I discovered this book at the library and was thrilled. Like Grace Lin's The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Rat, Ruby Lu, Brave and True features an elementary school-aged Chinese girl, and references to Chinese and Chinese-American culture are strewn throughout the book. The reading level is the same, too - a chapter book with short chapters and frequent drawings. I read it out loud to Isabelle (4-years-old) at bedtime, and she really enjoyed it. I shouldn't draw too many similarities, though, between this book and Grace Lin's books. I don't know exactly how old the main characters in Lin's books are supposed to be, but I think maybe they are in 4th or 5th grade. Ruby Lu is younger - 1st or 2nd grade, I think - and Lenore Look was definitely able to capture the perspective of a bold, imaginative, and adventurous little girl. It was funny at times, but I'm sure most of it went over Isabelle's head. Whereas Grace/Pacy (the main character in Lin's books) struggles with some big questions (e.g., how to reconcile her Chinese-ness and her American-ness, what she should be when she grows up), Ruby Lu simply has one interesting exploit after another, sometimes learning a thing or two along the way. Also, while Grace/Pacy's Chinese-ness is more front-and-center in Lin's books, Ruby is more the picture of an average 1st-or-2nd grader who happens to be Chinese.
No comments:
Post a Comment