Gabrielle Wang generally was recommended to me by Kirsty Murray and Erin-from-Penguin Books, both of whom sang praises of Wang's new book (The Ghost in my Suitcase) coming out later this year. Needless to say, I will be reading that one. But I'd had my eye on "The Garden of the Empress Cassia" for a while, and the combined recommendation of Kirsty and Erin was what I needed to take it off the shelf and take it home.It's a Younger Readers book - mid-late Primary and early Secondary - of a sort of fastastic/magical realism genre. Mimi Lu doesn't like being Chinese. She doesn't like being different from the kids at school, and doesn't like being called "Smelly-Lou" (who would?). She's teased and bullied for her difference, and on top of that, her parents want her to focus on getting good grades when what she wants to do is draw pictures. Her art teacher at school is sympathetic and lets Mimi have extra classes at lunchtime. And then she gives Mimi a set of "Empress Cassia pastels". Mimi's draws the Garden of Empress Cassia outside her parent's Herbal Medicine shop, and all sorts of things begin to change.Mimi is a *wonderful* character, a totally believable eleven-or-so year old girl; her friend Josh is also marvelous. Reading (as I have begun to do) through 50book_poc eyes, I was a little uncomfortable with Old Ma and his "very wise very old Chinese man" sort of role. But I did love the book overall, and the ending is terribly, wonderfully gripping.There are also ways in which this book can be read as a meditation on cultural appropriation (which would be an interesting topic to discuss further with Kirsty...)
This novel is meant for young readers, the vocabulary is easily understandable to children and the concepts are simplified. Mimi, the main character, doesn't like being and feeling different than the other children. She just wants to fit in. The author makes the reader believe that he/she is truly reading about an eleven-year-old child. The plot is very different and the reader will enjoy reading about the pastels and the ups and downs of using them. The story is very creative and is sure to capture a child's interest and keep his/her attention. This novel is recommended for young children.
Do You like book Garden Of Empress Cassia (2015)?
This is an elementary school aged book about a Chinese girl living in Australia who deals with bullying. She is given a magical box of pastels that create a garden where people are healed from their worries and fears without realizing it. I really liked the story line but felt like the book could have been fleshed out more and a longer story could have been written around the same story line. Still, a good, quick read for children on the topic of bullying and embracing your heritage. 3 and a half stars!
—Dorothea
