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THE SECRET VOICE OF GINA ZHANG
by Dori Jones Yang
Pleasant Company
ISBN: 1584851996
Age Level: 8-10
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In this American Girl™ book, Jinna Zhang has moved with her parents
from China to America. They live with Jinna's aunt and uncle, who
own a Chinese restaurant. Jinna's parents work hard in the restaurant,
and Jinna starts school. Her parents expect her to do well, learn
English, and teach it to them. They want her to bring honor to her
Chinese heritage. But things go terribly wrong the very first day
of class. People there don't even pronounce her name right. They call
her Gina. And they pronounce her last name "Zang" instead
of "Jong."
Also, even though her teacher is nice to her, Jinna knows that she
doesn't want a new student, especially one who can't speak English.
Jinna is quick to pick up on people's facial expressions and gestures,
but she doesn't understand anything them when they speak. She is so
scared that, when she opens her mouth to talk, nothing comes out.
She doesn't know what's wrong; nothing like that has ever happened
to her before. She can talk fine at home, but she can't talk at school.
Classmates try to be nice and helpful, but when Jinna won't talk to
them, they ignore her. Only one girl, Priscilla, makes friends with
Jinna. Priscilla talks all the time, and she never expects Jinna to
answer. By listening to Priscilla and watching her facial expressions
when she talks, Jinna makes connections between the words and what
they must mean. She learns how to form sentences in her head, and
she starts talking English to herself at home. But she still can't
say anything at school. Her mother is anxious and tries to encourage
her. Her father commands her to talk and not bring shame to the Chinese
people. The teachers and the school counselor nag at her. Nobody will
just leave her alone to learn in her own way.
Jinna has a very good imagination, and she makes up a secret story
to help her cope with her new life. It's about a Princess who was
kidnapped by a huge crow and flown to the Land of Far-Away. In the
story, nobody in the Land of Far-Away believes that she is really
the Princess. They make her prove it to them by being clever, brave,
and noble. Jinna makes small dolls out of yarn, which she calls the
Yarn People, and she acts out her story with these dolls. She doesn't
want anybody to know about this story, because it's too personal,
but Priscilla finds out about it.
What will happen when Jinna's secret story about the Princess comes
together with a class assignment and a nasty student? What will happen
when Jinna learns that other people have secrets, too? How will her
father's secret surprise her? And when she learns Priscilla's secret,
what will it mean to Jinna? Does Priscilla need Jinna as much as Jinna
needs Priscilla? Read this book to find out how friendship, imagination,
and courage can help Jinna put together her life, like the pieces
of a confusing puzzle, into a meaningful picture.
--- Reviewed by Tamara Penny
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