From time to time I find myself choosing titles shelved in the Young Adult section. Here is one of many I encourage you not to miss.
A Step From Heaven/An Na
Publisher's Description:
The story of a Korean family that immigrates to California in search of a better life, only to find that the American Dream is harder to achieve than they thought. Told through the eyes of Young Ju, who is a preschooler when the book begins and a young woman heading off to college by the time it ends, A Step from Heaven is a moving and sometimes painful tale about cultural differences, family dynamics, and the struggle to survive.
As little Young Ju's plane leaves Korea and climbs high into the sky, she thinks she is headed for heaven. In a way, so do her parents, who believe that America will offer them big opportunities and a more heavenly lifestyle. But life is much harder than they anticipate, and both of Young Ju's parents must work multiple jobs just to make ends meet while they share a house with relatives. Disillusioned and ashamed, Young Ju's father tries to drown the harsh realities of his life in liquor, eventually descending into a pit of alcoholism that turns him emotionally and physically abusive.
Though the family as a unit doesn't adapt well, Young Ju adjusts quickly and soon excels in school. But the shame of her family's poverty and her father's worsening alcoholism leads to several lies and cover-ups that prevent her from ever fully embracing her new life. Caught between two cultures and increasingly isolated by the growing tension within her family, Young Ju eventually finds herself at a crossroads, forced to make a decision that will likely tear her family apart.
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2 comments:
Originally I had thought that A STEP FROM HEAVEN would be a great book for my 15 year old daughter to read because she has crossed over from one country to another. Sort of a 'been there - done that' type of positive reinforcement read. I have second thoughts about that now because my daughter seems happy in her current life in America and I hesitate to bring to the forefront matters which I haven't seen perplex her much or weigh heavy on her as an immigrant. Still, I could be wrong about this. What do you think?
If I remember correctly -- it's been some time since I've read this -- the story takes place a few decades ago at a time when Americans in general were struggling more with issues pertaining to women's roles in society -- the family vs. career issue. Young Ju is struggling to reconcile with her own culture's beliefs as well as those of a changing nation's, thus a lot of her unhappiness stems from this. I think your daughter's experiences in modern times are very different and therefore will not plant seeds of discontent.
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