THE YEAR OF THE DOG

Lin, Grace. The Year of the Dog. First Edition ed. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2005. ISBN 0-316-06000-3.

PLOT SUMMARY:
When Pacy rings in the Year of the Dog with her family during Chinese New Year, she learns that this year is the year for friends and family. While her sister, Lissy tells her she will find her best friends, her mom says she will decide on how values and what she wants to do with her life. Taiwanese-American Pacy (called by her American name Grace at school), feels conflicted about her traditions and the fact that she is different at school, until a new girl comes to school. Grace is excited to meet Melody, another Taiwanese-American girl, and the two become best friends, fulfilling half of Grace’s Year of the Dog wishes. As the year winds down, and the next New Year is fast approaching, Grace worries that she still doesn’t know what she wants to be.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
First time novelist, Grace Lin, herself Taiwanese-American weaves a story rich with culture that will appeal to young readers whether they are of Asian descent or not. Lin skillfully brings cultural facts and background into the story by including italicized stories told by Grace and her family, such as “How My Name Changed From Pacy to Grace”, and “Mom’s First Day of School”. These stories flow nicely and introduce the Taiwanese and Chinese cultures to readers.

Lin, an accomplished illustrator, also includes small interspersed black and white drawings to accompany the stories. The small illustrations are right with the text, and make the story feel almost diary-like, as if Grace herself is adding them as she tells her story. When Melody and Grace plan to go to a Red Egg party, there are illustrations along with the text to show readers how to color the eggs red, and also fun illustrations such as Lissy getting red dye on her nose when she dyes the eggs.

While some may feel the addition of the cultural stories to be somewhat forced, it doesn't feel that way. Instead, it is an easy introduction to Chinese New Year, and Chinese and Taiwanese customs. The story itself flows nicely, with good character development, and will appeal to many students, whether or not they are of Asian descent.


REVIEW EXCERPTS:

Horn Book Guide:
Lin offers both authentic Taiwanese-American and universal childhood experiences, told from a genuine child perspective.

Horn Book Magazine:
With a light touch, Lin offers both authentic Taiwanese-American and universal childhood experiences, told from a genuine child perspective. The story, interwoven with several family anecdotes, is entertaining and often illuminating. Appealing, childlike decorative line drawings add a delightful flavor to a gentle tale full of humor.

School Library Journal:
A lighthearted coming-of-age novel with a cultural twist. This is an enjoyable chapter book with easily identifiable characters.

Publisher's Weekly:
The well-structured story, divided into 29 brief chapters, introduces traditional customs (e.g., Hong Bao are special red envelopes with money in them, given as New Year's presents), culture and cuisine, and includes several apropos "flashback" anecdotes, mainly from Pacy's mother. The book's inviting design suggests a journal, and features childlike spot illustrations and a typeface with a hand- lettered quality. Girls everywhere, but especially those in the Asian-American community, will find much to embrace here.

Booklist:
Lin, who is known for her picture books, dots the text with charming ink drawings, some priceless, such as one picturing Grace dressed as a munchkin. Most of the chapters are bolstered by anecdotes from Grace's parents, which connect Grace (and the reader) to her Taiwanese heritage. Lin does a remarkable job capturing the soul and the spirit of books like those of Hayward or Maud Hart Lovelace, reimagining them through the lens of her own story, and transforming their special qualities into something new for today's young readers.

CONNECTIONS:

* Have students see which Year they were born in. Were they all born in the same year or in different years? Research what each year is significant for. See which years are supposed to get along with others, or not get along. Have students look at the year in which their parents and/or siblings are born and see what animals they are. Look to see when Chinese New Year is and what the New Year's animal will be.

* Celebrate Chinese New Year. This would be a great story to read before Chinese New Year, and then culminate with a celebration. If you have any Asian students, see if they can bring in any artifacts or food to accompany the celebration. Perhaps their parent(s) would be willing to come into the classroom to help celebrate and share their traditions. If you don't have any Asian American students, consider inviting someone else to come talk to the students (friend, co-worker, neighbor).

* Have a Red Egg party. Die the eggs with students like Grace and Melody did. Decorate for the party.

If you are going to celebrate Chinese New Year or have a Red Egg party, make sure you speak to Asian "experts" to make sure you don't do anything inappropriate that they might consider offensive.