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The Six Impossiverse #3
Cloudwish
For Vân Uoc Phan, fantasies fall into two categories: nourishing, or pointless. Daydreaming about Billy Gardiner, for example? Pointless. It always left her feeling sick, as though she'd eaten too much sugar.
Vân Uoc doesn't believe in fairies, zombies, vampires, Father Christmas - or magic wishes. She believes in keeping a low profile: real life will start when school finishes.
But when she attracts the attention of Billy Gardiner, she finds herself in an unwelcome spotlight.
Not even Jane Eyre can help her now.
Wishes were not a thing.
They were not.
Correction.
Wishes were a thing.
Wishes that came true were sometimes a thing.
Wishes that came true because of magic were not a thing!
Were they?
Vân Uoc doesn't believe in fairies, zombies, vampires, Father Christmas - or magic wishes. She believes in keeping a low profile: real life will start when school finishes.
But when she attracts the attention of Billy Gardiner, she finds herself in an unwelcome spotlight.
Not even Jane Eyre can help her now.
Wishes were not a thing.
They were not.
Correction.
Wishes were a thing.
Wishes that came true were sometimes a thing.
Wishes that came true because of magic were not a thing!
Were they?
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
32 people are currently reading
2375 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Wood
14 books173 followersFiona Wood is the author of young adult novels, Six Impossible Things and Wildlife. Her third book, Cloudwish, will be published in the US in October. Before writing YA fiction, Fiona worked as a television scriptwriter for twelve years, writing everything from soap, and one-hour adult drama, to children’s drama. Prior to this she dropped out of law and completed an arts degree, both at Melbourne University, worked in marketing and in arts management, did some freelance journalism, and studied screenwriting at RMIT. She has served as a judge for the AWGIE Awards (Australian Writers’ Guild) and is an ambassador for The Stella Prize Schools Program. She has two YA children, and lives in Melbourne with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
February 3, 2025
I can't quite sort out my feelings about not #ownvoice novels in general and Cloudwish specifically. Cloudwish is written from a POV of a second-generation Vietnamese Australian girl but by a white author. I can't be confident about representation, but I do LOVE Van Uoc and I LOVE this story. It' is a modern interpretation of Jane Eyre, and it speaks to me in a very specific way. Can't help it.
________
4.5 stars
This book filled me with so much giddiness and a bit of nostalgia for those magical days when you are falling in love and are about to explode with all your feelings. Remember those days?:)
Although I realize that if summarized, the plot of Cloudwish sounds like a huge cliché, it worked for me.
Van Uoc is a shy, quiet, poor scholarship student at a fancy private school. She has a crush on Billy Gardiner (familiar to us from Widllife as Ben’s semi-jerk friend), and one day she wishes REALLY hard that he would notice and fall in love with her. Miraculously, Billy immediately starts paying attention to her and actively pursues her romantically.
Now, in a lesser book that would be basically the whole story. But fortunately, Fiona Wood is a better writer. Instead of succumbing to her crush, Van Uoc questions how can it possibly happen – is it some kind of elaborate joke (or magic)? She doesn’t really want to be involved with Billy either, because he often IS a jerk. Plus, what can they possibly have in common? She is a daughter of Vietnamese refugees who has to study all her waking hours and hide her aspirations of becoming an artist from her parents. He is a spoiled brat living in a mansion with his doctor parents, a fan of rowing and pranks.
And yet, reader, it works. Even Van Uoc’s love for Jane Eyre somehow rises above a cliché.
It is a quiet book, with not much of dialog. It is introspective, melancholy and a little artsy. It is special.
If you are interested, I bought this ebook here, it ended up costing only about $8.50 in US dollars.
http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/978174...
________
4.5 stars
This book filled me with so much giddiness and a bit of nostalgia for those magical days when you are falling in love and are about to explode with all your feelings. Remember those days?:)
Although I realize that if summarized, the plot of Cloudwish sounds like a huge cliché, it worked for me.
Van Uoc is a shy, quiet, poor scholarship student at a fancy private school. She has a crush on Billy Gardiner (familiar to us from Widllife as Ben’s semi-jerk friend), and one day she wishes REALLY hard that he would notice and fall in love with her. Miraculously, Billy immediately starts paying attention to her and actively pursues her romantically.
Now, in a lesser book that would be basically the whole story. But fortunately, Fiona Wood is a better writer. Instead of succumbing to her crush, Van Uoc questions how can it possibly happen – is it some kind of elaborate joke (or magic)? She doesn’t really want to be involved with Billy either, because he often IS a jerk. Plus, what can they possibly have in common? She is a daughter of Vietnamese refugees who has to study all her waking hours and hide her aspirations of becoming an artist from her parents. He is a spoiled brat living in a mansion with his doctor parents, a fan of rowing and pranks.
And yet, reader, it works. Even Van Uoc’s love for Jane Eyre somehow rises above a cliché.
It is a quiet book, with not much of dialog. It is introspective, melancholy and a little artsy. It is special.
If you are interested, I bought this ebook here, it ended up costing only about $8.50 in US dollars.
http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/978174...
April 21, 2018
I did not for a moment guess that I would enjoy this book so much. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with Teen Romance as a genre. It is just not something I usually read. Cloudwish however is special.
Set in Melbourne, the main character is a girl born in Australia to Vietnamese immigrants, so called 'boat people' who arrived under appalling and very dangerous conditions. The author manages to make very real the difficulties these children have growing up torn between two cultures.
Don't for a moment think that this makes for a heavy book though. Fiona Wood introduces a whole range of different characters, some delightful, some not so much and then sets everything into a light hearted teenage romance. Sure it has its ups and downs but as the reader I was always full of hope for a happy ending.
Full marks to the author for tackling several social issues in such an approachable way. Beautifully written and I loved the references throughout to Jane Eyre - especially the final words:) Very well done.
Set in Melbourne, the main character is a girl born in Australia to Vietnamese immigrants, so called 'boat people' who arrived under appalling and very dangerous conditions. The author manages to make very real the difficulties these children have growing up torn between two cultures.
Don't for a moment think that this makes for a heavy book though. Fiona Wood introduces a whole range of different characters, some delightful, some not so much and then sets everything into a light hearted teenage romance. Sure it has its ups and downs but as the reader I was always full of hope for a happy ending.
Full marks to the author for tackling several social issues in such an approachable way. Beautifully written and I loved the references throughout to Jane Eyre - especially the final words:) Very well done.
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1647896333i%2F31792110._UX200_CR0%2C96%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 8, 2024
This is the MOST ADORABLE book I've read all year.
We have Van Uoc, a 17-year-old Australian teenager whose parents immigrated from Vietnam. She has a crush on Billy Gardiner, the golden boy of the private school she attends on a scholarship: an athlete, white, wealthy, loved by all. One day she wishes that he would notice her.
And then... he does.
This book captures so perfectly a healthy chunk of the immigrant experience. Like, Van is crushing on a white boy - is it Billy she wants? Or would anyone like him have done? Is she being influenced by the cultural norms that tell us white males are superior? And her Asian parents want her to become a doctor while she wants to become an artist. She spends all her time studying, because they wouldn't hear of anything else - but they aren't bad people. That's just who they are.
I related to SO MUCH of this book. The only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is because I thought it ended too abruptly - I wanted more, more, more.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
We have Van Uoc, a 17-year-old Australian teenager whose parents immigrated from Vietnam. She has a crush on Billy Gardiner, the golden boy of the private school she attends on a scholarship: an athlete, white, wealthy, loved by all. One day she wishes that he would notice her.
And then... he does.
This book captures so perfectly a healthy chunk of the immigrant experience. Like, Van is crushing on a white boy - is it Billy she wants? Or would anyone like him have done? Is she being influenced by the cultural norms that tell us white males are superior? And her Asian parents want her to become a doctor while she wants to become an artist. She spends all her time studying, because they wouldn't hear of anything else - but they aren't bad people. That's just who they are.
I related to SO MUCH of this book. The only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is because I thought it ended too abruptly - I wanted more, more, more.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
January 18, 2016
4-4.5 stars
Cloudwish is a delightful, gentle young adult novel, that brings forward a female character who's non-Caucasian, so that alone was refreshing.
Vân Uoc Phan is the Australian-born daughter of Vietnamese refugees. They're poor and live in a government-owned, high rise apartment in Melbourne, Australia.
Vân Uoc Phan, whose name means Cloudwish, has a scholarship at a prestigious, private high-school, where she makes herself inconspicuous as to not attract the unwanted attention of the rich, mean kids. She's a top student, excellent oboe player and a wanna-be artist, despite her parents' wishes that she'd become a successful/rich lawyer or doctor.
From a distance, and in spite of her better judgment, she fancies Billy, top alpha, good looking male specimen, who's on the school's prestigious rowing team. She knows he's arrogant and a bit of a bully, but she's also seen a better side of him. She daydreams/wishes that Billy would fancy her and suddenly, out of nowhere, he starts falling for her, which she finds disconcerting.
I thought Fiona Wood did a wonderful job describing Vân Uoc's struggles to fit in, while staying true to herself. But who was she? She felt caught in the middle between her Australian-ess and her Vietnamese heritage.
I loved that Fiona Wood brought forward a very relevant and current issue/situation - that of refugees and of what is abysmally called by our disgraceful government, boat people. Reading about Vân Uoc's situation and especially about her parents' horrific story was heartbreaking.
This was a very well written, enjoyable, yet compelling novel, that's got teenage angst relating to fitting in, achieving, making decisions and first love. On top of that, there are a few extra layers about class, about opportunities, about immigrants'/refugees' issues and about post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
And I couldn't help but love all the many Jane Eyre references and the fact that Vân Uoc considered her a role model of sorts.
I received this novel via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publishers, Macmillan Australia, for the opportunity to read and review.
Cover: 5 stars.
Cloudwish is a delightful, gentle young adult novel, that brings forward a female character who's non-Caucasian, so that alone was refreshing.
Vân Uoc Phan is the Australian-born daughter of Vietnamese refugees. They're poor and live in a government-owned, high rise apartment in Melbourne, Australia.
Vân Uoc Phan, whose name means Cloudwish, has a scholarship at a prestigious, private high-school, where she makes herself inconspicuous as to not attract the unwanted attention of the rich, mean kids. She's a top student, excellent oboe player and a wanna-be artist, despite her parents' wishes that she'd become a successful/rich lawyer or doctor.
From a distance, and in spite of her better judgment, she fancies Billy, top alpha, good looking male specimen, who's on the school's prestigious rowing team. She knows he's arrogant and a bit of a bully, but she's also seen a better side of him. She daydreams/wishes that Billy would fancy her and suddenly, out of nowhere, he starts falling for her, which she finds disconcerting.
I thought Fiona Wood did a wonderful job describing Vân Uoc's struggles to fit in, while staying true to herself. But who was she? She felt caught in the middle between her Australian-ess and her Vietnamese heritage.
I loved that Fiona Wood brought forward a very relevant and current issue/situation - that of refugees and of what is abysmally called by our disgraceful government, boat people. Reading about Vân Uoc's situation and especially about her parents' horrific story was heartbreaking.
This was a very well written, enjoyable, yet compelling novel, that's got teenage angst relating to fitting in, achieving, making decisions and first love. On top of that, there are a few extra layers about class, about opportunities, about immigrants'/refugees' issues and about post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
And I couldn't help but love all the many Jane Eyre references and the fact that Vân Uoc considered her a role model of sorts.
I received this novel via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publishers, Macmillan Australia, for the opportunity to read and review.
Cover: 5 stars.
February 26, 2018
Cloudwish was, in the first instance, a cover crush for me. It was beautifully design and very catchy! The thousandth of second after I read the name of the main character (note: 2nd word in blurb), I MUST READ THIS Potentially Awesome Book. And let me just assure you now, it did NOT disappoint. The promises of ‘magic’, of ‘Jane Eyre’, and romance were met but in addition to all this an in-depth look of what it means to be an Asian teen in the Australian landscape.
Vân Uoc was first introduced as the typical ABC (or rather ABV, that’s Australian Born Vietnamese): parents who barely speak English, parent who’s pushing her towards the high-prestige high-earning profession, very intelligent (on scholarship at a private school), plays musical instrument (though in this case, an atypical instrument: the oboe),… in summary, an overachiever. Just like any average teen though, she also has dreams… dreams that she can be just like the others, to blend in, rather than being invisible. So, when she was given the chance, she made a wish…
I felt an immediate connection to Vân Uoc, not only because of my background (as an immigrant), but because I love instant coffee with condensed milk! Forget GJ’s Caramel Lattes, this is da-bomb! As Vân Uoc puts it…
It made you fly on a little cloud of sugar and caffeine.
And then this… this is EXACTLY what happened to me when I was learning to read English books;
And something miraculous happened when they were about a quarter of the way through reading it. After weeks of ploughing and hesitating, something clicked; she stopped stumbling over the unknown words and long sentences. Words magically started to reveal meaning, most of the time anyway, through context. And the sentences themselves stopped being obstacles and started telling a story. Her eyes were racing ahead; she was comprehending the shape and rhythm of the language.
Do you know just how exciting it is when an author has put into words the same exact feelings / experiences you have had?! I love you, Fiona!
Cloudwish may, on the outset, sound like a girly romance fluff but Don’t Be Fooled! Fiona Wood has outdone herself in creating this masterpiece! The authenticity of feel/thought of an Asian Australian teen girl (I can testify to this!) and the inclusion of a number of contemporary issues including but not limited to boat refugees, the ‘white-ness’ of beauty adverts, etc, made a very solid content of a YA fiction.
I have always wished to have the Asian equivalent of Melina Marchetta’s Looking for Alibrandi and / or Saving Francesca (Italian) and in Cloudwish, my wish has come true! Thank you, Fiona, for writing such a beautiful, compelling, and relevant tale. It has spoken true to my heart and a definite top read of the year for me. I will never stop recommending this to everybody -along with Alibrandi ;)
Note to the parents: if you’re concerned about sexual content, I’d suggest that you read the book first so you are prepared or, feel free to PM me for better details.
Thanks Pan MacMillan Australia for copy of Uncorrected Proof in exchange of honest review
Vân Uoc was first introduced as the typical ABC (or rather ABV, that’s Australian Born Vietnamese): parents who barely speak English, parent who’s pushing her towards the high-prestige high-earning profession, very intelligent (on scholarship at a private school), plays musical instrument (though in this case, an atypical instrument: the oboe),… in summary, an overachiever. Just like any average teen though, she also has dreams… dreams that she can be just like the others, to blend in, rather than being invisible. So, when she was given the chance, she made a wish…
I felt an immediate connection to Vân Uoc, not only because of my background (as an immigrant), but because I love instant coffee with condensed milk! Forget GJ’s Caramel Lattes, this is da-bomb! As Vân Uoc puts it…
It made you fly on a little cloud of sugar and caffeine.
And then this… this is EXACTLY what happened to me when I was learning to read English books;
And something miraculous happened when they were about a quarter of the way through reading it. After weeks of ploughing and hesitating, something clicked; she stopped stumbling over the unknown words and long sentences. Words magically started to reveal meaning, most of the time anyway, through context. And the sentences themselves stopped being obstacles and started telling a story. Her eyes were racing ahead; she was comprehending the shape and rhythm of the language.
Do you know just how exciting it is when an author has put into words the same exact feelings / experiences you have had?! I love you, Fiona!
Cloudwish may, on the outset, sound like a girly romance fluff but Don’t Be Fooled! Fiona Wood has outdone herself in creating this masterpiece! The authenticity of feel/thought of an Asian Australian teen girl (I can testify to this!) and the inclusion of a number of contemporary issues including but not limited to boat refugees, the ‘white-ness’ of beauty adverts, etc, made a very solid content of a YA fiction.
I have always wished to have the Asian equivalent of Melina Marchetta’s Looking for Alibrandi and / or Saving Francesca (Italian) and in Cloudwish, my wish has come true! Thank you, Fiona, for writing such a beautiful, compelling, and relevant tale. It has spoken true to my heart and a definite top read of the year for me. I will never stop recommending this to everybody -along with Alibrandi ;)
Note to the parents: if you’re concerned about sexual content, I’d suggest that you read the book first so you are prepared or, feel free to PM me for better details.
Thanks Pan MacMillan Australia for copy of Uncorrected Proof in exchange of honest review
February 8, 2017
This review was originally posted on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
A book about an Asian teen living in Australia dealing with the traditional values of her parents and her Western classmates – where was this book when I was in high school?
Even though Cloudwish isn’t written by an #ownvoices author, I found it incredibly relatable as it highlighted things that I’ve experienced as a second generation immigrant. It covers the same family pressures that I went through at school – parents pushing you to study, needing to translate everything for them, coming from a difficult past and not wanting to talk about it, and their displacement from their immediate family. There were so many relatable pearls of wisdom that I found throughout the book, such as the Asian fail being an A-, study being the number 1 priority over your social life and speaking to your parents with a mixture of basic Vietnamese/broken English (or in my case, Chinese). Cloudwish is the first book that I’ve read that really captures what it’s like to be from an Asian immigrant family and it was captured in a frank and honest manner.
For my fellow Australians, you’ll know that refugees or asylum seekers have a stigma attached to them. Van Uoc’s parents came to Australia by boat, escaping Vietnam for a better future. It was heartbreaking hearing about everything they went through in their escape, from starvation, dehydration, loneliness and fear of the unknown. Van Uoc rarely hears about her parents talking about how they made it to Australia, only knowing that it was a traumatising experience with her mother suffering from PTSD over it. Van Uoc’s family isn’t exactly living in poverty, but they’re not well off either and reading about their experience was really eye-opening.
I also enjoyed the values of feminism covered in Cloudwish, like how females rely on makeup to meet manufactured ideals of beauty while males don’t have to do this. It was refreshing to hear this covered in such a frank manner, as one of the examples of valuable social commentary provided in the book.
At the heart of Cloudwish, is a sweet, innocent love story where Van Uoc makes a wish that her crush, also the most popular guy in school would fall in love with her. This is where things went downhill for me – Billy sounds like a guy who I’ve read about a thousand times over – the popular guy in school who is forced by his parents to become a jock, but starts dating a girl whom his parents won’t approve of. Like Van Uoc, I felt suspicious of Billy, as someone who starts stalking her and suddenly knowing everything there is to know about her. I loved how she bravely confronted him about it, but even then it still wasn’t convincing enough for me. I mean, where is Billy’s group of friends and high school buddies? How does Van Uoc fit in with all of them? And are we to believe that he suddenly starts noticing her in English class which begins his obsession over her? It wasn’t particularly believable for me #loveskeptic.
The writing was also quite stunted, written in past tense but forced into present tense. It didn’t flow naturally at all and felt pretty awkward in some parts, which affected my enjoyment of the novel. Despite Van Uoc’s experiences which relatively echoed mine while growing up in Australia, I also felt a disconnect with her character which I felt was partly due to the writing.
While I wasn’t a fan of the romance or the writing in some parts, I loved how refreshing Cloudwish was, capturing my experience growing up in Australia as a second generation immigrant. Covering a range of topics dealing with refugees, immigrant families, disconnect from your parents and feminism, Cloudwish would be extremely relatable for Asian teens – or those from other cultures living in a Western country.
A book about an Asian teen living in Australia dealing with the traditional values of her parents and her Western classmates – where was this book when I was in high school?
Even though Cloudwish isn’t written by an #ownvoices author, I found it incredibly relatable as it highlighted things that I’ve experienced as a second generation immigrant. It covers the same family pressures that I went through at school – parents pushing you to study, needing to translate everything for them, coming from a difficult past and not wanting to talk about it, and their displacement from their immediate family. There were so many relatable pearls of wisdom that I found throughout the book, such as the Asian fail being an A-, study being the number 1 priority over your social life and speaking to your parents with a mixture of basic Vietnamese/broken English (or in my case, Chinese). Cloudwish is the first book that I’ve read that really captures what it’s like to be from an Asian immigrant family and it was captured in a frank and honest manner.
For my fellow Australians, you’ll know that refugees or asylum seekers have a stigma attached to them. Van Uoc’s parents came to Australia by boat, escaping Vietnam for a better future. It was heartbreaking hearing about everything they went through in their escape, from starvation, dehydration, loneliness and fear of the unknown. Van Uoc rarely hears about her parents talking about how they made it to Australia, only knowing that it was a traumatising experience with her mother suffering from PTSD over it. Van Uoc’s family isn’t exactly living in poverty, but they’re not well off either and reading about their experience was really eye-opening.
I also enjoyed the values of feminism covered in Cloudwish, like how females rely on makeup to meet manufactured ideals of beauty while males don’t have to do this. It was refreshing to hear this covered in such a frank manner, as one of the examples of valuable social commentary provided in the book.
At the heart of Cloudwish, is a sweet, innocent love story where Van Uoc makes a wish that her crush, also the most popular guy in school would fall in love with her. This is where things went downhill for me – Billy sounds like a guy who I’ve read about a thousand times over – the popular guy in school who is forced by his parents to become a jock, but starts dating a girl whom his parents won’t approve of. Like Van Uoc, I felt suspicious of Billy, as someone who starts stalking her and suddenly knowing everything there is to know about her. I loved how she bravely confronted him about it, but even then it still wasn’t convincing enough for me. I mean, where is Billy’s group of friends and high school buddies? How does Van Uoc fit in with all of them? And are we to believe that he suddenly starts noticing her in English class which begins his obsession over her? It wasn’t particularly believable for me #loveskeptic.
The writing was also quite stunted, written in past tense but forced into present tense. It didn’t flow naturally at all and felt pretty awkward in some parts, which affected my enjoyment of the novel. Despite Van Uoc’s experiences which relatively echoed mine while growing up in Australia, I also felt a disconnect with her character which I felt was partly due to the writing.
While I wasn’t a fan of the romance or the writing in some parts, I loved how refreshing Cloudwish was, capturing my experience growing up in Australia as a second generation immigrant. Covering a range of topics dealing with refugees, immigrant families, disconnect from your parents and feminism, Cloudwish would be extremely relatable for Asian teens – or those from other cultures living in a Western country.
May 16, 2016
I’m both crying and screaming in frustration right now. I don’t want to have to write a negative review for this, and the fact that I do have to it infuriating me. Fiona Wood’s Six Impossible Things was funny, relatable and slightly odd. I was hoping for something similar with Cloudwish, and I just didn’t get it. I found the writing style uncomfortable from the very beginning. I literally cringed after reading the first page. It was tried so hard to be “literary”, but it just didn’t work. On top of that, I wasn’t a fan of the protagonist, the love interest or the failed attempt at romance (man was it underdeveloped and felt fake because of the magical realism element).
Also, they way that this book made itself seem so diverse pissed me off. Yes, we had a POC protagonist. And that’s fantastic. It truly is. I loved that this book looked at the “boat people” stereotypes in Australia, they way it does justices to the Vietnamese-Australian community (IMO). But this one element of diversity doesn’t excuse the fact that all of the other characters were stereotypes: one-dimensional, typical air-headed “mean girls” that bullied our MC for no good reason; a romantic interest, rich, jock guy that wants to live the life he wants, not his parents’ dream; a gay best friend; and a smart, bespectacled Asian kid. I’m all for diversity (you know I am), but this isn’t the sort of “diversity” I support.
Also, they way that this book made itself seem so diverse pissed me off. Yes, we had a POC protagonist. And that’s fantastic. It truly is. I loved that this book looked at the “boat people” stereotypes in Australia, they way it does justices to the Vietnamese-Australian community (IMO). But this one element of diversity doesn’t excuse the fact that all of the other characters were stereotypes: one-dimensional, typical air-headed “mean girls” that bullied our MC for no good reason; a romantic interest, rich, jock guy that wants to live the life he wants, not his parents’ dream; a gay best friend; and a smart, bespectacled Asian kid. I’m all for diversity (you know I am), but this isn’t the sort of “diversity” I support.
January 14, 2016
THIS WAS SO GOOD. I didn't even realise how diverse and great it would be. Van Uoc is pretty much my dream protagonist - she's smart and she has goals but she's not perfect, either - she's shy and a bit lost between cultures. Love the element of magic throughout it, and the ending was EXCELLENT.
Full review to come during the blog tour!
______________________________________________
This is one of the best books I’ve read in terms of doing diversity right.
It explores the misconceptions of asylum seekers, who are labelled “boat people” by the media and dehumanised.
It explores the misconceptions of race entirely.
It shows the effects of race on daily life.
It explores the DIMENSIONS of diversity – socioeconomic dimensions and political dimensions and racial and religious and SO MANY things. And Fiona Wood does it all fantastically.
It also gives us a protagonist (Van Uoc) who is smart, capable, somewhat lost between cultures, vulnerable and generally awesome.
What I ALSO loved about her (and this may have more to do with me, honestly) is how much she cared about school. It feels like in lots of YA, the focus is on love or coming of age or, you know, saving the world. But for a LOT of teenagers (myself and Van Uoc included) school is almost the most important thing…you know, just behind friends and family.
So I really appreciated that.
Going back to the diversity, again, I really loved how Australia’s political situation was explored.
I’m just going to put it out there – I’m SO not a fan of this government, and I’m constantly getting angry over the things they do (or don’t do, if we’re talking about marriage equality).
So yeah, I’m glad that this book really looks at how asylum seekers are condemned within the media, and what a misconception it is. You don’t often get political books in YA, and especially in Australian YA, so that was a refreshing change.
Oh, and MAGIC. And BILLY.
That was such an intriguing premise, I have to admit. Basically, Van Uoc starts to believe that her wish for Billy to love her has come true. And throughout the book you’re wondering if that’s what really happened or not. NO SPOILERS, but I really loved that part about it.
In conclusion?
A fantastic Australian YA book about race, friendship, love, family, politics and school pressure. All in a day’s work.
Full review to come during the blog tour!
______________________________________________
This is one of the best books I’ve read in terms of doing diversity right.
It explores the misconceptions of asylum seekers, who are labelled “boat people” by the media and dehumanised.
It explores the misconceptions of race entirely.
It shows the effects of race on daily life.
It explores the DIMENSIONS of diversity – socioeconomic dimensions and political dimensions and racial and religious and SO MANY things. And Fiona Wood does it all fantastically.
It also gives us a protagonist (Van Uoc) who is smart, capable, somewhat lost between cultures, vulnerable and generally awesome.
What I ALSO loved about her (and this may have more to do with me, honestly) is how much she cared about school. It feels like in lots of YA, the focus is on love or coming of age or, you know, saving the world. But for a LOT of teenagers (myself and Van Uoc included) school is almost the most important thing…you know, just behind friends and family.
So I really appreciated that.
Going back to the diversity, again, I really loved how Australia’s political situation was explored.
I’m just going to put it out there – I’m SO not a fan of this government, and I’m constantly getting angry over the things they do (or don’t do, if we’re talking about marriage equality).
So yeah, I’m glad that this book really looks at how asylum seekers are condemned within the media, and what a misconception it is. You don’t often get political books in YA, and especially in Australian YA, so that was a refreshing change.
Oh, and MAGIC. And BILLY.
That was such an intriguing premise, I have to admit. Basically, Van Uoc starts to believe that her wish for Billy to love her has come true. And throughout the book you’re wondering if that’s what really happened or not. NO SPOILERS, but I really loved that part about it.
In conclusion?
A fantastic Australian YA book about race, friendship, love, family, politics and school pressure. All in a day’s work.
September 22, 2015
Cloudwish is a delightful new contemporary young adult novel from Fiona Wood, author of Six Impossible Things and Wildlife.
Asked to choose a prop for a creative writing assignment, Vân Uoc Phan selects a small glass vial. Inside, a slip of paper says wish. Vân Uoc considers the possibilities, she could wish not be the only 'scholarship/poor/smart/Asian' in her privileged private school, or that the government would stop persecuting asylum seekers, but Vân Uoc's most private and fervent wish, is for Billy Gardiner to like her.
Readers familiar with Wildlife might recognise Vân Uoc and Billy for their role in the book as minor characters.
Vân Uoc is the only daughter of Vietnamese refugees, she lives in a housing commission flat, attending the prestigious Crowthorne Grammar on an academic scholarship. She is quiet and studious, her parents expect she will become a doctor or a lawyer, though Vân Uoc dreams of becoming an artist.
Billy Gardiner is Crowthorne Grammar's golden boy, he is smart but takes very little seriously. One of the first eight on the successful school rowing team, the son of wealthy parents, he takes his privilege for granted in a way Vân Uoc never can.
When Billy suddenly takes notice of her, Vân Uoc assumes she is being set up for a joke but as his attention persists, she begins to wonder if a wish really can come true. The ensuing relationship between Vân Uoc and Billy is sweet and believable, deftly handled by the author within the context of the story.
But this is not just a story about a teen romance, throughout the story, Wood sensitively explores the experience of diversity in all its forms with a focus on socioeconomic, racial and cultural difference. Vân Uoc keenly feels the divide between herself and her classmates, she can't afford designer jeans or even a cup of coffee after school, her free time is limited to spending Friday nights watching movies in her neighbours flat, and she has responsibilities they can't imagine. Vân Uoc is also haunted by her parents experiences as refugees. Though she knows few of the details, her mother's annual slide into depression suggests unimaginable horrors.
With references to Jane Eyre, Vân Uoc's idol, and Pretty in Pink, Australian politics and the legitimacy of asylum seekers, mean girls, Chapel Street, and magic, Cloudwish is a wonderfully observed and heartfelt Australian story about identity, belonging, love, and dreams.
"Jane had all the answers. Of course she did. When had she ever let Vân Uoc down? It struck her like a proverbial bolt from the blue that within Jane Eyre's framework of realism - of social commentary on class, on charity schools, on imperious rich relations, on gender equality and the restricted opportunity for women, on love and morality...there was also some mad magic."
January 5, 2016
READ HARDER CHALLENGE 2015 (23/24): A book published this year
I really, really wanted to love this book. But it didn't work out for me, unfortunately. I will keep an eye on this author's next books though, because i can see myself loving something else from her.
I loved a lot of points in this book (realistic, asian main character, lgbtq side character, immigration theme, poverty theme, social class prejudice, teen love, no dark/abuse past used to justify everything, ...) but unfortunately, the ending killed it for me, after a story that dragged for just a bit too long.
The other thing that really bothered me about this book is that Van Uoc felt attracted to the hot-popular jock. Given she hadn't any love interest in her circle of non existent friend, i can see why she noticed the most handsome boy at her school. But yet, that feels hypocrite : plain-main female characters in teen-romance books, always complain about being ignored because they aren't seductive enough or conventionally attractive, yet they all fall for the boring-but-sportive-and-conventionally-attractive male (who is always also rich, and has snobbish parents who are conveniently always away from their huge classy house).
She noticed him for his good looks, and i can see her fantasizing about having him at her feet BUT once he showed interest in her, she should have noticed that they had nothing in common, and the attention he gave her wasn't really what she could consider as "love". Just because they had around half a dozen of not-completely-boring discussions, she felt as if she was in love with him? How desperate is she actually? (the theme of love felt heavy in this book where i saw mostly infatuation)
Even though i really like the plainJane/hotJock trope in full of cliché teen romcom, i can't accept it in something i expected to be less generic and more outside the lines.
I really, really wanted to love this book. But it didn't work out for me, unfortunately. I will keep an eye on this author's next books though, because i can see myself loving something else from her.
I loved a lot of points in this book (realistic, asian main character, lgbtq side character, immigration theme, poverty theme, social class prejudice, teen love, no dark/abuse past used to justify everything, ...) but unfortunately, the ending killed it for me, after a story that dragged for just a bit too long.
The other thing that really bothered me about this book is that Van Uoc felt attracted to the hot-popular jock. Given she hadn't any love interest in her circle of non existent friend, i can see why she noticed the most handsome boy at her school. But yet, that feels hypocrite : plain-main female characters in teen-romance books, always complain about being ignored because they aren't seductive enough or conventionally attractive, yet they all fall for the boring-but-sportive-and-conventionally-attractive male (who is always also rich, and has snobbish parents who are conveniently always away from their huge classy house).
She noticed him for his good looks, and i can see her fantasizing about having him at her feet BUT once he showed interest in her, she should have noticed that they had nothing in common, and the attention he gave her wasn't really what she could consider as "love". Just because they had around half a dozen of not-completely-boring discussions, she felt as if she was in love with him? How desperate is she actually? (the theme of love felt heavy in this book where i saw mostly infatuation)
Even though i really like the plainJane/hotJock trope in full of cliché teen romcom, i can't accept it in something i expected to be less generic and more outside the lines.
September 6, 2015
I received this ARC from Pan Macmillan Australia via NG in return for an honest review.
I'm honest to God bummed right now. I really wanted to love this book but I didn't.
But before I go into that, let's talk a bit about the plot.
I...well, *sighs* this is really hard.
I went into this book, eyes-twinkling and mind ready to be blown. At first i had a moment of 'huh, this is different' and I placed it into the realm of wonderful originality. However, after a bit of time, i nearly went cross-eyed with boredom.
I know, that sounds awful but i promised to be honest and i will be.
Everything about this book from the plot to the setting (i love Melbourne!) should have made me fall in love with this book. But to be perfectly honest, it became tedious and i soon found myself struggling to keep reading. It wasn't the type of book I expected, not to say it was bad but simply not compatible to me. Fiona Wood has a fascinating and intriguing writing style, i picked up on that straight away. It's different, almost lyrical but the pacing of this book was just so gosh-darned slow that it became painful.
In conclusion, this book didn't cut it for me. However, that doesn't mean you won't like it, so have a go and see if you like it! :)
Stay awesome my lovelies!
-The Book Herald
tweet me @thebookherald
I'm honest to God bummed right now. I really wanted to love this book but I didn't.
But before I go into that, let's talk a bit about the plot.
Van Uoc dreams and wishes,
She wishes better things, a nice house and the affection of the unattainable, elusive Billy Gardiner.
One day she makes a desperate, hopeful wish and the next day...strange things begin to happen.
Can affection gained by a wish be real?
I...well, *sighs* this is really hard.
I went into this book, eyes-twinkling and mind ready to be blown. At first i had a moment of 'huh, this is different' and I placed it into the realm of wonderful originality. However, after a bit of time, i nearly went cross-eyed with boredom.
I know, that sounds awful but i promised to be honest and i will be.
Everything about this book from the plot to the setting (i love Melbourne!) should have made me fall in love with this book. But to be perfectly honest, it became tedious and i soon found myself struggling to keep reading. It wasn't the type of book I expected, not to say it was bad but simply not compatible to me. Fiona Wood has a fascinating and intriguing writing style, i picked up on that straight away. It's different, almost lyrical but the pacing of this book was just so gosh-darned slow that it became painful.
In conclusion, this book didn't cut it for me. However, that doesn't mean you won't like it, so have a go and see if you like it! :)
Stay awesome my lovelies!
-The Book Herald
tweet me @thebookherald
November 25, 2019
A fluffy little book that has turned my heart into goo. It is far from perfect but I enjoyed this lovely, lovely book.
- Explores having immigrant parents who have escaped hardship and the stories and histories we inherit as their children.
- Vân Uoc was a lovely protagonist, and I enjoyed the friendship she had with Jess - their little made up words, the strength of their friendship, and how they have each other's back.
- One of the highlights for me was Vân Uoc's relationship with her parents, especially her mother; wanting to know her mother's past.
- Also a very fluffy romance that was sweet, simple, and so happy.
- Unfortunately the writing isn't cohesive at times, and parts (especially the ending) were abrupt and rushed.
Full review to come.
- Explores having immigrant parents who have escaped hardship and the stories and histories we inherit as their children.
- Vân Uoc was a lovely protagonist, and I enjoyed the friendship she had with Jess - their little made up words, the strength of their friendship, and how they have each other's back.
- One of the highlights for me was Vân Uoc's relationship with her parents, especially her mother; wanting to know her mother's past.
- Also a very fluffy romance that was sweet, simple, and so happy.
- Unfortunately the writing isn't cohesive at times, and parts (especially the ending) were abrupt and rushed.
Full review to come.
September 14, 2015
‘Cloudwish’ is the new contemporary young adult novel from Australian author Fiona Wood.
In case you don’t know by now, I’m kinda obsessed with Fiona Wood and her books. From her first ‘Six Impossible Things’ to the sublime ‘Wildlife’, Fiona has fast become one of my all-time favourite authors, and now with ‘Cloudwish’ she’s gone and written one of my all-time favourite Aussie YA characters in Vân Uoc Phan (whose name translates from Vietnamese to the ‘Cloudwish’ of the title).
Vân Uoc is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who arrived in Australia in 1980. She lives in a housing commission flat and attends the prestigious Crowthorne Grammar (the pivot-point of all Fiona’s books thus far) on a scholarship. She’s fiercely smart and a quiet dreamer, and one boy – Billy Gardiner – has been occupying her dreams a lot lately. A freeform creative writing exercise and a glass vial with the word ‘wish’ inside sparks something in Vân Uoc though, something powerful and magical …
Vân Uoc is one of the most interesting characters to come out of Aussie YA. Her perspective as the daughter of Vietnamese immigrant parents who rely on her for English-translation in social situations alone makes her intriguing – and absolutely speaks to an article that fellow Aussie YA author Sarah Ayoub wrote recently; ‘Still looking for Alibrandi: migrant teens deserve their own young adult fiction.’. It’s also the fact that Vân Uoc feels so much pressure on her shoulders to get good grades and embark on a worthy career to make her parents proud, and fulfill the wish that saw them settling in Australia in the first place – to give their daughter the best life possible. And she’s an interesting character to be exploring the current state of Australian politics – particularly our abysmal treatment of asylum seekers – to see this through the eyes of a young person who comes from a side of this debate that makes it hit so close to home;
… I wish I hadn’t read the article about the fucking government’s new legislation on boat people how dare they how dare they stand in the fortress the high places the towers of privilege stamp down rain down reign down on the people who can’t find the first foothold in the green water floating drowning the soft sand the sand too far too far far far below never making it to shore they are no different from us us and then us is them we are them …
And at the heart of Vân Uoc’s intrigue is that she’s coming from a place of diversity. Not just racial, but that she’s from a somewhat lower socio-economic background trying to fit in as a ‘scholarship kid’ at Crowthorne Grammar – that alone sets her apart in Aussie YA right now. And I appreciated that Fiona Wood wrote her with such tenderness and deep respect for her community – the fact that the book is written in third-person alone (when ‘Six Impossible Things’ and ‘Wildlife’ were first) is partly because the author didn’t want to appropriate that voice. I was also not surprised to learn that she worked very closely with the Melbourne Vietnamese community to get the story and character just right – that authenticity and deep respect shines through in this book, and lifts the story.
And the story itself is just beautiful – very much inspired by Jane Eyre (whom Vân Uoc is quite obsessed with). It’s a story that I’ve heard Fiona Wood refer to as a celebration of ‘quiet girls with big thoughts’, those people who fly under the radar but if you pay them a little attention they will floor you. There’s the sweetest dash of romance to this tale of Vân Uoc and her crush on the elusively cool Billy Gardiner, helped along seemingly by a little magic … it’s another one of Fiona Wood’s romances that I want to celebrate; and makes me want to put her books into the hands of boys and girls everywhere.
‘Exactly when did I go from being invisible to being visible?’
This was his cue to say that he’d gradually been noticing her over the last year or so – he hadn’t wanted to be obvious in his attentions, but he knew by now that, though quiet, she was smart; though shy, she had a sense of humour; though not a self-promoter, she was a dedicated, passionate artist …
Billy smiled. ‘It was that class – the first week back, when the visiting writer came. The one with the pink hair?’
Vân Uoc stopped dead. It took a huge effort to retain her cool, but she managed it. Just. ‘Yep. Yep, I remember. So, what was it that made you notice me?’
Billy nodded and looked into the middle distance as though he was trying to replay the scene in his mind. He looked puzzled. ‘It was like you suddenly had a spotlight on you.’
‘So, just to be clear: it was a sudden thing more than a gradual thing.’
‘Can’t answer that – because who knows what’s been going on subliminally and for how long? Am I right?’
God, of all the annoying times for him to become reflective. ‘Billy, just concentrate on that particular class – what else did you notice about me, if anything?’
‘The best way to put it, I guess, is that it was just blindingly obvious that you were the most interesting person in the room.’ Billy smiled the Doritos smile. ‘Apart from me.’
I loved this book. I’ve already re-read it twice and have found new things to love in the re-reading. It’s just one of those books that burrows deep – and I want to gift it to everyone, but since I can’t physically do that I’ll take my platform here and just say please read it – you'll thank me later.
In case you don’t know by now, I’m kinda obsessed with Fiona Wood and her books. From her first ‘Six Impossible Things’ to the sublime ‘Wildlife’, Fiona has fast become one of my all-time favourite authors, and now with ‘Cloudwish’ she’s gone and written one of my all-time favourite Aussie YA characters in Vân Uoc Phan (whose name translates from Vietnamese to the ‘Cloudwish’ of the title).
Vân Uoc is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who arrived in Australia in 1980. She lives in a housing commission flat and attends the prestigious Crowthorne Grammar (the pivot-point of all Fiona’s books thus far) on a scholarship. She’s fiercely smart and a quiet dreamer, and one boy – Billy Gardiner – has been occupying her dreams a lot lately. A freeform creative writing exercise and a glass vial with the word ‘wish’ inside sparks something in Vân Uoc though, something powerful and magical …
Vân Uoc is one of the most interesting characters to come out of Aussie YA. Her perspective as the daughter of Vietnamese immigrant parents who rely on her for English-translation in social situations alone makes her intriguing – and absolutely speaks to an article that fellow Aussie YA author Sarah Ayoub wrote recently; ‘Still looking for Alibrandi: migrant teens deserve their own young adult fiction.’. It’s also the fact that Vân Uoc feels so much pressure on her shoulders to get good grades and embark on a worthy career to make her parents proud, and fulfill the wish that saw them settling in Australia in the first place – to give their daughter the best life possible. And she’s an interesting character to be exploring the current state of Australian politics – particularly our abysmal treatment of asylum seekers – to see this through the eyes of a young person who comes from a side of this debate that makes it hit so close to home;
… I wish I hadn’t read the article about the fucking government’s new legislation on boat people how dare they how dare they stand in the fortress the high places the towers of privilege stamp down rain down reign down on the people who can’t find the first foothold in the green water floating drowning the soft sand the sand too far too far far far below never making it to shore they are no different from us us and then us is them we are them …
And at the heart of Vân Uoc’s intrigue is that she’s coming from a place of diversity. Not just racial, but that she’s from a somewhat lower socio-economic background trying to fit in as a ‘scholarship kid’ at Crowthorne Grammar – that alone sets her apart in Aussie YA right now. And I appreciated that Fiona Wood wrote her with such tenderness and deep respect for her community – the fact that the book is written in third-person alone (when ‘Six Impossible Things’ and ‘Wildlife’ were first) is partly because the author didn’t want to appropriate that voice. I was also not surprised to learn that she worked very closely with the Melbourne Vietnamese community to get the story and character just right – that authenticity and deep respect shines through in this book, and lifts the story.
And the story itself is just beautiful – very much inspired by Jane Eyre (whom Vân Uoc is quite obsessed with). It’s a story that I’ve heard Fiona Wood refer to as a celebration of ‘quiet girls with big thoughts’, those people who fly under the radar but if you pay them a little attention they will floor you. There’s the sweetest dash of romance to this tale of Vân Uoc and her crush on the elusively cool Billy Gardiner, helped along seemingly by a little magic … it’s another one of Fiona Wood’s romances that I want to celebrate; and makes me want to put her books into the hands of boys and girls everywhere.
‘Exactly when did I go from being invisible to being visible?’
This was his cue to say that he’d gradually been noticing her over the last year or so – he hadn’t wanted to be obvious in his attentions, but he knew by now that, though quiet, she was smart; though shy, she had a sense of humour; though not a self-promoter, she was a dedicated, passionate artist …
Billy smiled. ‘It was that class – the first week back, when the visiting writer came. The one with the pink hair?’
Vân Uoc stopped dead. It took a huge effort to retain her cool, but she managed it. Just. ‘Yep. Yep, I remember. So, what was it that made you notice me?’
Billy nodded and looked into the middle distance as though he was trying to replay the scene in his mind. He looked puzzled. ‘It was like you suddenly had a spotlight on you.’
‘So, just to be clear: it was a sudden thing more than a gradual thing.’
‘Can’t answer that – because who knows what’s been going on subliminally and for how long? Am I right?’
God, of all the annoying times for him to become reflective. ‘Billy, just concentrate on that particular class – what else did you notice about me, if anything?’
‘The best way to put it, I guess, is that it was just blindingly obvious that you were the most interesting person in the room.’ Billy smiled the Doritos smile. ‘Apart from me.’
I loved this book. I’ve already re-read it twice and have found new things to love in the re-reading. It’s just one of those books that burrows deep – and I want to gift it to everyone, but since I can’t physically do that I’ll take my platform here and just say please read it – you'll thank me later.
February 27, 2016
I guess I should start this review by saying: "Its not you, it's me." But every time I say that, I realize along the way that it was definitely you. So, I decided to put that on the side for now and just... review.
Getting through this was a chore. I'm not a BIG fan of contemporary or puffy fluffy reads. This was it. I like my contemporary with more meat than what was offered here. I want issues that aren't TOLD to me repeatedly. My father is an immigrant. A black one on top of that. He struggled the bejesus during his first Canadian winter and then, when he decided to attend law school. So please, book, speak to me like a knowing grown adult, not like some child who has never glanced at the chapter entitled "Racism" in their country's history textbook. Gawd. I was spoon-fed how poor the main character was. How her parents struggled. I'm not saying, "don't tell me struggle", I'm saying "SHOW ME struggle".
This book was too dry for me. Every little detail of her mundane life was mentioned in the narrative while it not being in the 1st person. Huh. It sounded weird and cold. And oh-so distant. Every aspect of the IB program was detailed... Look. CAS hours. Goddamn math portfolios that made no sense whatsoever. I know this jig. I have been there, I have done that. It was without a doubt the worst and most demanding years of my life. So yeah, those infodumping sessions were simply torture, in my case. Once I received my IB diploma, I never wanted to hear the word IB again. And I meant it.
And the PTSD bit? Huh. That's simply not how it works. PTSD is not a single depressive episode that reappears around the date of the trauma. PTSD is much more complex than that and it doesn't look like depression. At all. And only a pharmacological treatment? Huh. I'm very uneasy with that "understanding" of the disorder. Of course, there are cultural factors here to consider, but even then... It didn't jump out of the pages and scream PTSD to me, because it didn't meet all the criteria (more like none at all). For these reasons, this portion of the family dynamic was not well handled in my opinion.
I did enjoy the diversity, though, but on top of the book being dry, it was slow-paced. I like angry teens seaming inside out. I like watching them unravel one word at a time.
This was simply not it.
Getting through this was a chore. I'm not a BIG fan of contemporary or puffy fluffy reads. This was it. I like my contemporary with more meat than what was offered here. I want issues that aren't TOLD to me repeatedly. My father is an immigrant. A black one on top of that. He struggled the bejesus during his first Canadian winter and then, when he decided to attend law school. So please, book, speak to me like a knowing grown adult, not like some child who has never glanced at the chapter entitled "Racism" in their country's history textbook. Gawd. I was spoon-fed how poor the main character was. How her parents struggled. I'm not saying, "don't tell me struggle", I'm saying "SHOW ME struggle".
This book was too dry for me. Every little detail of her mundane life was mentioned in the narrative while it not being in the 1st person. Huh. It sounded weird and cold. And oh-so distant. Every aspect of the IB program was detailed... Look. CAS hours. Goddamn math portfolios that made no sense whatsoever. I know this jig. I have been there, I have done that. It was without a doubt the worst and most demanding years of my life. So yeah, those infodumping sessions were simply torture, in my case. Once I received my IB diploma, I never wanted to hear the word IB again. And I meant it.
And the PTSD bit? Huh. That's simply not how it works. PTSD is not a single depressive episode that reappears around the date of the trauma. PTSD is much more complex than that and it doesn't look like depression. At all. And only a pharmacological treatment? Huh. I'm very uneasy with that "understanding" of the disorder. Of course, there are cultural factors here to consider, but even then... It didn't jump out of the pages and scream PTSD to me, because it didn't meet all the criteria (more like none at all). For these reasons, this portion of the family dynamic was not well handled in my opinion.
I did enjoy the diversity, though, but on top of the book being dry, it was slow-paced. I like angry teens seaming inside out. I like watching them unravel one word at a time.
This was simply not it.
August 13, 2015
In her third novel Cloudwish, Fiona Wood introduces the reader to Van Uoc Phan, who loses a glass vial with the word 'wish' trapped inside, a prompt her creative-writing teacher gave her class to write about. Her teacher guarantees that Van Uoc will find it, but she remains distracted over the vial's disappearance, especially when she has a liking for Billy, a boy who wouldn't be into a Vietnamese-Australian girl like herself. Her Bronte obsession forces her to ask herself what Jane Eyre would do in particular situations. Then somehow she captures Billy's attention, and the two hurdle their school and home environments to find themselves and each other.
Cloudwish is not only a sweet, heart-melting Romeo and Juliet-styled romance set in Melbourne, but it is a book that uses identity as a theme to reflect on political issues pervasive in Australian culture, for example, immigrants and 'boat people'. Giving Van Uoc a family of the immigrant nature adds another layer to the story – the pressures Van Uoc must deal with to do the best that she can do in her studies and be the best that she can be because of the sacrifices and choices her parents made for a better life. Cloudwish also touches on the effects emigration has on someone's health, with Van Uoc tending to her mother's needs as her health declines.
Wood has written another beautiful novel to stand alongside Six Impossible Things and Wildlife. The three are linked, but ultimately present three individual stories about Australian teen/young adult experiences in a genuine, delightful and relatable manner. Fans of Melina Marchetta's Looking for Alibrandi will see similarities but will also find a new favourite.
#LoveOzYA
Cloudwish is not only a sweet, heart-melting Romeo and Juliet-styled romance set in Melbourne, but it is a book that uses identity as a theme to reflect on political issues pervasive in Australian culture, for example, immigrants and 'boat people'. Giving Van Uoc a family of the immigrant nature adds another layer to the story – the pressures Van Uoc must deal with to do the best that she can do in her studies and be the best that she can be because of the sacrifices and choices her parents made for a better life. Cloudwish also touches on the effects emigration has on someone's health, with Van Uoc tending to her mother's needs as her health declines.
Wood has written another beautiful novel to stand alongside Six Impossible Things and Wildlife. The three are linked, but ultimately present three individual stories about Australian teen/young adult experiences in a genuine, delightful and relatable manner. Fans of Melina Marchetta's Looking for Alibrandi will see similarities but will also find a new favourite.
#LoveOzYA
May 23, 2016
4.75/5
this was such a delight to read. it's not particulary fast-paced, not a whole lot happens but that's exactly why it clicked with me. in the hands of a lesser writer, this might have been a mess. instead we get a quiet, unassumimg novel with loving details.
the story is a snippet in the life of van, our shy and hard-working protagonist who struggles with the wants and expectations of her parents that clash with her own wants and dreams she has for herself. when a boy, she's been infatuated with from a afar for years unexpectedly pays her more and more attention, she's honestly baffled and suspicious.
i was oddly proud when van stood up for herself. it was amusing how in many ways, she was the female version of tall, dark and brooding, completely unaware of her allure.
also refreshing was the way, not every loose end was tied in the story, a lot of the threads are unfinished and some will remain so till the end. the author does not pretend to know all the answers and i know i would've liked the story less had it been different. in some ways it can be frustrating, not knowing how it all continues from a particular point onwards, in other ways it's liberating and more rewarding, since the story is hopelessly brimming with options.
billy is unapologetic in his attraction to her and the many ways he tries to woo her in the book including reading her favourite book, jane eyre had me 'aww'-ing.
noteworthy as well, are the bits and pieces where we experience her home life, spicy food and her tense but loving relationship with her parents.
***
When she looked at her parents watching MasterChef on TV in a tired trance at the end of the working day, she could not connect the very ordinariness of them to what she’d read. What they had experienced was obviously unspeakable. But didn’t they realise the extent to which not speaking made them strangers to her? Why couldn’t they imagine how odd it might feel to see your parents through the wrong end of a telescope? She thought of demanding that they tell her their story, asking the difficult questions, but her courage always failed. She imagined Jane Eyre, stern-eyed, tapping her polished boot impatiently. How did their experience fit with her life now? Across this unspoken gulf, where so much was implied but never spelled out, was it really all down to her to justify the effort, the sacrifices? To make it worthwhile? How could she ever do enough, achieve enough? Be enough? To compensate for – what, exactly?
(16%)
***
‘If she knew we were going out?’Wow. He’d said it out loud. ‘We are?’‘To the extent that we can, given you’re not allowed out much, and you don’t want me to come to your place. And you obviously object to public displays of affection.’‘Wouldn’t you like to check in with me? Ask me if I want to go out with you?’He looked shocked. ‘Don’t you?’It cracked her up that the idea of a girl maybe not wanting to go out with him was utterly alien to his experience. ‘Sure. I guess. If you can cope with all the limitations.’‘That is the most excellent news I could hear. Ever.’
(61%)
***
Curled up in her bedroom chair that night, she thought about boat trips, putting down roots, bitter marmalade and what makes home home.
(95%)
this was such a delight to read. it's not particulary fast-paced, not a whole lot happens but that's exactly why it clicked with me. in the hands of a lesser writer, this might have been a mess. instead we get a quiet, unassumimg novel with loving details.
the story is a snippet in the life of van, our shy and hard-working protagonist who struggles with the wants and expectations of her parents that clash with her own wants and dreams she has for herself. when a boy, she's been infatuated with from a afar for years unexpectedly pays her more and more attention, she's honestly baffled and suspicious.
i was oddly proud when van stood up for herself. it was amusing how in many ways, she was the female version of tall, dark and brooding, completely unaware of her allure.
also refreshing was the way, not every loose end was tied in the story, a lot of the threads are unfinished and some will remain so till the end. the author does not pretend to know all the answers and i know i would've liked the story less had it been different. in some ways it can be frustrating, not knowing how it all continues from a particular point onwards, in other ways it's liberating and more rewarding, since the story is hopelessly brimming with options.
billy is unapologetic in his attraction to her and the many ways he tries to woo her in the book including reading her favourite book, jane eyre had me 'aww'-ing.
noteworthy as well, are the bits and pieces where we experience her home life, spicy food and her tense but loving relationship with her parents.
***
When she looked at her parents watching MasterChef on TV in a tired trance at the end of the working day, she could not connect the very ordinariness of them to what she’d read. What they had experienced was obviously unspeakable. But didn’t they realise the extent to which not speaking made them strangers to her? Why couldn’t they imagine how odd it might feel to see your parents through the wrong end of a telescope? She thought of demanding that they tell her their story, asking the difficult questions, but her courage always failed. She imagined Jane Eyre, stern-eyed, tapping her polished boot impatiently. How did their experience fit with her life now? Across this unspoken gulf, where so much was implied but never spelled out, was it really all down to her to justify the effort, the sacrifices? To make it worthwhile? How could she ever do enough, achieve enough? Be enough? To compensate for – what, exactly?
(16%)
***
‘If she knew we were going out?’Wow. He’d said it out loud. ‘We are?’‘To the extent that we can, given you’re not allowed out much, and you don’t want me to come to your place. And you obviously object to public displays of affection.’‘Wouldn’t you like to check in with me? Ask me if I want to go out with you?’He looked shocked. ‘Don’t you?’It cracked her up that the idea of a girl maybe not wanting to go out with him was utterly alien to his experience. ‘Sure. I guess. If you can cope with all the limitations.’‘That is the most excellent news I could hear. Ever.’
(61%)
***
Curled up in her bedroom chair that night, she thought about boat trips, putting down roots, bitter marmalade and what makes home home.
(95%)
November 15, 2015
Jane Eyre is a book that has stayed close to my heart for a lifetime. I first read it as a twelve-year-old growing up with six brothers in the bush, and was captivated by Jane's struggle to survive and thrive in a time and place that treated girls without family, fortune or looks with great harshness. So of course I was drawn to Fiona Wood's Vietnamese-Australian heroine Vân Uoc Phan, a scholarship girl at prestigious Crowthorn Grammar, who tries to solve life's problems by asking 'What would Jane do?' She is, like Jane, an inspiration. A wonderful book with an ending that gave wings to my heart. Just perfect.
July 10, 2023
I gave my 70 year old Mum this for Christmas. She loved it and now she's re-reading Jane Eyre. Thanks Fiona Wood
Romance riffing on Jane Eyre with a twist of magic.
When abundance falls in your lap in the form of "the heart of one very hot dickhead," is it true love or something else entirely?
Now I know how to captivate a man - magic! Except there's always a price to pay where magic is concerned. In this case, captivated Billy is the most moronic boy in school, also the most annoying love interest in any book I've ever read. While Vân Uóc was giving herself a mental smack on the head, Billy could have done with one too, only not mental.
Cloudwish is a clever retelling of Jane Eyre, all the while riffing on Vân Uóc's favourite book. She lives by the mantra,
Vân Uóc is first generation Vietnamese Australian and her parents have high hopes for their academically inclined only child. They want her to study medicine and escape the poverty of menial jobs and housing commission flats. Vân Uóc is well on her way with a scholarship to prestigious Crowthorne Grammar, but she's also a talented artist and secretly plans to go to Art School. While she fantasizes about her crush Billy Gardiner, she doesn't have any time for a boyfriend. A strange occurrence in English class brings her to Billy's notice.
Vân Uóc and her friends talk about sex, swear, lie to parents, act like everyday teenagers. When Vân Uóc tells her mother, yes there will be prayers at the student gathering (translation: drunken party) her justification for the lie is pure gold.
Occasionally the third person narration is old fashioned, reminiscent of Jane Eyre. Vân Uóc can reel off passages from her fav book as the situation warrants (there's a sound explanation for knowing these quotes). Her life also mirrors Jane's, with a modern twist.
At first Vân Uóc is confused and uncertain about Billy's strange infatuation. Then she decides to make the most of this bizarro world, it can't hurt, right?
Billy is the perfect Rochester doppelgänger: self-assured, narcissistic, wealthy to the point of disbelief. His family has a housekeeper!? sorry house manager.
There is also that nod to the wee folk of the supernatural - the "magic" of Billy's inexplicable attraction.
Or unrealistic expectations. I love Jane Eyre. I've been known to read it over and over when I'm depressed, because it represents things I will never have. Much like the things Charlotte Brontë and her sisters never had, and their brother squandered.
Like Billy, Rochester is an arrogant prat. He treats Jane, Blanche and Bertha appallingly and deserves nothing. As much as I love her story, I always had issues with Jane falling for Rochester, similar to Tess and Angel Clare in Tess of the d'Urbervilles . Only Angel . What am I saying, half the YA with a love interest has a brooding bad boy with a heart of gold. At least in Wildlife .
Themes of poverty vs affluence and the difficulties refugees face interweave with the light hearted love story. While Billy complains about being grounded, Vân Uóc
Vân Uóc's parents and aunt were refugees from Vietnam in 1980. Page 41 is a clever representation of the response to trauma. It reminded me of spilt ink of M.T. Anderson when the memories got too much for Octavian Nothing. Vân Uóc's mother's refusal to talk about the past leads to recurrent PTSD around the anniversary of their hazardous boat journey and arrival in Australia.
After my dislike of medication working too fast in The Pause , I was pleased Cloudwish had realistic representations of patient frustration with meds taking weeks to kick in. I know well the temptation to give up cos the pills "don't do anything" and annoyance at the wait every time dosage or antidepressant type is changed. Vân Uóc's mother was a welcome read after my dislike of Nella's mum's rep in For the Forest of a Bird .
I'm rarely content with every aspect of a book and despite my misgivings, Cloudwish belongs firmly on the Shortlist for CBCA Book of The Year for Older Readers 2016 and is my pick for the winner. (Having read 4/6th of the shortlist I'm woefully unqualified to call this, but that never stops me.)
This is from my blog http://ofceilingwax.wordpress.com/201...
Romance riffing on Jane Eyre with a twist of magic.
"If you survived then you were all right; no - lucky. What problems? You're alive! She wanted more than survival. She wanted beauty; she wanted love; she wanted abundance."
When abundance falls in your lap in the form of "the heart of one very hot dickhead," is it true love or something else entirely?
Now I know how to captivate a man - magic! Except there's always a price to pay where magic is concerned. In this case, captivated Billy is the most moronic boy in school, also the most annoying love interest in any book I've ever read. While Vân Uóc was giving herself a mental smack on the head, Billy could have done with one too, only not mental.
Cloudwish is a clever retelling of Jane Eyre, all the while riffing on Vân Uóc's favourite book. She lives by the mantra,
"What would Jane do?"
Vân Uóc is first generation Vietnamese Australian and her parents have high hopes for their academically inclined only child. They want her to study medicine and escape the poverty of menial jobs and housing commission flats. Vân Uóc is well on her way with a scholarship to prestigious Crowthorne Grammar, but she's also a talented artist and secretly plans to go to Art School. While she fantasizes about her crush Billy Gardiner, she doesn't have any time for a boyfriend. A strange occurrence in English class brings her to Billy's notice.
"How disconcerting it was to have an idle fantasy turn into real life attraction."
Vân Uóc and her friends talk about sex, swear, lie to parents, act like everyday teenagers. When Vân Uóc tells her mother, yes there will be prayers at the student gathering (translation: drunken party) her justification for the lie is pure gold.
"Some people would be praying to hook up with other people; at some stage of the night someone else would certainly be praying that they didn't vomit in a friend's parent's car on the way home... This could be the start of a whole new level of parental manipulation."
Occasionally the third person narration is old fashioned, reminiscent of Jane Eyre. Vân Uóc can reel off passages from her fav book as the situation warrants (there's a sound explanation for knowing these quotes). Her life also mirrors Jane's, with a modern twist.
At first Vân Uóc is confused and uncertain about Billy's strange infatuation. Then she decides to make the most of this bizarro world, it can't hurt, right?
"What would the limitations on her new-found charm be? Was there an expiry date? She couldn't even revisit how the hell was this happening? It was too much to get her head around. It did not bear scrutiny."
Billy is the perfect Rochester doppelgänger: self-assured, narcissistic, wealthy to the point of disbelief. His family has a housekeeper!? sorry house manager.
"His vanity was so deeply assured it didn't need constant reinforcement."
There is also that nod to the wee folk of the supernatural - the "magic" of Billy's inexplicable attraction.
"Within Jane Eyre's framework of realism - of social commentary on class, on charity schools, on imperious rich relations, on gender equality and the restricted opportunity for women, on love and morality... there was also some mad magic."
Or unrealistic expectations. I love Jane Eyre. I've been known to read it over and over when I'm depressed, because it represents things I will never have. Much like the things Charlotte Brontë and her sisters never had, and their brother squandered.
Like Billy, Rochester is an arrogant prat. He treats Jane, Blanche and Bertha appallingly and deserves nothing. As much as I love her story, I always had issues with Jane falling for Rochester, similar to Tess and Angel Clare in Tess of the d'Urbervilles . Only Angel . What am I saying, half the YA with a love interest has a brooding bad boy with a heart of gold. At least in Wildlife .
"Who had decided that some should have so little and others so much?"
Themes of poverty vs affluence and the difficulties refugees face interweave with the light hearted love story. While Billy complains about being grounded, Vân Uóc
"thought about the millions of dispossessed people jammed into refugee camps all over the world."
Vân Uóc's parents and aunt were refugees from Vietnam in 1980. Page 41 is a clever representation of the response to trauma. It reminded me of spilt ink of M.T. Anderson when the memories got too much for Octavian Nothing. Vân Uóc's mother's refusal to talk about the past leads to recurrent PTSD around the anniversary of their hazardous boat journey and arrival in Australia.
Vân Uóc had eventually stitched together some possibilities... She only unfolded that ugly little garment - still full of missing stitches - in private, trying to understand exactly what her parents might have survived.
After my dislike of medication working too fast in The Pause , I was pleased Cloudwish had realistic representations of patient frustration with meds taking weeks to kick in. I know well the temptation to give up cos the pills "don't do anything" and annoyance at the wait every time dosage or antidepressant type is changed. Vân Uóc's mother was a welcome read after my dislike of Nella's mum's rep in For the Forest of a Bird .
I'm rarely content with every aspect of a book and despite my misgivings, Cloudwish belongs firmly on the Shortlist for CBCA Book of The Year for Older Readers 2016 and is my pick for the winner. (Having read 4/6th of the shortlist I'm woefully unqualified to call this, but that never stops me.)
This is from my blog http://ofceilingwax.wordpress.com/201...
July 30, 2024
4.5 stars
read on my blog
rep: Vietnamese-Australian protagonist, lesbian Vietnamese-Australian side character
cw: mentions of rape
After about four years later and the fourth read, I figured it was time to write my review for this book. While it’s written by a white author (more on that later), it’s so close to my heart because it was one of the first times I got to read a protagonist of Vietnamese descent in a book. Cloudwish tells the story of what transpires when your deepest wish comes true, something you’ve longed for but not believed was possible.
Vân Ước is a model student; she has to be in order to keep her scholarship in the IB program. She also works, plays the oboe, and serves as a translator and the general in-between person for her immigrant parents. But her deepest wish? For her crush Billy to notice her. One day, she makes the wish, and she’s not prepared for the consequences.
I do want to start this review by saying that this book is written by a white author. There’s a lot to say about white authors writing protagonists of color and their struggles honestly; I’m not entirely okay with it, but I will say that in my experience, this book is very accurate in its depiction of a child of Vietnamese immigrants. However, I realize that my experiences are my own, and other people of Vietnamese heritage may not feel the same way. I am writing this review from my own experience as a Vietnamese American, who relates strongly to Vân Ước, but that doesn’t absolve the book from any flaws.
Anyways, I love the characters in this book. It’s the third in a series that exists in the same universe, so we get to see some returning characters, like Lou, Sib, Ben, and Michael, as well as Vân Ước and Billy. I really loved being in Vân Ước’s head; her voice is clear and you really feel her frustration yet unwillingness to voice what she really wants because she doesn’t think she’s allowed to. As a love interest, Billy is fun and genuinely caring, even if he seems superficial at first. Jess, Vân Ước’s best friend, offers a great support system for Vân Ước’s family and romantic life, and I loved reading about their friendship.
Vân Ước is the child of two Vietnamese refugees, who came to Australia through a grueling journey. Her parents rarely speak of it, but the trauma is so clearly there, hanging around them. Vân Ước keeps her head down and works so hard so she wants to live up to her parents’ dreams for her, even if she’d rather be an artist than a doctor. This experience is something I and every other diasporic Vietnamese person can relate to, which is part of the reason why I love this book so much.
Another big reason why I love this book is the romance. I mean that both generally, because I’m a hopeless romantic, and specifically, because the romance in this book serves as a vehicle for Vân Ước, who exists in two vastly different cultures, to live out her dreams of not being other. Billy, a popular white athlete, is the epitome of the guy you’d have a crush on in high school, so of course Vân Ước likes him despite his flaws. Maybe I’m just projecting, but as a woman of color, you grow up watching movies and reading books where the most desirable guy is the most popular guy in school, often white and often an athlete, and desperately wanting to be noticed by said guy.
For Billy to like her back, though, shows that Vân Ước is accepted in this Western culture that she is a part of, even if it rejects her most of the time. Even though movies and books have excluded her, she finally gets to take part in this elusive culture that she’s never been privy to, as a person of color and a child of immigrants. However, this doesn’t magically make all her problems go away: her parents are still disapproving of anything that would distract from her studies, and the other girls at school vilify her for capturing Billy’s notice.
The book does touch on the fact that Billy’s issues (the typical hero in a ’90s movie: “they were never my dreams, Dad, they were always yours!”) are trivial to Vân Ước, whose parents survived a traumatic escape. She also thinks of the numerous current events going on around the world, but she does recognize that his issues are issues to him. For me, this scene represents the ability to only care about yourself. I don’t mean “selfish” necessarily, but rather that he’s grown up with the privilege of not having to worry about anything but himself, a privilege Vân Ước has never had.
Honestly, maybe this is all just wish fulfillment for me because I finally get to see a Vietnamese girl get the (white) boy. I can’t claim that this is all explicit in the text when I feel like it could be just me interpreting (and probably projecting onto) it. I do think the groundwork is there, at least.
You may enjoy this book if you like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (although this author is not ownvoices for the representation of the protagonist) or heartwarming romances. I loved the characters and the romance, and most of all, the way that Cloudwish lays in front of you the thought that sometimes wishes do come true, whether through magic or sheer will. This is a book that will stay close to my heart for ages to come.
alternative review:
this book just always hits so hard...maybe actually rtc since I'm feeling wistful?
other review:
maybe I’m crying
original review:
this book is so close to my heart
read on my blog
rep: Vietnamese-Australian protagonist, lesbian Vietnamese-Australian side character
cw: mentions of rape
Finally there flowed the generalized sorry-for-selfness that was virtually forbidden in her life, but which flavored it completely, or maybe just reduced her life’s flavor overall, about not being allowed to be unhappy about any bloody thing because if you survived, then you were all right; no — lucky. What problems? You’re alive! She wanted more than survival. She wanted beauty; she wanted love; she wanted abundance.
After about four years later and the fourth read, I figured it was time to write my review for this book. While it’s written by a white author (more on that later), it’s so close to my heart because it was one of the first times I got to read a protagonist of Vietnamese descent in a book. Cloudwish tells the story of what transpires when your deepest wish comes true, something you’ve longed for but not believed was possible.
Vân Ước is a model student; she has to be in order to keep her scholarship in the IB program. She also works, plays the oboe, and serves as a translator and the general in-between person for her immigrant parents. But her deepest wish? For her crush Billy to notice her. One day, she makes the wish, and she’s not prepared for the consequences.
I do want to start this review by saying that this book is written by a white author. There’s a lot to say about white authors writing protagonists of color and their struggles honestly; I’m not entirely okay with it, but I will say that in my experience, this book is very accurate in its depiction of a child of Vietnamese immigrants. However, I realize that my experiences are my own, and other people of Vietnamese heritage may not feel the same way. I am writing this review from my own experience as a Vietnamese American, who relates strongly to Vân Ước, but that doesn’t absolve the book from any flaws.
Anyways, I love the characters in this book. It’s the third in a series that exists in the same universe, so we get to see some returning characters, like Lou, Sib, Ben, and Michael, as well as Vân Ước and Billy. I really loved being in Vân Ước’s head; her voice is clear and you really feel her frustration yet unwillingness to voice what she really wants because she doesn’t think she’s allowed to. As a love interest, Billy is fun and genuinely caring, even if he seems superficial at first. Jess, Vân Ước’s best friend, offers a great support system for Vân Ước’s family and romantic life, and I loved reading about their friendship.
Vân Ước is the child of two Vietnamese refugees, who came to Australia through a grueling journey. Her parents rarely speak of it, but the trauma is so clearly there, hanging around them. Vân Ước keeps her head down and works so hard so she wants to live up to her parents’ dreams for her, even if she’d rather be an artist than a doctor. This experience is something I and every other diasporic Vietnamese person can relate to, which is part of the reason why I love this book so much.
Another big reason why I love this book is the romance. I mean that both generally, because I’m a hopeless romantic, and specifically, because the romance in this book serves as a vehicle for Vân Ước, who exists in two vastly different cultures, to live out her dreams of not being other. Billy, a popular white athlete, is the epitome of the guy you’d have a crush on in high school, so of course Vân Ước likes him despite his flaws. Maybe I’m just projecting, but as a woman of color, you grow up watching movies and reading books where the most desirable guy is the most popular guy in school, often white and often an athlete, and desperately wanting to be noticed by said guy.
For Billy to like her back, though, shows that Vân Ước is accepted in this Western culture that she is a part of, even if it rejects her most of the time. Even though movies and books have excluded her, she finally gets to take part in this elusive culture that she’s never been privy to, as a person of color and a child of immigrants. However, this doesn’t magically make all her problems go away: her parents are still disapproving of anything that would distract from her studies, and the other girls at school vilify her for capturing Billy’s notice.
She felt the tangle of sex and longing and fairy tales with handsome boys and happy endings. She was peering into the well, ready to tumble in, and what then? These stories with enchantments and wishes weren’t her stories. She was smarter than that. She was nobody’s Cinderella.
The book does touch on the fact that Billy’s issues (the typical hero in a ’90s movie: “they were never my dreams, Dad, they were always yours!”) are trivial to Vân Ước, whose parents survived a traumatic escape. She also thinks of the numerous current events going on around the world, but she does recognize that his issues are issues to him. For me, this scene represents the ability to only care about yourself. I don’t mean “selfish” necessarily, but rather that he’s grown up with the privilege of not having to worry about anything but himself, a privilege Vân Ước has never had.
Honestly, maybe this is all just wish fulfillment for me because I finally get to see a Vietnamese girl get the (white) boy. I can’t claim that this is all explicit in the text when I feel like it could be just me interpreting (and probably projecting onto) it. I do think the groundwork is there, at least.
You may enjoy this book if you like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (although this author is not ownvoices for the representation of the protagonist) or heartwarming romances. I loved the characters and the romance, and most of all, the way that Cloudwish lays in front of you the thought that sometimes wishes do come true, whether through magic or sheer will. This is a book that will stay close to my heart for ages to come.
alternative review:
this book just always hits so hard...maybe actually rtc since I'm feeling wistful?
other review:
maybe I’m crying
original review:
this book is so close to my heart
August 31, 2016
A million thanks to the publisher for sending me an advance copy. Cloudwish hooked me from the very beginning and did not disappoint.
While the story itself is compelling (give me the "girl and boy come from two different worlds and fall in love?" trope any day of the week... especially if mixed class or mixed race relationships are involved), I was most notably blown away by how personal it felt and how deeply I could relate to Vân Ûóc and her thoughts and feelings and experiences.
Let me be very clear: Vân Ǔóc and I come from two different backgrounds. I am Taiwanese-American with parents who immigrated to America out of their own free will. They went to college in Taiwan and were able to pursue further education when they moved to the States. They had NOTHING when they came here but they were not refugees by any means. In spite of our differences, I still understood Ván Ûóc as though I were reading my own diary.
Having grown up in a suburb filled with affluent white kids, I know the feeling of being an "other." I understand the social navigation, the responsibilities, trying to measure up and fit in, trying to keep school and home separate, the shame of being part of a different culture, and the guilt that comes from feeling ashamed at all...
But I also know what it's like to balance all of that with dreams. And expectations. I was the English-loving STEM student who spent her lunch hour in the art room working on mixed media pieces or in my sketchbook and tutoring kids who needed physics help after school. The premise behind my AP Studio Art portfolio? Head vs. heart. Home. Belonging. Choices. I applied to college as an engineering major. (And eventually transferred into the humanities.)
So I get it.
How refreshing to see a fragment of my own experiences reflected back at me. (How silly that such a small thing feels "refreshing"—for white readers, this is just a given.) But Ván Ûóc is smart and thoughtful and proud and insecure and observant and dedicated and driven and creative and reflective and funny and socially conscious and politically aware and practical and daydreamy and weird and a typical teenage girl and also not a typical teenage girl at all. She reminds me of myself at age 17. Kindred spirits. I can't help but think that if I had read this book back then, I would have been all the better for it. I could have learned a lot from a girl like Ván Ûóc when I was 17.
But back to the book itself. The story was charming, and the characters delightful and sincere and real. (I'm so glad Michael showed up again. He was my favorite in Wildlife, so I was pleased to see him still doing his thing. I also liked Billy Gardiner—he's kind of a lovable idiot who is courteous and means well and is very polite to parents but is self-assured and arrogant and maybe a little offensive and ignorant because he was born and raised privileged. He reminded me of some of the boys I knew in high school, whom I looked at in very much the same way that Ván Ûóc looks at Billy.)
The relationships are complex and varied—there's friends and then there's school friends, and first love, of course... But you also have a mother/daughter relationship that is riddled with the complexity of culture "clash" and additional baggage, and it makes the interactions feel that much more poignant and sweeping. And the writing was rich and clever—what a voice. It carried me through the pages and left me satisfied but also still wishing I could stay just a little longer.
Books that feature POC characters and are written by white authors can often go awry, but I thought this was done incredibly well. To me it really feels like the author did her due diligence in researching and speaking with many actual Vietnamese people—in other words, letting Ván Ûóc speak her story without it being muffled or slanted by white preconceptions. Does the story rely on certain stereotypes? Sure. But those stereotypes exist and are still relevant today, so I'm happy to see those stereotypes (and their effects/influences) as an important aspect—but not the main focus—of this story.
Anyway. This review has turned into one massive blog entry so I'll sign off here and just leave you with this: Cloudwish is easily my favorite Fiona Wood book by far. I feel blown away and want to flip back to the very beginning and reread it all again right away.
While the story itself is compelling (give me the "girl and boy come from two different worlds and fall in love?" trope any day of the week... especially if mixed class or mixed race relationships are involved), I was most notably blown away by how personal it felt and how deeply I could relate to Vân Ûóc and her thoughts and feelings and experiences.
Let me be very clear: Vân Ǔóc and I come from two different backgrounds. I am Taiwanese-American with parents who immigrated to America out of their own free will. They went to college in Taiwan and were able to pursue further education when they moved to the States. They had NOTHING when they came here but they were not refugees by any means. In spite of our differences, I still understood Ván Ûóc as though I were reading my own diary.
Having grown up in a suburb filled with affluent white kids, I know the feeling of being an "other." I understand the social navigation, the responsibilities, trying to measure up and fit in, trying to keep school and home separate, the shame of being part of a different culture, and the guilt that comes from feeling ashamed at all...
But I also know what it's like to balance all of that with dreams. And expectations. I was the English-loving STEM student who spent her lunch hour in the art room working on mixed media pieces or in my sketchbook and tutoring kids who needed physics help after school. The premise behind my AP Studio Art portfolio? Head vs. heart. Home. Belonging. Choices. I applied to college as an engineering major. (And eventually transferred into the humanities.)
So I get it.
How refreshing to see a fragment of my own experiences reflected back at me. (How silly that such a small thing feels "refreshing"—for white readers, this is just a given.) But Ván Ûóc is smart and thoughtful and proud and insecure and observant and dedicated and driven and creative and reflective and funny and socially conscious and politically aware and practical and daydreamy and weird and a typical teenage girl and also not a typical teenage girl at all. She reminds me of myself at age 17. Kindred spirits. I can't help but think that if I had read this book back then, I would have been all the better for it. I could have learned a lot from a girl like Ván Ûóc when I was 17.
But back to the book itself. The story was charming, and the characters delightful and sincere and real. (I'm so glad Michael showed up again. He was my favorite in Wildlife, so I was pleased to see him still doing his thing. I also liked Billy Gardiner—he's kind of a lovable idiot who is courteous and means well and is very polite to parents but is self-assured and arrogant and maybe a little offensive and ignorant because he was born and raised privileged. He reminded me of some of the boys I knew in high school, whom I looked at in very much the same way that Ván Ûóc looks at Billy.)
The relationships are complex and varied—there's friends and then there's school friends, and first love, of course... But you also have a mother/daughter relationship that is riddled with the complexity of culture "clash" and additional baggage, and it makes the interactions feel that much more poignant and sweeping. And the writing was rich and clever—what a voice. It carried me through the pages and left me satisfied but also still wishing I could stay just a little longer.
Books that feature POC characters and are written by white authors can often go awry, but I thought this was done incredibly well. To me it really feels like the author did her due diligence in researching and speaking with many actual Vietnamese people—in other words, letting Ván Ûóc speak her story without it being muffled or slanted by white preconceptions. Does the story rely on certain stereotypes? Sure. But those stereotypes exist and are still relevant today, so I'm happy to see those stereotypes (and their effects/influences) as an important aspect—but not the main focus—of this story.
Anyway. This review has turned into one massive blog entry so I'll sign off here and just leave you with this: Cloudwish is easily my favorite Fiona Wood book by far. I feel blown away and want to flip back to the very beginning and reread it all again right away.
January 15, 2020
I LOVED
-That this turned out to be something I least expected it to be—funny, touching, magical, annoying (at times), nostalgic and most of all, relevant. Each character in this story was believable, like they could be someone who lived right next door to me, or ordinary people I see on the streets every day.
-That it had Asian rep. The lead character has Vietnamese roots and I enjoyed reading about her parents' story—fleeing from war, migrating to another country, adjusting to a new culture, etc. I've always dreamed of doing that—without the war part, of course—you know, getting away to a place where nobody knows you and you can just live another life. (OKAY, SO MAYBE THIS APPRECIATION IS KIND OF MISPLACED but we all know we can't control how books can make us feel.)
-The fact that it had a happy ending. Halfway through the novel, I got kind of scared that it was going to go all POOF! But thank you, Fiona Wood. You saved me from a heartbreak.
-THAT Van Ouc lived her life through the words of her favorite author and book character BECAUSE I TOTALLY DO THAT AS WELL and I'm so happy to have validated myself as "NOT WEIRD AND ALONE"
THERE'S JUST ONE THING, THOUGH
-THAT COVER.
LOVELY WORDS (MAYBE)
"Because they would be weird admissions—that you had noted much about a boy from a discreet distance before he had even noticed that you existed."
"How dare they be so surprised? She was as nice as anyone else. And smarter. But had she really let anyone see her? Was it partly her fault for preferring to slip through as unnoticed as possible?"
IN A NUTSHELL: A story of history, culture, family, acceptance, friendship... all in one magical YA!
-That this turned out to be something I least expected it to be—funny, touching, magical, annoying (at times), nostalgic and most of all, relevant. Each character in this story was believable, like they could be someone who lived right next door to me, or ordinary people I see on the streets every day.
-That it had Asian rep. The lead character has Vietnamese roots and I enjoyed reading about her parents' story—fleeing from war, migrating to another country, adjusting to a new culture, etc. I've always dreamed of doing that—without the war part, of course—you know, getting away to a place where nobody knows you and you can just live another life. (OKAY, SO MAYBE THIS APPRECIATION IS KIND OF MISPLACED but we all know we can't control how books can make us feel.)
-The fact that it had a happy ending. Halfway through the novel, I got kind of scared that it was going to go all POOF! But thank you, Fiona Wood. You saved me from a heartbreak.
-THAT Van Ouc lived her life through the words of her favorite author and book character BECAUSE I TOTALLY DO THAT AS WELL and I'm so happy to have validated myself as "NOT WEIRD AND ALONE"
THERE'S JUST ONE THING, THOUGH
-THAT COVER.
LOVELY WORDS (MAYBE)
"Because they would be weird admissions—that you had noted much about a boy from a discreet distance before he had even noticed that you existed."
"How dare they be so surprised? She was as nice as anyone else. And smarter. But had she really let anyone see her? Was it partly her fault for preferring to slip through as unnoticed as possible?"
IN A NUTSHELL: A story of history, culture, family, acceptance, friendship... all in one magical YA!
January 25, 2016
Sweet goodness, wow. I mean, really. Wow.
So yeah, first thing? Thank you so much for finding me when you found me.
Desperately in need of giggles was I.
Also, Jane Eyre luuuuuurve. The Patron Saint of Quiet Girls. Jane is like the older sister I never had. And whenever I am in a moral dilemma, I always ask myself,"What would Jane Eyre do?" So, fist bump of solidarity,Vân Ước Chan. ^_^
Also 2x, Racial diversity for the win!!! I absolutely loved how well the cultural confusion was portrayed (along with other things). <3
Also 3x, falling in love. It's like you're on a stairway of sunlight and you're tumbling, tripping, falling. Because, him. My gosh, him.
So yeah, first thing? Thank you so much for finding me when you found me.
Desperately in need of giggles was I.
Also, Jane Eyre luuuuuurve. The Patron Saint of Quiet Girls. Jane is like the older sister I never had. And whenever I am in a moral dilemma, I always ask myself,"What would Jane Eyre do?" So, fist bump of solidarity,Vân Ước Chan. ^_^
Also 2x, Racial diversity for the win!!! I absolutely loved how well the cultural confusion was portrayed (along with other things). <3
Also 3x, falling in love. It's like you're on a stairway of sunlight and you're tumbling, tripping, falling. Because, him. My gosh, him.
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July 22, 2016Not my favorite of Wood's books, but an interesting story about a first-generation Vietnamese girl in Melbourne who makes a wish about a boy she's crushing on. . . and has it come true. It's a romance, but it's also a story about family, about immigrants, and about the haves and have nots. Some characters felt underdeveloped, and I think there was some reliance upon having read Wood's other books to 'get' who some of these characters are -- that worked for me, personally, but I see that being a sticking point for others.
September 15, 2016
3.75 stars. After reading two other novels from Fiona Wood, I had an idea of what to expect going into this one. It was, once again, another day in the life sort of look at the life of a gal who is a poor scholarship Vietnamese-Australian student who has a crush on a guy who she thinks is out of her reach, a mother who has PTSD and life dreams that she doesn't know whether she can actually pursue. Of all the Wood novels I read, I enjoyed this one most. It had a very light feel to it, and it was quite delightful.
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February 8, 2017Extreme case of “It’s me, not you”, I’ll leave the rating empty, because I honestly believe that in another life I would’ve loved this, maybe even in another time. The storyline seemed interesting and the characters were great, I just wasn’t feeling it.
October 10, 2015
Beautiful, sweet, magical. A lovely love story about dreams coming true. Loved how Melbourne it was. Loved the insight into first generation Vietnamese teens. Felt the scene with the orange trees was a bit reminiscent of the falling leaves scene in The Fault in Our Stars. But it was still beautiful. I love these quirky, funny, poignant romances now. Sure to be a hit with fans of John Green. Think maybe I liked it a little more than Six Impossible Things.
December 3, 2015
This. This book. This book killed me softly. It's the one I've been waiting for. The one I've been longing for. It's for all the people with unpronounceable names, the ones that are always misspelled on Starbucks cups. It's for the quiet girls with loud thoughts. Fiona wrote Vân U'óc Phan for us.
This is hands down one of my favorite books of the year.
This is hands down one of my favorite books of the year.
June 9, 2016
Oh how I wish Fiona Wood would write just one more book about the characters in this series! Love Vân Uoc, Lou, Michael, and all the lovelies from Six Impossible Things. Highly recommend if you want YA contemporaries that are far from cliche.
September 11, 2015
Exquisite!
July 29, 2016
Funny, Touching & Inspiring! A Beautiful Read! I Loved It!
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