Book Description:
Ming wishes for three things at Christmas. First, to sing in the school Christmas choir. Second, to have a Christmas tree like the one in the department store window. And third, to feel she belongs somewhere.
As a daughter of immigrants in 1930s California, Ming is often treated differently than other children at school. She's pointedly not invited to sing in the Christmas choir. At home, when Ming lobbies her parents for a Christmas tree, her mother scolds her for trying to be American. Ming doesn't seem to fit in anywhere: she's not quite American enough at school, not quite Chinese enough at home.
Seeing his daughter's unhappiness, Pop takes her into the mountains to visit a wise old friend. Always happy for an adventure with her kind father, Ming hopes to persuade Pop to bring home a mountain pine to be their Christmas tree. But he has something else in mind, something that will help Ming draw strength from nature, from their Chinese heritage, and from deep and enduring family ties.
Inspired by family stories.
Rorie's Review:
This is a sweet story about tradition, heritage and learning new ways to live. My younger kids enjoyed reading it. One of my 9-year-olds said "I really liked it. My favorite part was when they went to visit relatives up in the mountains." I found myself curious about Ming's mother's story. I would really like to know what experiences she had to make her act the way she did in the story. I think that this story could start a good discussion about other cultures and beliefs, as well as the way that Chinese immigrants were treated here in the 1930's.
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