Seeing Emily (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9–In free verse, 16-year-old Emily Wu, a talented artist, describes her daily life as she interacts with her Chinese immigrant parents; with her best friends, Nina and Liz; and with her first boyfriend, Nick. In the process, she lies to her parents, experiments with makeup, and, little by little, loses her values. Readers will smell the aromas of the traditional dishes that her mother cooks, see the vibrant colors of the mural she paints, and relate to the discussions she and her friends have about grades, parents, and boys. They will also sense Baba and Mama's concern when they decide to send Emily to visit her aunt in Taiwan, where she comes to the realization that she can be both Chinese and American. Rich in language and imagery, Seeing Emily is a good choice for fiction collections.–Pat Bender, The Shipley School, Bryn Mawr, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

A perceptive, lyrical novel about a Chinese American girl seeking a new vision of herself

Readers will instantly relate to the heady, messy experience of being a teenager in this poignant novel in free verse, which Publishers Weekly called “highly visual and eloquently wrought” and Kirkus called “finely crafted.” Emily, a Chinese American teen, is determined to reinvent herself outside the mold in which her family and friends have always viewed her. Her interest in a sexy new student propels her to try out different versions of herself. In the end her art may provide the key to understanding who she is.

An International Reading Association Notable Book

A New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Amulet (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810992582
• ISBN-13: 978-0810992580
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,245,290 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A finely written, affecting gem of a novel , October 2, 2006

By	Duradarshinee (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeing Emily (Hardcover)

"Seeing Emily" is a real find, engaging and poignant. Formally simple yet poetically and thematically rich, Joyce Lee Wong's writing possesses the depth, delicacy and force of authenticity. Very highly recommended.

The novel weaves together a series of poems through which unfold the story and portrait of a Chinese-American teenager as she discovers and crafts her own identity. As Emily's childhood memories are collaged with more fragmented experiences from her fledgling present, the imagery is at times stark, lyrical, blunt and startlingly beautiful. At its best the poetry combines striking images with an unusual gentleness and warmth which subtly convey the author's profound feeling for her own roots.

Emily's close relationship with her parents, movingly depicted, is at the core of her strength even as it is her own examination of this closeness which propels her to break from the confines of her family background. Here, the refinement of Chinese culture -- skillfully communicated through a haunting accuracy of images rather than through philosophy -- and the dynamism of American youth form a tender mix.

Lee Wong also explores both thematically and stylistically the link between the transformative natures of love and art, as she pairs Emily's growing confidence as a young adult with her development as a painter.

The directness and beauty of the author's style give an elegance to the book's complex layering of meanings, while affecting the reader's heart in a disarmingly straightforward way.

The transformation of Emily's perspectives on herself, her parents, and her friends in shifting contexts will speak to any young person who has experienced a sense of being outside the mainstream, and to any reader who relishes fine and hopeful writing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is beautiful coming of age story (4.5 Stars), January 29, 2006

By	Bibliophile "Fitzpatrick" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeing Emily (Hardcover)

This is beautiful coming of age story. The poetic style is well written and striking in its imagery. I loved the cat themes. This was a great quick read and I think it will resonate well with teenage girls, who can relate to Emily's quest to see her true self, regardless of the racial elements of this book, which are also well done. This great pick.

4.0 out of 5 stars Seeing Emily, October 30, 2008

By	Metabliss (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeing Emily (Hardcover)

"SEEING EMILY" by Joyce Lee Wong is a delightful and refreshing read.

Joyce Lee Wong's poetic writing style was like sweet music to my ears.
I saw myself in her descriptions. I highly recommend this book.