Gabrielle WangCritiques

Apprentice ghost hunter Ting Ting is itching to test out her ghost hunting skills so when grandmother, famous ghost hunter PorPor goes missing TIng Ting packs up her sack of ghost hunting tools and sets out to find her. It's not long before she meets comes face to face with the first of many ghoulish ghosts and her skills are put to the test.½

The emperor challenges all of the animals to race in order to have a year named after them. This story explains how the animals were chosen for the Chinese zodiac and why cats hate rats.

This is one of my favorite folktales. I love the variety of personalities of the animals and their different approaches to the challenge of getting across the lake and the competitive aspect of it being a race. Throughout all the story I always feel bad for the cat. But this version was particularly upsetting to me because the author added the back story that the rat and cat were best friends. What a betrayal!

Poppy is an aboriginal girl who has been living at Bird Creek Mission near Echuca. Her Brother has run away to go to the gold mines to seek his fortune. Her Chinese father has left her a message written in Chinese. When she finds out that she will be sent away to work as a domestic servant she decides to run away too and meet up with her brother if she can find him.

This story is inspired by the author's parents and is about 17 year-old Mirabel who lives in Melbourne with her family, and enjoys drawing and dress-making. Set in the 1940s when the world is at war, Mirabel meets and falls in love with a Chinese soldier, J.J. Only after J.J. returns to China to help fight against the Communist take-over, does Mirabel discover she is pregnant. Despite all opposition and the hardships she will face, Mirabel decides to follow J.J. even though she doesn't know where he is based. Unfortunately, upon her arrival Mirabel discovers that China is a large and strange place.

This book is full of history but it dragged in places and I found myself skipping over large sections of it. Knowing that it was based on a true story made it slightly more interesting, but I was still glad to reach the last page.

This is a great book to enhance Chinese culture knowledge. It also teaches children about kindness and being compassionate when others are in trouble even if it doesn't benefit you.

I'm absolutely in love with "The Race for the Chinese Zodiac" because it taught me new concepts in a clever, engaging way. The story teaches readers about the order of the animals in the Chinese zodiac and their specific traits. It's set up as a race, and each rank an animal places in is their place in the zodiac rotation. I liked that the language and writing had similar patterns and overall structure, going from animal to animal and presenting the basics of their journey. "Courageous Tiger leaped into the river, striking out with his powerful paws. Peaceful Rabbit jumped onto a log, holding on with all her might." Each page has one or two animals, and they all have a character trait in front of their name (peaceful, courageous, etc).Each animal represents a feature and those born in that accompanying year possess those traits. Because of this structure, readers easily catch the gist of what's going on. Their journey reflects on their nature, and the language and interesting theme allows for the story to flow well. Below each page/paragraph is a Chinese symbol representing that animal, which I found to be a very positive addition to the overall value of the book. The illustrations are fun and modern yet still maintain a classic Chinese art vibe, which I appreciated. The entire book is extremely visually appealing. At the end, the book lists each Chinese zodiac year with the specific years associated with them and the traits each one represents. Since they're in order of who "won" the "race," I found it to be a good informational followup to further explain the purpose of the story.

About how the Chinese Zodiac signs came to be.

Charming story imagining the origin of the Chinese zodiac. Stunning illustrations by Sally Rippin.

This is a fictional book about a young girl that wants to run away from her mission.
Enjoy an awesome book that I would recommend to a year 5 student that likes historical fiction.½

An interesting, engaging Australian fantasy about a Chinese girl bullied in school and wrestling with her cultural identity who finds refuge in her art.

This review is for a copy I received through the Early Reviewers program. This fantastical tale about the power of imagination and some quite extraordinary watercolors draws the reader in and leaves you wishing you could enter Mimi's amazing worlds. This is the first book I've read by Ms. Wang and I found it to be an excellent introduction to a wonderful writer. Although the story is obviously intended for children, I found that it was easily enjoyable by both young in age and young at heart. Mimi's escape into her art provided a way for others to escape into amazing magical worlds. I think Ms. Wang's novel does the same for her readers. I would definitely recommend this book to parents of young readers looking for a new tale to tell.

While I know this is a book for children, I think a few things could be improved, even with that in mind. The plot idea is enjoyable, but things feel a little too contrived. Characters turn their point of view around at the drop of a hat, for example. I know that in the case of the characters changed by the garden, that is the point, but everything is just so *convenient.* The characters are nothing particularly unique; very much in line with their particular cliche and not moving beyond it.
As I said; the plot idea is nice, but this book could be fleshed out a little. Characters could be given a bit more depth - even by simply going outside their particular roles of cute boy/jealous popular girl/nice teacher/mean teacher once in a while. The idea of the garden changing people could also be expanded - it just seems a little too forced.
I remember the books I most loved as a child were the ones that challenged me, made me think, and made me realize that things do not always fit a particular mold. This is a nice story that could benefit from a dash of colouring outside the lines, as it were.

It is wonderful look at how to mystically heal the soul. The moral is that if you have a pure heart you can be happy and achieve. It is a mix of modern day, old Chinese mythology, and how to follow your dreams. I think it really has a moral to the story. The author paints beautiful pictures with words. It is a short and wonderful read. One moment reminded me greatly of the Polar Express and how only children who believed could hear Santa's bell. Only those who believed could see the drawings come alive.

i know it can be hard to hold kids attention but this wouldnt really hold anyones. the thing is is that kids like books like fudge and this is nothing like it. i think hat with a little more work that this story could be something but till then its like reading a rough draft.

I'm going to try and review this one as quickly as possible. Why, you ask? Because I hate writing negative reviews. And well, what I have to say is not good. And I really don't have a whole lot to say about this book in general. It just kind of...stunk. There it is. But it's the truth.

Look, I know it's a kids book, but that doesn't mean that just because they are kids they don't care what they read. I think even a child could tell The Garden of Empress Cassia was pretty stinky. The characters were boring and had no life to them. The plot was simple. But it was too simple. Kids aren't stupid. You can give them a little bit of mystery. Sheesh!

The story was basically written for The Harry Potter set. And I am telling you right now, stick with Harry Potter. Or Fablehaven. Or Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Don't bother to read this garbage. I would have had more entertainment burning ants on the back porch with a magnifying glass.

Y'all know I am no hater when it comes to writing reviews. But there were just so many missed opportunities for greatness here that I am actually angry while writing this review. It could've been beautiful. This could have been a magically Asian story. It should've been a wonderful opportunity to teach kids about a different culture. But instead we got a stupid story about a bratty girl and a box of pastels. Apparently the minute she puts one of the pastels into her hand, she turns into Vincent Van Gogh and can draw a magical lifelike garden on a sidewalk. Yeah I didn't buy it either. Then, if you are a person who needs assistance, all you have to do is read the inscription at the bottom of the drawing and you are sucked into the garden like rotten vegetables down a garbage disposal.

I could rant and rave forever, but basically when it comes down to it, the book was just very flat and it had absolutely no life. And that's about all that needs to be said. The concept was stupid, it didn't work, and the story was completely unmemorable. I finished this about three days ago, and I have already forgotten the characters' names.

Mimi hates being different. She would love to look, smell and be like the other kids in her school. Mimi’s Dad wants her to be a good Chinese girl who does not argue with her parents. Mimi’s Mother wants her to find a way to be both her own true self who just happens to have Chinese ancestry.

Even if Mimi looked & smelled just like her classmates she still would be different – Mimi is an artist! Her school day starts with Gemma Johnson calling her names and making fun of her being Chinese. The saving grace of this torment is Mimi’s art teacher, Miss O’Dell who recognizes that Mimi is special because she is different.

Miss O’Dell gives Mimi a gift of artist’s pastels – but this is no ordinary box of pastels, it is magical. This is a very potent gift that comes with a dire warning: “A treasure for some A curse for others”. Mimi is able to tap into her imagination and with the magic of the pastels she draws the garden of Empress Cassia. People are pulled into her drawings and rediscover their dreams. The whole neighborhood starts to make friends with each other.

The buzz around Mimi’s drawing attracts the jealousy of Gemma. Gemma thinks the power of Mimi’s drawings come only from the pastels so she finds a way to steal them. Mimi is heartbroken that she has lost the pastels but has to find a way to save her worst enemy from the curse of the pastels.
Through these series of events Mimi accepts and comes to embrace her heritage. She is also able to empathize with her neighbors and learns to see the “different-ness” that makes each one of them a special individual. She also comes to terms with her Father and finally learned to love all the parts that made her who she is.

This is a very sweet book and if I were a pre-teen girl it would be one of my favorites. It has a very good message on being yourself in spite of what the bullies say to you. I think Mimi is a relatable character and even if you were not Chinese-Australian you would be able to find common ground in her situation.

This novel is meant for young readers, the vocabulary is easily understandable to children and the concepts are simplified. Mimi, the main character, doesn't like being and feeling different than the other children. She just wants to fit in. The author makes the reader believe that he/she is truly reading about an eleven-year-old child. The plot is very different and the reader will enjoy reading about the pastels and the ups and downs of using them. The story is very creative and is sure to capture a child's interest and keep his/her attention. This novel is recommended for young children.

The Garden of Empress Cassia is a breathtaking book which explores the adventures of a young Chinese girl named Mimi. She always hated living in her father's herbal medicine shop and never appreciated or respected the fact that she is Chinese, she was bullied at school because of her herbal scent. Her only way of escaping the taunting thoughts of class bully Gemma and the pressure of school was by drawing peaceful images.Her life changed on the day her art teacher gave her a historical box of magical pastels, the images she drew came to life and interacted with people's thoughts.Mimi drew images of ponds, gardens, beaches and mountain on the pavements of the her inner-city home. As people passed by they were transported into the image, which brought back their joyous memories and healed their inner pain.
Mimi was an artist with a pure heart, but what if the pastels fell into Gemma's hands? The infusion of Asian exoticism gives the text more variety and a high interest which attracts readers. The text also uses a number of poetic devices to describe the images, depicting on the Chinese and Australian culture.
I believe Gabrielle Wang has a produced an enjoyable book which reflects on the Asian culture and retells a exhilarating, yet life changing, story about a Chinese girl and her box of magical pastels.

4* Raised in Melbourne in a traditional Chinese family, Mirabel meets and falls in love with a Chinese soldier on assignment in Melbourne. After his return to China, Mirabel, discovering she is pregnant, decides to disobey her parents and follow him to China to search for him. Although this is a classic love story at heart, one develops a very realistic feel of life in both Melbourne and Shanghai during World War II. Cultural differences are also highlighted particularly those between Mirabel and her close Jewish friend Rosa whose extended family has escaped Europe to live in Shanghai and support Mirabel during her first years in Shanghai.

This moving and sweeping love story is set in Melbourne, Australia and Shanghai, China during World War II. Mirabel, a seventeen-year-old Australian-born Chinese teenager falls in love with a handsome young Chinese soldier who is stationed in Melbourne during World War II. They have a secret affair only Mirabal’s old Aunt and best friend Rosa, knows of the relationship.

Then out of the blue JJ is re-posted to China and Mirabel discovers that she is pregnant. She is unsure of what action to take and unable to contact JJ. After telling her parents and refusing to give her baby up for adoption, Mirabel and little Bao Bao flee by boat to the city of Shanghai. But China is in midst of civil war and the Communist army is advancing...Will Mirabel find her beloved JJ before it's too late?

This is a first teen novel for this author and although this story is a work of fiction it was inspired by the life of the author’s mother. The story is beautifully written and the history in story is seemly correct. The book will appeal to teen who want a well written love story with depth and historical themes. Teens over 15 years.

A beautiful story that was moving and thrilling to read. I was gripped to the very end.

Celeste's father is French and her mother was Chinese and she lives in Australia. When her mother dies, Celeste takes her ashes back to China to be laid to rest on a special mountain. While there, she stays with her grandmother and discovers a family secret that has been passed down from generation to generation - that she and her grandmother are exorcists; they can capture the spirits of the dead. However, there is one ghost that has an advantage over them because he has managed to influence her grandmother's adopted ward. Can Celeste reveal the deception before her grandmother is trapped into the afterlife forever. As well as being a supernatural tale, this story also looks at how the death of a parent can effect a child and also tells us about the special beliefs held by the people of rural China.

Year 6