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Mei-Ling Hopgood
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Lucky Girl: A Memoir Hardcover – Bargain Price, April 28, 2009

by Mei-Ling Hopgood (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 106 ratings
See all formats and editions
In a true story of family ties, journalist Mei-Ling Hopgood, one of the first wave of Asian adoptees to arrive in America, comes face to face with her past when her Chinese birth family suddenly requests a reunion after more than two decades.

In 1974, a baby girl from Taiwan arrived in America, the newly adopted child of a loving couple in Michigan. Mei-Ling Hopgood had an all-American upbringing, never really identifying with her Asian roots or harboring a desire to uncover her ancestry. She believed that she was lucky to have escaped a life that was surely one of poverty and misery, to grow up comfortable with her doting parents and brothers.

Then, when she's in her twenties, her birth family comes calling. Not the rural peasants she expected, they are a boisterous, loving, bossy, complicated middle-class family who hound her daily—by phone, fax, and letter, in a language she doesn't understand—until she returns to Taiwan to meet them. As her sisters and parents pull her into their lives, claiming her as one of their own, the devastating secrets that still haunt this family begin to emerge. Spanning cultures and continents, Lucky Girl brings home a tale of joy and regret, hilarity, deep sadness, and great discovery as the author untangles the unlikely strands that formed her destiny.
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  1. Print length
    244 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Algonquin Books
  4. Publication date
    April 28, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    5.88 x 0.88 x 8.56 inches
  6. See all details
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Amazon%20First%20Reads%20%7C%20Editors%27%20picks%20at%20exclusive%20prices

Editorial Reviews

Review

Mei-Ling Hopgood "writes with humor and grace about her efforts to understand how biology, chance, choice and love intersect to delineate a life. A wise, moving meditation on the meaning of family, identity and fate." –Kirkus

(Kirkus Reviews )

”A journalist by trade, Hopgood pushes herself to ask tough questions. As she does, shocking family secrets begin to spill forth. . . Brutally honest. . . Although Hopgood’s memoir is uniquely her own, multiple perspectives on adoption saturate the book.” –Bust magazine

(Bust )

“An award-winning writer recounts her experience as one of the first Chinese babies adopted in the West and her surprising trail back to the rural Taiwanese family who gave her away. . . A great book.”—Good Housekeeping

(Good Housekeeping )

“With concise, truth-seeking deftness of a seasoned journalist, Mei-Ling delves into the political, cultural and financial reasoning behind her Chinese birth parents' decision to put her up for adoption. . . Cut with historical detail and touching accounts of Mei-Ling's "real" family, the Hopgoods, Lucky Girl is a refreshingly upbeat take on dealing with the pressures and expectations of family, while remaining true to oneself. Simple, to the point and uncluttered of the everyday minutiae, Mei-Ling Hopgood nails the concept of becoming one's own.”—Detroit Metro Times

(Detroit Metro Times )

Review

"A compelling, honest, and very human tale about self-identity and the complex concept of family." -- Kathleen Flinn, author of The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003NHR6UO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Algonquin Books; 1st edition (April 28, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 244 pages
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.88 x 0.88 x 8.56 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 106 ratings

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Mei-Ling Hopgood

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
106 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book for its engaging story, insightful insights, and meaningful perspective. They find the writing style captivating and the author's honesty appealing. The humor and charm of the book provide moments of laughter and amusement for readers. Overall, they appreciate the author's portrayal of her family in a clear and honest manner.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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ReadabilityStory qualityInsightWriting qualityHumorPacing
17 customers mention "Readability"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and touching. They appreciate the author's writing style and find it a good read.

"...and feels, including ambivalence towards birth dad, make this a compelling read!" Read more

"...it is definitely NOT required to enjoy and appreciate this wonderful book. Adoption is not part of my personal experience and I loved the story!" Read more

"...never met the author, I know some members of her family, and it was a great and touching story. It's about families and clashing cultures...." Read more

"...Great job, Mei Ling! Kay Bratt Child Advocate" Read more

10 customers mention "Story quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find it enlightening, touching, and honest. The author weaves an amazing story with grace, wit, and passion. It opens their eyes about adoption and might even push them to examine their own self.

"...I recommend this book without hesitation. It will open your eyes about adoption and might even push you to examine your own self identity." Read more

"...author, I know some members of her family, and it was a great and touching story. It's about families and clashing cultures...." Read more

"...Mei Ling Hopgood weaves an enlightening story that gave me moments of sadness but also spurts of laughter...." Read more

"I enjoyed this story. Hopgood did a great job of portraying both her birth family and her adopted family...." Read more

7 customers mention "Insight"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and meaningful. They say it offers a lesson on a new place or culture. The book is simple yet meaningful, with just enough history to provide context. Readers appreciate the raw eye toward detail.

"...that includes humor, actual letters and e-mails, just enough history to give context and a raw eye toward detail that leaves you wanting more...." Read more

"...Definitely the sign of a good book! I love books that offer a lesson on a new place or cultural, which this book did...." Read more

"Great book and great perspective. As someone who lived in China and also have adopted a Chinese son, I loved picturing her family!..." Read more

"...It was simple, but meaningful. Quite informative, for those who have little experience with life in Asia and it's hardships and necessary sacrifices." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's writing quality. They find it interesting, well-written, and engaging. Readers appreciate the author's honesty and ability to tell a story well.

"...It's worth a read, and the author is an excellent story-teller." Read more

"Mei-ling Hopgood is a a talented writer and I enjoyed her reflection of her life...." Read more

"...I was pleasantly surprised, however, at the quality of the writing and found this book hard to put down...." Read more

"A beautifully written book. Insightful and informative. I highly encourage you to read Lucky Girl. You will long remember it." Read more

4 customers mention "Humor"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find the story engaging with grace, wit, and passion. The book brings them moments of sadness but also laughter.

"...unusual family circumstances told in a straightforward style that includes humor, actual letters and e-mails, just enough history to give context..." Read more

"...I found myself shocked, disappointed, amused, grateful and heartbroken right alongside the author as she recounts her experiences...." Read more

"...an enlightening story that gave me moments of sadness but also spurts of laughter...." Read more

"...The author handled her 'predicament' with class and charm." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find the author does a good job of portraying her family, both her birth and adopted families. They appreciate the reflections on life from the author.

"I loved reading this story. It's a beautiful portrait of the most unusual family circumstances told in a straightforward style that includes humor,..." Read more

"Mei-ling Hopgood is a a talented writer and I enjoyed her reflection of her life...." Read more

"I enjoyed this story. Hopgood did a great job of portraying both her birth family and her adopted family...." Read more

"...who lived in China and also have adopted a Chinese son, I loved picturing her family! The author handled her 'predicament' with class and charm." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Malia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, touching read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    I loved reading this story. It's a beautiful portrait of the most unusual family circumstances told in a straightforward style that includes humor, actual letters and e-mails, just enough history to give context and a raw eye toward detail that leaves you wanting more.

    The story is told in first-person by Mei-Ling, an award-winning journalist who was born to a large family in Taiwan, adopted by a Michigan couple and then reunited with her birth family many years later.

    Through this honest biography, I loved discovering Mei-Ling's family, from the good to the bad, along with her. The way she opens her life up with personal introspection and tough questions to her birth parents both surprised and enthralled me. It's an amazing story that is told with grace, wit and passion.

    I recommend this book without hesitation. It will open your eyes about adoption and might even push you to examine your own self identity.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • S. Han
    4.0 out of 5 stars Moving Read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I am nearly done with the book. I've enjoyed reading about the Author's interesting experiences with her newfound birth family and her struggles to reconcile 2 worlds. Perhaps it's the e-version but I am surprised at the typos. Candid portrayal of what she sees and feels, including ambivalence towards birth dad, make this a compelling read!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • JMG
    5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    This was a book I could not put down. The first 100 pages or so laid the groundwork very well. After this, I found myself totally engrossed in the author's experience of merging her life in the United States with the life and past of her birth family. I kept sneaking little moments to keep reading. Definitely the sign of a good book! I love books that offer a lesson on a new place or cultural, which this book did. I found myself shocked, disappointed, amused, grateful and heartbroken right alongside the author as she recounts her experiences. While this book will certainly resonate with families who have experience with adoption, it is definitely NOT required to enjoy and appreciate this wonderful book. Adoption is not part of my personal experience and I loved the story!
    9 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Communications Guru
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. Although I never met the author, I know some members of her family, and it was a great and touching story. It's about families and clashing cultures. It's worth a read, and the author is an excellent story-teller.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kay Bratt
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Journey Into the Mind of an Adoptee
    Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    Having worked in a Chinese orphanage for several years, I met many children who were later adopted. I have always wondered what it felt like for them to 'look' different than their parents or siblings. I wondered how they were treated at school or in other social settings, were they accepted or discriminated against? LUCKY GIRL gave me an inside look into the childhood and young adulthood of a girl adopted from Taiwan. Mei Ling Hopgood weaves an enlightening story that gave me moments of sadness but also spurts of laughter. So many of her experiences in learning about her culture were familiar to me and kept me turning the pages at a rapid pace. Great job, Mei Ling!

    Kay Bratt
    Child Advocate
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jeannene B. Spessard
    3.0 out of 5 stars Lucky Girl
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Mei-ling Hopgood is a a talented writer and I enjoyed her reflection of her life. I would recommend this book to people who have been through the adoption process. I think it would have limited appeal to the general public.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Emma Lin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reader Discretion Advised
    Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If you are an adoptee, or a Chinese adoptee, then this book is probably a bit hard to understand or might be too much for you to handle.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Amy Johnson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well told story
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this story. Hopgood did a great job of portraying both her birth family and her adopted family. I would recommend this to someone who likes memoirs.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • London Girl
    4.0 out of 5 stars interesting book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    A very interesting topic and it was very insightful into the world of adoption.
    A lovely tale of meeting her blood family and how it went
    Report