An Ocean Apart, a World Away (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "It's out of the question!" said Father..." (more)
Key Phrases: female mentality, home economics course, Eldest Brother, Liang Baoshu, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

During the early 1900s, China struggled to maintain an unstable democracy as radical factions fought over territories and political titles. Many young women found themselves caught between old traditions and new notions. Xueyan, or Yanyan, is lucky. Her father is one of the few who believes in education for women. So when an opportunity arises for her to attend Cornell University in America, Yanyan takes it with her family's blessing. Her only regret is leaving behind her schoolgirl crush, Liang Boashu. Once enrolled at Cornell, Yanyan is overwhelmed by culture shock. In America, the food is heavy, the money system is difficult, and odd English phrases like "pull yourself together" are confusing. Still, Yanyan thrives at school, even when American "Big Noses" embarrass her by stereotyping her as a maid, or think she must be good at doing laundry because she is Chinese. But just when she begins to finally feel at home in her new country, Liang Boashu shows up. No longer an angry young militant, Boashu is now a polished diplomat with marriage on his mind. Will Yanyan be forced to choose between her hard-won independence and the feelings she still has for Boashu?

Lensey Namioka's story of one girl's quest for identity in a time of shifting gender roles is both charming and thought provoking. Teens will be absorbed and amused by Yanyan's attempts at American slang ("I had to pull my guts together") and witty observances of "Big Nose" culture, while commiserating with her search for self. Recommended. (Ages 10 to 14) --Jennifer Hubert

From Publishers Weekly

Picking up where Namioka's Ties That Bind, Ties That Break left off, this novel opens in 1921 China, where Ailin is about to set sail for America. Ailin's classmate and friend Yanyan, who narrates here, travels to Shanghai to bid her farewell; Eldest Brother and his friend Baoshu serve as Yanyan's chaperones. Baoshu's mixed heritage (a father who served as a Chinese imperial officer and a Manchu mother) offers Namioka an opportunity to explore the mounting tensions in China over beliefs about who can best unite the country. However, the author does not delve deeply enough to give readers a clear sense of the issues at stake. Instead, she concentrates on Yanyan's adjustment to American culture, when the heroine enrolls as a student at Cornell. A romance ignites between Baoshu and Yanyan, who then turns down Baoshu's proposal that she run away with him; later L.H., a fellow Chinese student, also gradually shows signs that he wants more than friendship. Yanyan must decide what she wants for herself and from a partnership. Namioka covers (literally) so much ground (Yanyan's boat trip to America, her cross-country rail trip from Seattle to Cornell, her visit by train to Ailin in San Francisco during her school's Christmas break, etc.) that many of the characters and relationships are fleetingly portrayed rather than fully developed. Some readers may be satisfied with the conclusion, but others may wonder if Yanyan ever fulfills her dream to become a doctor. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 197 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (June 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385730020
• ISBN-13: 978-0385730020
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,343,234 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is SUCH a wonderful book, August 10, 2002

By A Customer

This is a terrific sequel to "Ties that bind, ties that break." Lensey Namioka brings the reader up to date with the stories of Ailin and her best friend, Yanyan. Ailin is still in San Francisco with her husband. Yanyan is a student at Cornell University in Ithaca. The story takes place in 1911. It explains how Yanyan begins to study for a medical career. Namioka's spare, elegant writing is wonderful... This book is highly recommended. It brings the story full circle and I enjoyed it so much.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brillant Book!, July 22, 2003

By	"dazedpanda" (New York City) - See all my reviews

I just have to say, I am now such a big fan of Lensey Namioka. I've read "Ties that Bond, and Ties that Break" a little over a year ago, and now, After reading "An Ocean Apartm A World Away" I am simply blown away. This book was a continuation of the other and I absolutey love the fact that there are so many twists in it that you really never seem to expect. While there are so turns that went the predicable way, the rest of the story made up for it! The only down part about this book for me was, it ended on a note I didn't really like, but it was still good anyway. This is such I great read, and I can promise you, its worth every second! ^_^

4.0 out of 5 stars Chinese Student in America, June 14, 2007

By	A. Luciano (Lowell, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: An Ocean Apart, a World Away (Mass Market Paperback)

It is the nineteen-twenties, and Yanyan is living in China with her family. China is in turmoil, as it has been for years, but Yanyan's family is stable and progressive. She lives with her parents and her two older brothers. Despite the fact that she is a girl in a fairly wealthy family, Yanyan did not have her feet bound as a child. Her parents permitted her to attend the school run by American missionaries and she and her mother are encouraged to participate in conversation at the dinner table, even when arguments break out. Yanyan's father is a diplomat who has traveled to other countries and has seen how they live.

Despite the fact that she is a teenager and should be thinking about these things, Yanyan is not at all concerned with marriage. In fact, she would like to become a doctor and support herself for the rest of her life. Then she meets her brother's friend Baoshu, who is handsome and exciting. He wants her to run away with him and become a rebel, fighting the government. She thinks about his offer and the excitement that it would bring to her life, but instead decides to go to college. She enrolls in Cornell College in Ithica, New York, and travels thousands of miles away from her family to attend. College life is more difficult than she expected, and she encounters many prejudices about Chinese people. But she is determined to make it through and achieve her dream.

I liked that this story was a parallel of "Ties that Bind, Ties that Break." I liked seeing how another Chinese girl was able to make her way in the world. I liked the strength and courage of Yanyan's character. She knew what she wanted and didn't give up.