From the Bookshelf of Baltimore County Public Library Summer Reading BCPL SRC …

[close] Every once in a while you read a book that resonates deep within your soul. It doesn't happen often, but this book was one of those for me. As a teacher and parent, I felt this book sent a strong message about the possible negative consequences of misunderstandings and too-strong expectations within a family. Unreasonable expectations can put too much pressure for children to handle at a young age. Parents shouldn't expect their children to become miniatures of themselves or make up for all of their own mistakes as a child. An important role of a parent is to be supportive, encouraging their children to pursue their own interests and personal goals in life. Children should be given the latitude to learn their own mistakes. Through the lack of communication within the family in this book, it also shows how important open communication and trust is in a family. The author clearly shows how this lack of communication and understanding among family members can lead to misunderstandings and unreasonable expectations. This is a powerful debut book for the author, Celeste Ng. I look forward to reading more by her in the future.