Customer Reviews

Crossing

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I selected Crossing because it had a thriller element--a mystery component. I'm not usually big on anything that is teen angsty so felt it was important to point that out up front. I went into it expecting to just tolerate the more lone silent boy who's different than his peers part and hoped that the mystery aspect would carry the novel for me. I'm not too proud to say when I'm wrong and boy was I wrong! I found that the intricate welding of outsider and mystery, written with such a skilled hand, had me trying to understand the former and figure out the latter!

The writing is beguiling. Xing Xu is one of only two Chinese students in a local all white high school. To say his life has been a bit tragic is probably an understatement. Xing and his parents immigrated to the USA illegally. His father, an artist, hawks his skills to tourists in the big city. After one such trip to the city Xing's father is killed. His mother ends up taking two jobs to make ends meet and falls into deep depression over her husbands death. Xing and his mom live in the same house but interact in a wooden and lifeless way merely exchanging casual greetings and non heartfelt appearing platitudes. To assist with money they take in boarders and their latest is an older lady who doesn't leave the house much. She and Xing develop an interesting nearly familial relationship as he entrusts her with his feelings.

At school Xing lives for the moments he spends with his friend Naomi Lee. Naomi is also a transplant from China. It would appear Naomi is bound for greatness - a superb intellect and porcelain beauty, Xing dreads the day she realizes her gifts and goes off with someone else. In spite of his best efforts to convince himself otherwise his love is unrequited. Xing seldom interacts with others including teachers or students and is often the choice for being picked on which earns him many bruises. This year in school there is a very odd new girl named Jan. Jan lives out in the woods with her father.

Xing also has a secret talent and, in a moment of emotion, tries out for the school play. The music teacher, a Juliard has been, sees his gifts and encourages him. Although he is only the understudy Xing starts to come out of his shell a little bit - feeling as if there is something in him that is special.

When the first boy turns up dead it shocks the community, when the second one dissappears it mobilizes them into fear and action. Xing, always the outsider, notices more than others. Who is the person in the red jacket and why does he watch? Where are the bodies of the boys? Are they dead? Who will be next?

So why did I use the word beguiling? A look at any dictionary will point out that to beguile can mean any of the following: mislead or delude, to take away from by deceiving, to charm or divert and to pass time pleasantly. I found these on dictionary dot com. I use the word because this book is ALL of those meanings. Throughout you are never quite sure of the exact turpitude of Xing. He's sympathetic but does not envoke sympathy. He encompasses a lot of characteristics that other teens have being a bit selfish at times and self serving. I was constantly left with the idea there was more -- more to the story, more to the character -- like I'd just started peeling an onion and was having hard time seeing to finish it on account of misty eyes. This is not to say, in any way, that the book was lacking. It is this drive to know more, to see another layer, to peel away the skin -- that kept me glued to the pages. Several of the characters invoke thoughts of the second defintion of beguile which is to take away from by deceiving. Without spoiling the ending you start to wonder who is being decived and who is doing the deceiving when things consistently start adding up. I found the writing to be sparse but not missing anything. There are not a lot of extra flowery words floating about. It accomplished the task without distracting me or giving me too much (or too little) information. A high compliment to Mr. Fukuda's talent. Finally to pass time pleasantly -- this is certainly how I felt reading this book. I did not resent a single minute of the effort and, while not always pleasant in content, the mesmerizing writing kept me one hundred percent invested until I reached the ending.

Speaking of the ending I'm still not sure what to make of it. The book could have formally ended about 20 pages before it did and I would have been fine with that. I won't spoil it but the ending left me gasping and rethinking the entire book and my understanding. Completely worth your dollars. I highly recommend this gem!

I feel pretty conflicted about this one.

I really loved some of Fukuda's descriptions of Xing's surroundings. The absolutely gorgeous cover art perfectly illustrates the atmosphere of this book--the quiet, melancholy COLD of it, and that's what initially attracted me to it. There's some real beauty here.

There's also some real ugliness, and I guess that is what I had trouble with. Somehow a lot of it ended up feeling...unbelievable, or too convenient, or...just too extreme. It brought me out of the story several times, thinking, "Wait...what? Really?" And I never really figured out certain characters' motivations.

And Xing himself...mostly I could relate to the things he thought and felt. Some of his actions made me dislike him a little, but they felt realistic to me at the same time. But every now and then something he would say would just seem...very out of character, and, again, brought me out of the story. The way he reacts to people always seems to be the way most likely to get him in trouble, but he's not consistent. In one instance he might be belligereant or antagonistic, almost cocky; in another, it's like he's paralyzed with fear and can't make himself speak at all. I felt like I never really got a good handle on who he is, because he never seemed fully formed somehow.

That said, I like the story Fukuda tells here, about a boy caught within a prison of circumstance, personal tragedy and low self-esteem. And I felt the ending fit. It's a very short book though, and I guess I wish maybe there was a little more to it--not that it needs more words, but maybe just better words in places.

It's definitely a haunting story though, and one that will stick with me.

I really hope this book and its author get the recognition they deserve. There are so many components that make this novel so compelling. Written in first person from the Xing's perspective, he narrates his life as an outcast freshman and his struggles with isolation as the only Chinese boy in an all white school. As he is agonizing over the death of his father, being bullied, and unrequited love, boys at his school start disappearing. The murders, a new girl at school, Xing's rediscovered talent (singing), his relationships and other threads are woven together so effectively. But beneath it all is the constant reminder that he is different and doesn't fit in. This racism becomes even more prevalent as the conclusion forces him to decide whether or not to concede to the preconceptions made about him.

This novel was so well written and original. The teenage angst was delivered skillfully and the author captures so many powerful emotions: terror, joy and acceptance, humiliation, resignation, and anger. I don't want to expound too much on the plot because I want other readers to be as surprised as I was. Like I said, I hope Crossing receives the praise it is worthy of.

I ordered this book because I like whodunits -- and it is that, but much, much more. Author Andrew Fukuda writes so well, it's hard to believe this is his first novel. (And I certainly hope to read more from him!) The plot is a common one in this genre: A series of disappearances and murders are happening in a small town, and the victims are all high school students. Clearly there is a serial killer at work. What makes the book so unusual is that the detective is not a private eye, a retired cop, or a little old lady who likes to solve mysteries. He's a shy, unpopular student who exists as a wallflower on the edge of high school society. As one of only two Chinese immigrants in an all-white school, Xing (pronounced "Shing") not only doesn't fit in, he is bullied and ridiculed by his classmates, while many of the teachers consider him to be stupid because he is shy and quiet. Some don't even think he speaks English. But his status as a social nobody also means people ignore him to the point that he overhears things others might miss, and puts the clues together.

This book goes beyond the mystery plot, however, to paint a painful but accurate portrait of the tribulations of high school life for an immigrant boy. It tackles loneliness, stereotyping, racial profiling, first loves, petty cliques and more -- in well-written, sensitive prose that kept me enthralled to the very last page. This is not your do-gooder "Murder She Wrote" style novel, nor is it a hardcore police drama. It's a serious, sensitive story with an ending that will haunt you long after you finish it. I know it did me. Ten Stars!

In a school packed with white faces only, Chinese immigrant Xing (pronounced Shing) but called Kris, knows what it is to be on the outside looking in. Ever since he came with his father and mother to the Land of Opportunity he's found himself shunned because of his accent, because his Oriental looks, and because of his parent's low income. The only bright spot in Xing's endless sea of despair lies in the refuge of his best friend Naomi, also a Chinese immigrant, who from day one relied upon Xing as translator and tutor. But tutor has surpassed the teacher and lately Naomi has begun to assimilate in ways that Xing could never accomplish, seeming to leave Xing yet more alone.

After a string of high schoolers from Xing's school turn up missing, the entire town becomes suspicious and frightened and looking for villains on every corner. In his solitary observances, Xing begins to notice seemingly isolated occurrences which lead him closer and closer to the frightening culprit. Though a series of freakishly random coincidences seem to level the finger of suspicion straight at Xing himself.

There are a variety of reasons as to why I picked up Andrew Xia Fukuda's dark debut Crossing. The promise of a young male Asian protagonist who constantly struggled - often without success - to assimilate into American society seemed too tempting a prospect to pass by. Not your usual YA character or hero, Xing proves himself to be compelling and extremely sympathetic narrator as a bully-magnet with deeply-rooted emotions. Every minute detail of the events leading up to the discovery of the kidnapper is painfully recorded, even those that paint Xing in a less than flattering light.

To be honest, I was not expecting such a startling conclusion to Crossing. If anything, due to the prologue I was anticipating the opposite of what actually occurred. Crossing is not a ponies and rainbows novel, it was almost painful at times in fact. It takes a deep, intimate look at how fear of the other can ignite with a single spark, spread like wildfire, and wind up just as deadly. And the prose itself is an unflinchingly honest portrayal of the cruelty of teenagers at its most heartbreaking. But. Crossing was extremely well-written, but I found myself terribly depressed upon finishing. Perhaps I wasn't quite in the right frame of mind for such a stark novel, but I found Crossing to be a little too much on the bleak side without any hope of redemption acting as a counterbalance. Each time it felt like Xing might be on the brink of finding some measure of happiness or a little bit of success, some new catastrophe would inevitably occur sending him right back to square one. Which of course made for a page-turning novel but not one I'd recommend without some hesitation.

It is strange to admit this, but as an Asian American I tend to avoid books written by Asian authors. Especially books written by Asian authors who write about what it's like to grow up in America because they seem... overly fluffy and not quite realistic enough. There is always a happy ending giving everyone - Asian or not - this assumption that all Asian children growing up in America somehow manage to grow up and go to an ivy league college and are automatically successful. And although I myself have grown up with that priveleged stereotype, I have always wished that there was a difference prespective to share, because it is wholly unrealistic to assume that every Asian person has the same stereotypical experience.

And this book truly offers that perspective.

Great stories, are great because of the characters. What I really love on a context perspective is if you took away the Asain element, this book would still be quite compelling. At the core, this story could be about any person growing up in a situation where they are treated as an outcast by everyone - even their own friends - struggling to assert themselves and prove to everyone that they too have a significant contribution to make to the world.

It is also a sad commentary on how easy people can be left by the wayside because of assumptions made about them. And how difficult it is to combat perception and circumstances that are beyond their control.

This story is brilliantly told and it's quite haunting, but not for the reasons one may think it would be going into the story.

Crossing is a breathtaking look into the prejudices that our society can have. Told through the eyes of a Chinese immigrant, the reader really gets to the heart of what it means to be different. Xing (aka Kris) is not known for his amazing singing ability. He is not known for his academic skills. What is known for is being an outsider. A Chinese student surrounded by hundreds of white students who know nothing about being in his shoes. Fukuda gets right to the heart of Xing and his life. The reader easily grasps Xing's culture and even what he must have had to endure on a day to day basis. The hurt and the prejudice that came along with being one of only two Chinese students is a fresh, open wound. One that is constantly on Xing's mind.

Fukuda's writing brings forth the endless emotions that Xing undergoes in a realistic and heartfelt way. Although, I do not know how it feel to be alienated in the manner that Xing was. The emotions that Fukuda uses can be felt on numerous levels. Fukuda makes you care about Xing and what happens to him. You know his hopes, his fears... his dreams. And you cannot help but want the best for him.

Crossing and its author blew me away. I loved the messages that Fukuda explores, and the way he went about it. Often times, you will read a novel and the author will have a wonderful message, but it may come across as preachy or too in your face. But that is not the case with Crossing. Fukuda presents his message and gives the reader a chance to make-up their own mind. An example of this is the novel's ending. While I cannot say that I loved the ending, I must admit that it stuck with me. It was a very frustrating point in the novel for me, but the more I think about it... the more it makes sense. Xing is, to a point, a flawed character. He may want to persue his hopes and dreams, but deep down he realizes the truth of his situation. And I believe that if the ending had been happier, then I would not feel the way that I do about his character. So, in the end, I am honestly torn about the ending. But thankfully, I am not torn on how I feel about this novel. It truly was an amazing experience. And I believe that Fukuda a has bright future in store for him as a writer. It was honesly a pleasure to read this refreshing novel. Highly Recommend.

Highly recommend. This is a skillfully-written book that defies neat categorization into a limited genre box. It is part character study, partly a story of teen angst and transitions, an immigrant tale of hardships faced, part mystery, part thriller.

Every character, not just the main one, came alive in this book -- no cardboard characters that blur together. Each was unique and vivid.

Some will label this a YA novel, but it will appeal to both teens and older adults. The characters challenged my thinking, and I still wonder about them.

The plot twists were astounding. I hope other reviewers will not spoil the surprise.

I had not heard of this author previously; he deserves to be famous. I look forward to reading future work by him. This book demonstrates skillful use of characterizations, plot, and descriptions -- just enough words, chosen with care by a master. Although it is a thriller, some of the descriptions are almost poetic in their beauty, yet it somehow avoids excess wordiness.

Crossing is an amazing debut novel. It blew me away. I didn't have a clue what to expect when I started it and that turned out to be a good thing. It would have surpassed anything I might have expected from it.

The most brilliant thing about Crossing was the writing. Even if the story had sucked, which it didn't, the writing would have made up for it. I can't do it justice. It was just beautiful.

Xing was not exactly an easy character to like or understand but after a while I did. He was a loner and he didn't do much to try and fix that but in his town it was kind of impossible. Everyone was so prejudiced and cruel to him. It was further than most high schoolers take bullying but I think everyone can relate to Xing. And with everything that is going on with bullying in high schools today I think everyone needs to read Crossing. It couldn't have been released at a better time.

Overall, Crossing is a great story. It kept me reading until the very last page and the ending threw me for a loop. There was nothing about this book that I was expecting and I love it!

I THOUGHT I WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK BUT ENDED UP SOOOOOOO DISAPPOINTED. IT IS DEFINITELY A YA THRILLER BUT, I AM NOT SURE I WOULD WANT ANY YA I KNOW TO READ IT. THE BOOK STARTS OUT GREAT AND ENDED WITH A THUD!