Peiling and the Chicken-Fried Christmas [Hardcover]

Pauline Chen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Christmas season is in full swing, and eleven-year-old Peiling Wang can't take another minute of it. She feels completely left out! Her family is from Taiwan, and even though they have been living in America since she was small, they have never once celebrated the biggest holiday of the year. But with encouragement from her groovy uncle, Peiling musters up the courage to ask her parents the big question: Can we celebrate Christmas this year?  With such high hopes (and maybe some unrealistic expectations!) it is especially disappointing when things don't turn out quite the way Peiling planned. But there is always a silver lining, and Peiling finds it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Peiling and the Chicken Fried Christmas

“Peiling and the Chicken-Fried Christmas is a gentle, fun and truthful tale that will connect with anyone who’s felt uncomfortable about being different.  Author Pauline Chen invites readers into the lives of a Chinese immigrant family to experience the joys of cultural tradition, while acknowledging the awkwardness that often arises as people from different backgrounds learn to live and celebrate together.”—Bookpage

“A sweet story with a tasty twist!”—Discovery Girls

“Peiling is realistic and relatable as a headstrong pre-teen looking for ways to assert her individuality while trying desperately to fit in.” –Horn Book

 

About the Author

PAULINE CHEN was born in the year of the snake, and is mother to a dragon and a chicken. Previously a professor of Chinese language and literature at Oberlin College, she now writes fiction full time. She lives with her family in Ohio.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens; 1st edition (October 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599901226
• ISBN-13: 978-1599901220
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,163,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and Entertaining--a tale for all, November 13, 2007

By 

E. Elrod (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Peiling and the Chicken-Fried Christmas (Hardcover)

My 10 year old daughter and I found this story engaging and entertaining. From the beginning we found ourselves relating to Peiling and feeling her anxiety, despite the fact that we have no personal immigrant experience. Chen describes the school setting vividly and I felt like I was there. Peiling's classmates and friends were also extremely believable. My favorite was her quirky friend Grace.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging story about a Chinese-style Christmas!, November 29, 2007

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Peiling and the Chicken-Fried Christmas (Hardcover)

As the population of the US becomes more diverse, with various ethnic communities having their own celebrations, this book is quite timely. The Hindus have Diwali, the Sikhs have Vaisakhi, and the Chinese have Chinese New Year. This book explores how young Peiling, whose family immigrated to the US from China, struggles to adapt to the hectic and happy preparations for Christmas as celebrated by her peers at school, but not her. She is pleasantly surprised when her parents decide to celebrate Christmas after seven years in the US, but is then disappointed when they take a Chinese approach to it.

The rest of the story centers around how Peiling comes to appreciate the differences between her and her classmates, and takes pride in her unique cultural traditions whilst coming together with her friends and celebrating Christmas. Its a unique but timely tale that is sure to appeal to readers, both young and old.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A funny and touching story, October 14, 2007

By 

Eugene (Gladwyne, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peiling and the Chicken-Fried Christmas (Hardcover)

My eight year old son and I both loved this book. The characters are vividly drawn, and the book is beautifully written. It is a wonderful, universal story that will make your child laugh and think. My son kept talking about the characters and their situations well after we had finished the book. While it would certainly make a good Christmas present, it is not just for Christmas. Any child between the ages of seven and thirteen will enjoy this book, anytime of the year.