American Panda

by Gloria Chao

“Charmed my socks off.” —David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Kids of Appetite and Mosquitoland
“A soulful and hilarious debut.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Effervescent.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“An earnest, funny, and emotional story.” —Book Riot
    An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her squeamishness with germs and crush on a Japanese classmate.
    At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.
    With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth—that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.
    But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?
   

• ISBN10: 1534425691
• ISBN13: 9781534425699
• Publish Date: 6 February 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster
• Edition: Export
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[layawaydragon]

Content Warning: Manipulative & Abusive parents, Disowning, Fertility Shaming, Slut Shaming, Fat Shaming,

Amazing. Hilarious (literal lol at many points) and profound. It's not just another "tiger parent" book. It's subtle and nuanced in navigating twisted family ties, generational differences, and cultural grudges. There's several different kinds of immigrant parents shown through out. It balances Mai's troubles within this particular vortex and how outside forces aren't helping her either.

The way Mai's parents enforced their traditional ways were manipulative and abusive. It's so hard to break the cycle, especially with people you want to continue having a relationship with. It's not always possible. It's not always hopeless. Mai is masterful in how she talks to her parents and strikes a good middle ground.

Her, her brother, and others are still Taiwanese and continue certain traditions. They don't shuck that completely to the side or anything. The walking down the aisle and the dress at the wedding are good examples.

I would really love a short story to check in with them all couple years down the line. See how they've blended, mended, and what's popping off now.


Notes While Listening:
>>"There are no ugly women, just lazy ones." - Mom
>>"Now takes off her clothes for money." - Mom, again.
>>Nice snore!
>>Poking her breast?!? WTF??
>>Breast shaming B cup & fat shaming size 8. Asian sizing is so much smaller and fat shaming is so open and applauded culturally. See articles: https://wearyourvoicemag.com/body-politics/body-image-body-positive-movement-southeast-asia-asia-pacific & https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-luxury/article/2131679/plus-size-asian-women-body-positivity-still-has-long-way-go. DO NOT READ THE COMMENTS.
>>Such abusive shit.
>>People, hands to yourself FFS!!
>>"It doesn't feel good for women. It's for making babies only." -Mom. That's really fucked up and sad.
>>"No women are attractive with glasses." -Mom. Holy shit. At least get her contacts please??!
>>"So in a way we've all tasted dog poop and garbage."lololololol WTF Mai. Good job.
>>"You must have been a cute little kid." -awwwwwww.
>>"His family murdered ours!" - Mom on Japanese crush.
>> Wha...? Chinese roommate switched b/c Mai's family is Taiwanese after 1949 so they murdered her family. I had no fucking clue. Complicated shit.
>>Tim the MIT beaver. with "I heart my beaver" shirts.
>>Man, this is sad.
>>Mystery door!!
>>"like the stars are aligning but you don't believe in fate" --YES!!! I love this whole passage describing this feeling. I would've copied it all but...audiobook.
>>Dancing!!
>>"Are you a princess?" AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW *heart eyes*
>>Rose, I love you.
>>NOOOOOOOOO! OMFG MOM! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
>>Wow. Itchy vag time. Probably just a yeast infection.
>>RUN!!!!! OMFG SO EMBARRASSING.
>>"Poor [other girl I don't know how to spell b/c AUDIO] demoted to 'Huh?'" Great huh sound. Literal lol.
>>"The dreaded gown that provided as much coverage as my discount mobile carrier" llol.
>>IT CAN'T BE. FUCK THAT BS.
>>Fuck you Valerie.
>>"What if one day I throw up into my patient's vagina?" lolololol OMFG
>>That sucks Nicolette.
>>Darren is bio nerd.
>>Damn, Grandma & Aunt (on Dad's side) are WORSE than her mom. Holy shit.
>> Grandma has dementia.
>>WHAT?!? That's so fucked up.
>>Brother's GF is Taiwanese so what's their problem with her?
>>4 years!!
>>"Realized I just shot Franz Ferdinand" lol
>>Poor Ester, they so fucked up.
>>"Only criminals dye their hair." Oh good fucking lord mom!
>>HOLY FUCKING SHIT MOM! Talking about crossing the line, burning it all and salting the fucking Earth.
>>"reproductively challenged" Meaning....? And how does everyone fucking know?
>>*gasp* Aunt "did the sex" and is all alone now. What's her story?
>>Damn, her mom is in a terrible spot.
>>Awww girlfriend + Jen.
>>Awww Helen.
>>lol Darren & friends ice skating & movie.
>>ouchie ouchie ouchieeeeeeeeeeeeee
>>Aww Shing.
>>lol Nicolette. Yep girl, I feel you.
>>"Propriety be damned. Who says the sweaty girl can't get the guy." YES
>>D'awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
>>"There's nothing hotter than a man who washes their hands regularly" lol
>>Shark fin soup is bad :(
>> Comedian is A+++++++++++. Totally channelling awesomeness on the level of Ali Wong and Margaret Cho.
>>Women shouldn't be forced to have children. This is one of many many reasons why.
>>Damn it. I knew it. Poor mom.
>>Heavy shit. Good for her!
>>NIC!!!
>>LOL
>>KNEW IT!
>>AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW