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The Great Call Of China (2009)

by Cynthea Liu(Favorite Author)

3.78 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0142411345 (ISBN13: 9780142411346)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Speak

review 1: A good book can be enjoyed by anyone of any age. People of different ethnicities and ages enjoyed Harry Potter; I wasn't one of those people, however. While TGCC was very possibly marketed to teenage girls, Cynthea Liu's book appeals to those interested in Asian/Asian American culture, Chinese culture, romance, or even Asian American romance.The story is about a Chinese-American girl named Cece Charles, an adopted girl (by a white couple) who lives in Texas. Cece is going to Xi'an, China on the S.A.S.S.(Students Across the Seven Seas) anthropology program for high school students. She is not only going to her country of origin, but she is also trying to find her birth family before the program's end. Cece's her adoptive father is with her on the decision to find her birth ... moreparents , but Cece's adoptive mother feels that may distance Cece from her adoptive parents. In China, she meets Will, a half-Chinese/half-white(?) boy she falls for after meeting him on the plane. Will is also pursued by a Chinese Asian American girl named Jess who has stereotypically tough Chinese parents who want her to be an anthropologist. Jess is depicted as a cocky girl, somewhat materialistic girl who sees life through blinders and would rather go clubbing than go studying . Cece also meets a white-American named Kallyn who - with Will - become her 'go-to' friends who give her second opinions on decisions made during this trip to China. Peter is a student Cece meets in China who acts as Cece's translator, and is assigned to show Cece around the city; all the exchange students are assigned a Chinese partner.There are simple Chinese words towards the end of the novel as Cece interacts more with the Mandarin-speaking Chinese community. As someone who is studying the Chinese language, this was a little practice for me. The students in the book have to take lessons themselves, and as Cece ventures out on her own to find the orphanage she came from, she picks up words here and there....even though it is Peter who does the talking for her.There is some very deep emotion in this book, especially towards the end. When Cece finds her birth father and we hear the story of what happened that led to Cece being adopted I personally had that 'awww' feeling. (The writer did her job!)I like that the writer broke stereotypes, or seemingly broke stereotypes. Many times in it seems like the white adoptive parents are trying to 'Americanize' or even 'white wash' the adopted Asian children, particularly the females. In TGCC, the white adoptive parents learns she has an 'American' culture (e.g. Asian American) and Chinese culture. In the end, her adoptive mother even speaks to Cece in Chinese, realizing that while Cece loves her adoptive parents, she also loves and recognizes her birth parents and where she came from. On the other hand, with Jess, even though she comes off as somewhat domineering, irresponsible, and she rather go clubbing than study, she turns out to be a lot smarter than she leads on. Jess is told by her parents that she will be an anthropologist to make it worthwhile that her parents came America for a better life. However, like most individuals who have parents who want to direct their life (no matter the age their age) that person has to find their own way in life. Hence, Jess plans on pursuing a degree at a design college after going through several arguments with her parents, over the phone in the course of the story. She also pursues a boy named Chris once she finds out that Will (whom she was also interested in) actually had a mutual affection with Cece. Given her rebellious nature towards her parents, particularly her father, I want to think that 'Chris' was a black kid, even though he is not racially described. For example, if 'Chris' was white, Jess would seemingly be 'white washed,' distancing herself from her Chinese culture or 'Asian-ness.' If Chris was Asian - Chinese - that would seem like she is still embracing the Chinese culture and changing from her initial comment that she doesn't date Asian boys; she is only rejecting the rigorous, stereotype her Asian parents embody. Lastly, with Will, his parents are getting divorced. It is assumed, even though Cynthea Liu doesn't describe it, that Will is half-Asian and half-white. Like Chris, it's not clear in regards of the ethnicities of the mother and father, but based on American media, it is assumed to be a white male/Asian female relationship. If we were to go on this assumption of the white male/Asian female parentage of Will, it breaks a stereotype that these relationships are just like any other, and they are not 'better' or 'seamless' because these particular ethnicities are coupled since American media tends to view the white male/Asian female coupling as 'normal' or non-controversial versus other relationships such as Asian male/white female or even black male/non-black female.I found the book to be somewhat cinematic, and could see this being turned into a charming movie that focused on Asian American teenagers if done right. As for the book itself, I definitely recommend it.
review 2: A fast read, but felt superficial at times. I liked Cece as the narrator of the story as she seems genuine and likeable. She has her moods and her uncertainties. Other than Cece though, I felt like there was a lack of connection with the characters. I didn't understand why she liked Will and the fast connections that you develop with people on these sorts of trips felt like it was missing. I enjoyed Cece's search for her birth parents and its conclusion, but felt the essay she was writing for the program a little silly. I loved the details of Xi'an, but had to roll my eyes at the dramatic reaction she had to Chinese food. The idea that you are in China and you want to eat at McDonalds just boggles the mind. Her voice also sounded younger than seventeen to me in terms of how she processed the different culture and the assignments and how she dealt with her parents and her finding out about her past. She sounded more like a fifteen year old instead. Still, I enjoyed it for what it was: a feel good story with a little bit of culture shock thrown in. less

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