Publishers Weekly
Eleven-year-old Andy's first trip to Vietnam with his father, a “Viet Kieu” (someone born in Vietnam who now lives overseas), exposes him to internalized prejudices about his heritage and provides insight into the different yet “same-same” struggles of his nuclear and extended families. Initially, Andy distinguishes himself from his pushy relatives by emphasizing his Australian citizenship and criticizing customs that seem unfair (such as his cousin Minh's low status as the child of a divorcée). And the visit soon gives rise to questions: why does his hardworking, penny-pinching father bestow gifts Andy knows they can't afford? Why does the “famous” family restaurant look like a ramshackle shop? Excitement builds when Andy and Minh entice tourists to the restaurant with an English menu, resulting in some lighthearted mayhem (when Andy is unsure about Minh's idea to put a fake blurb from Nicole Kidman on the menu, she replies, “Maybe she been here and nobody notice”). But this episode in stretching the truth leads to greater honesty and compassion all around. This humorous, touching novel is a delicious cross-cultural treat, and includes an appendix of Vietnamese recipes. Ages 9-13. (Mar.)
VOYA
- Stacey Hayman
Andy is almost twelve, and he is taking his first plane ride, using his first passport, and meeting his father's family all on the same trip. It is also the first time his father has visited his family since he escaped from Hanoi in the early 1970s. There is a lot for Andy to take in, from the complex family, to speaking Vietnamese, to the unrecognizable foods, but he finds his father the most confusing. Back home in Australia, Andy's parents are constantly reminding him they are not made of money. In Vietnam, Andy's father wears fancy new clothes, passes out gifts, and gives money to everyone. The Nguyen family's famous restaurant turns out to be a small storefront with rooms for the family to live in. Perhaps both sides have been exaggerating the stories of their success. Are Andy's controversial ideas for updating the family restaurant going to change their fortunes for the better, or has he insulted his family beyond forgivness? It is easy to engage with Andy and his family. Learning about daily life in Hanoi through Andy's eyes makes it easier for readers to understand some of the bigger issues in Vietnam. The problem of street children is offset by the eclectic variety of food selections, and the poor school systems are offset by how well the younger people can speak English, which allows the country to be portrayed as neither all good nor all bad. Recipes at the end of the book are interesting and will pique the curiosity of interested readers. Reviewer: Stacey Hayman
School Library Journal
Gr 4–6—It is his father's first trip back to Vietnam since emigrating to Australia, and 11-year-old Andy cannot help but take stock of both the cultural differences and the changes in his dad's behavior. Even on the plane ride there, his normally thrifty, casually clad father has been replaced by a diamond-ring-wearing Viet Kieu (the term for anyone returning to their homeland) in a business suit. Once in Hanoi, the obvious differences in amenities, prices, and customs continue. Particularly troubling are the street children who hover around the foreign visitors. As Andy gradually gets over his culture shock, he gains a better understanding of his family relationships, thanks in part to his cousin Minh, a resourceful and determined girl. Minh and Andy provide a vivid tourist and insider portrayal of Hanoi, with especially tantalizing descriptions of food at the family-owned restaurant. Do not read while hungry.—Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library
Kirkus Reviews
Thoroughly Australian, 11-year-old Andy has never seen Vietnam, his parents' homeland. Visiting Hanoi with his father, Andy is shocked at his relatives' poverty, critical of the so-called restaurant they own and irritated at his cousins: Indy, who expects Andy to gift him his special T-shirt, and disrespectful Minh, 12, who calls him "Noodles." Why does Andy's father pretend he's rich? He's a gardener at the Adelaide botanic gardens. Why does Minh pretend to attend school when she's actually selling junk to tourists? Why is Auntie Mo so mean? Searching for answers, Andy uncovers family secrets stemming from decades of war that Vietnamese people, including his father, endured. The tiny restaurant serves great food, but it barely breaks even. Locals can't pay much; tourists can, but how to lure them here? Tackling the problem with his cousins' help, Andy begins to see the proud determination, hard work and family loyalty that define his relatives and their homeland. Engaging characters and humor leaven the grim realities. Includes recipes and a note on charities helping Vietnamese streetchildren. (Fiction. 9-13)
