how to just be a kid without adult worries:
" I wish I could take all that happiness and put it in some sort of container, something I can hold on to forever. Then I realize, I am that container."
We hold what we choose inside ourselves.
Let's make it the most beautiful life offers us each moment it does so!
September 9, 2022
Written in verse, this is a beautiful and hopeful immigrant story.
December 21, 2022
In The Beautiful Country is about the vast inner world of a child, finding belonging, and the immigrant experience. The book is written in poetry-like verses, which reflects both the protagonist’s youth and grasp of a new language. And much like how poems are efficient at showing so much in fewer words, I admire how this novel conveys a wide-ranging set of emotions: the worries of an observant child (her mom napping in the back of the restaurant), simple joys (mixing flavors at the soda fountain), and comfort of small kindness from others (Terry’s family).
Some of my favorite quotes:
• The feeling of being in one’s place in life: “They’re just passing through, while we are here to stay.” (p. 72)
• On things simultaneously occupying two states: “I’m stuck wondering about opposites. Like a place, can it be both beautiful and ugly at the same time? And a person, can a person feel two different emotions, can a person be both grateful and sad, at exactly the same time?“ (p. 117)
• On being afraid to fully feel elation, “I guess what I really believe is when good things happen, bad is just right around the corner.” (p. 154)
Some of my favorite quotes:
• The feeling of being in one’s place in life: “They’re just passing through, while we are here to stay.” (p. 72)
• On things simultaneously occupying two states: “I’m stuck wondering about opposites. Like a place, can it be both beautiful and ugly at the same time? And a person, can a person feel two different emotions, can a person be both grateful and sad, at exactly the same time?“ (p. 117)
• On being afraid to fully feel elation, “I guess what I really believe is when good things happen, bad is just right around the corner.” (p. 154)
July 1, 2022
This was a tender middle grade novel in verse, and I loved what author Jane Kuo did stylistically with the prose. It’s through Ai Shi/Anna’s perspective that we experience the heartbreak a child experiences when moving to a new country, culture, and language. The details of leaving behind beloved items and family members in Taiwan, of being bullied at her new school in the US, and of the family being victimized by racism are heartbreaking. Still, there are moments of kindness and hope, and of the family’s finding their way. There are allusions to China and Taiwan’s histories and how Chinese and Taiwanese heritage is considered and perceived by those in Taiwan and those in the US. This novel provides a thoughtful perspective on dreaming of America, of experiencing an imperfect America, and of finding a place for herself in America.
March 29, 2022
Jane Kuo's wonderful debut novel in verse, In the Beautiful Country, is heartbreaking, funny, and lovely. Told through the eyes of a young Anna who moves from Taiwan to Los Angeles with her parents in the 1980s, it highlights alienation, determination, family and friendship as Anna navigates her new school, her parents' struggles, and what it's like to help them manage the leap to a very new place as it becomes home. Lessons on holding on to positivity and helping others stand out as helpful reminders in the book and in hard times overall, and Anna is a memorable protagonist to root for from the opening scene.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
July 11, 2022
I loved how the lyrical prose structure created snapshots of the Zhang family's life. You're definitely rooting Ai Shi/Anna and her family throughout the entire novel! There was a lot that felt familiar about this story, including playing translator for your parents and observing moments of both overt and unconscious bias/racism. This reads very quickly and would be great for young readers. Jane is a friend and I’ve been eagerly awaiting this release… will be keeping my eye out for more books soon!
July 9, 2022
I want to start with a thank you to Quill Tree Books, Jane Kuo, and Storygram for letting me read this wonderful book.
This was the very sweetest, most lyrical, and most emotional book I have read this year. It had me smiling, crying, and laughing throughout. I think everyone needs to read this, especially the middle graders. I think they will get a lot out of this and I will be sending a copy of this to my niece. I would check TW/CW before reading this and letting the young one read it. I can't wait to read more from Jane Kuo.
This was the very sweetest, most lyrical, and most emotional book I have read this year. It had me smiling, crying, and laughing throughout. I think everyone needs to read this, especially the middle graders. I think they will get a lot out of this and I will be sending a copy of this to my niece. I would check TW/CW before reading this and letting the young one read it. I can't wait to read more from Jane Kuo.
May 25, 2022
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoy reading verse novels and this is one I'll be adding to my classroom library. I loved the author's note that this is based on her life because I think it helps kids to see that these are real things that happened to real people, as opposed to just a story an author created. The ending felt a bit sudden to me, but overall I liked the book and will be recommending it to students.
I thoroughly enjoy reading verse novels and this is one I'll be adding to my classroom library. I loved the author's note that this is based on her life because I think it helps kids to see that these are real things that happened to real people, as opposed to just a story an author created. The ending felt a bit sudden to me, but overall I liked the book and will be recommending it to students.
June 30, 2022
Wow! I devoured this book in a few hours. I read as much YA lit I can find on this topic as I am an English Language Development teacher who works with new immigrants. This book hit me in all the feels. It helped me develop more empathy for the struggles my students and their families go through and is a good contender for a class novel in my middle school class. Thank you, Jane, for putting your experiences into this book so that other immigrant students can feel like they are not alone.
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