The Chinese in America by Iris Chang

This narrative history of Chinese Americans is fascinating. Why did Chinese citizens leave China? Why did they come to America? How did their experience with Anglo-Americans differ from that of other minorities? Did you know that many Chinese men married Irish women? I didn’t. Ms. Chang covers a lot of territory in this book. The newest Chinese immigrants—boys and girls adopted from China—got short shrift, only six pages for thirty plus years of history, while Wen Ho Lee got six pages for his two years in the news. I would have liked as much depth with the adoption issue as we got with the Wen Ho Lee issue. I liked that Ms. Chang went into quite a bit of depth regarding the attitudes and conflicting cultures of Chinese American children and teen-agers. Ms. Chang also addresses the racial limbo of Chinese Americans—in some instances regarded as white, in other instances regarded as people of color. Americans have a history of discriminating against people of color because of the conduct of the citizens in their country of origin. Japanese Americans were imprisoned in WWII while German Americans remained free. Chinese American citizens and immigrants have at different times in American history been imprisoned or sent to China depending on the whim of our government. I see the same thing happening with Hispanic and Arab Americans. Ms. Chang also discusses racism among different ethnicities in China. Four out of four bookworms.

Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James

I don’t know exactly how or when I stumbled across Eloisa James. I know that I found her a couple of years ago, and that’s it. I also know that I love her romances. The characters are intelligent, (as intelligent as characters in love can be) and her stories are fun, funny, and sensuous. Pleasure for Pleasure is no exception. This is the last novel in the “Four Sisters” series. I must admit to not having read the middle two novels, yet, but the first in the series, Much Ado About You, was my introduction to Eloisa James. I will read the other two, probably sooner than later.

The year is 1818, and Josie, the youngest Essex sister, has made a less than successful debut. A spurned suitor has labeled her “The Scottish Sausage.” Consequently, she spends a lot of balls dancing with her sisters’ husbands’ friends. I’m not going to tell you who the hero is in this novel because half the fun of the plot is waiting (in my case not so patiently) to find out who Josie will end up with. Unlike other authors, Ms. James often doesn't reveal who the heroine will end up with until well into the novel. My only complaint is the cover of the book. I like for the characters on the cover to look like the characters the author describes in the book. Neither the hero nor the heroine on the cover looks even remotely like Ms. James’ descriptions. The hero’s hair is the wrong color, and the heroine is way to thin. To all of you publishers out there, “Read the friggin’ book! Heck, you don’t even have to read the book, just the character descriptions. Give me a break.”

Thank you Ms. James for giving us two romances for the price of one. The Essex sisters’ chaperone, Griselda, finally finds the love of her life, and her story is every bit as compelling as Josie’s. Four out of four bookworms.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

Once again Avi gives us a compelling historical novel for young adults which adults will enjoy as well. Crispin has just buried his mother, but his grief is compounded when he is proclaimed a “wolf’s head.” Anyone may kill him and receive a reward. As Crispin runs for his life, he learns that all is not as it seems—with his life or with the world around him. This novel is reminiscent of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle in that a stranger who Crispin initially distrusts opens Crispin’s eyes to the truths of how people treat each other. Avi gives us a lesson in English medieval history wrapped in an exciting story that will leave readers breathless and ready for the sequel. Four out of four bookworms.