Mei Lu is a seventeen year old teen with the most ambitious future career plans that her Taiwanese-American parents have laid out for her; she is skipping fourrth grade, and is accepted to MIT in Boston to become a doctor. Then the plan is she will marry a fellow (preferrably Taiwanese) Ivy League graduate and get children.
But as easy as this plan sounds in theory, ofcourse life goes different. She starts seeing a Japanese guy Darren Takahashi (totally forbidden by her mom) and she is afraid of germs, falls asleep during biology class, loves to dance ballet (also strictly forbidden by her mom) and asks herselfs more and more the simple question; do I really want to become a doctor??

With her mom out of sight in college, Mei starts to experience with the sudden freedom she seems to have, be it that her mom calls her and leaves her voicemail messages at any given time, wanting to know exactly what she is doing and at what time. Which leads to some situations when she doesn't answer her phone and her mom is standing in front of her college with the police in tow just to make sure Mei isn't kidnapped. Further on, she gets in touch with her older brother Xing. Years ago, her parents abandoned him from the family after he started dating his girlfriend Esther. Mei doesn't agree with this and there starts a nice bond between brother and sister. But then her parents find out she is seeing him and that she is still dating Darran college and that she doesn't get the best grades, and later on, that she just doesn't want to become a doctor, and then, just like her brother, they kick her out of their lives..

At firsthand, by looking at the cover, you would think this is a cute middle grade novel about a Chinese-American girl. Nothing of that. This book is definately for young adults and I guess everyone above that age. I wouldn't go for it as a younger reader because in the first part there are some scenes not that suitable. But besides that, this book ROCKS!
It is a very well written and gripping book about a girl that just wants to escape of the claws of her strict tiger parents. What starts with some overcontrolling texts messages from her mom at the end of every chapter turns into way more controlling. Luckily she finds some freedom at school and when she is with her brother. It's understandable why her parents do what they do, they want the best for her, but they just overmanaged her life. What they do when they find out she is seeing her brother was just heartbreaking, and something Mei really didn't deserve. Just because his girlfriend is something that is believed to be bad luck in Chinese culture: she can't get pregnant. In the end though there are some first steps to a reconciliation which was quite a good ending. Further on, It was very entertaining to follow Mei at college and her romance with Darren, which was just so beautiful.

I found this book just very beautiful, moving gripping and well written, so I highly recommend it to read!!

5 out of 5 stars to AMERICAN PANDA by Gloria Chao!

American Panda is an absolutely excellent work of contemporary YA fiction. It's funny, relatable, and sweet.

There were moments that I, as a non-Asian person, didn't necessarily understand or relate to, but honestly? That just makes it better. Because it was still laugh-out-loud funny and heart-meltingly sweet, and I read it knowing there were teenage girls and boys who maybe had never related so hard to a book who completely saw themselves in this novel, and that...is amazing.

Mei is funny and relatable. Her character arc is satisfying and believable. But the best part? Her mom's character arc.

I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who wants a delightful read.

American Panda is a contemporary novel with a Taiwanese-American main character that is the perfect combination of entertaining and relatable. It's about Mei, a seventeen-year-old who is starting her freshman year at MIT and appears following the path her parents have laid out for her for years: studying to become a doctor and marrying a proper Taiwanese boy. But Mei knows that she wants other things for herself, things that her parents might not necessarily approve of. The novel tackles her struggle to reconcile her desire to honor her parents, embrace her culture and still remain true to who she is, and Gloria Chao does so, so well in executing this story with all of its facets.

Right off the bat, American Panda suited me perfectly because it featured a lot of elements that I'm drawn to: the college freshman experience (which was definitive for me in my real life), an adorable romance (let's face it, I'm a sucker for Japanese boys and a friends-turned-something-more romance), and personal growth (because I love stories where characters are allowed to discover more things about themselves through experiences good and bad). But I also just adored the fact that the main character had experiences similar to my own when it came to embracing both sides of her heritage (Taiwanese and American for her; Filipino and American for me), including the struggle to reconcile how to honor her history and her parents without sacrificing her own self. I really appreciated Chao's depiction of this particular slice of reality (that applies to so many folks I know), and I think it was done really well.

I really liked American Panda, partly for the way it felt like a reflection of myself and partly just because it was a fun story to read. I'm delighted that it was written and that it exists in mainstream YA. Gloria Chao did a great job telling Mei's story, and I can't wait to see what she does next!

American Panda is a story that will definitely open doors to more college stories in YA lit. It’s relateable, fun, and its just what every freshman in college needs to read!

The main character is a 17 year old in her first year of pre-med and she has to deal with so many things (including the pressure from her family to become a doctor) and she’s just a girl trying to find her passion and finding the strength to stand up for herself and do what she really wants to do!

The character development was phenomenal (specially in her mother). ❤️ It was a nice and relatable read!

I loved American Panda. It’s such a great insight into Taiwanese-American culture. I really loved getting to know and understand Mei’s family, as well as experiencing her finding that balance between tradition and the things she wants for her own life.

I loved Mei. She is bright and funny and just someone I wish I was friends with. I felt bad that she feels like she had to hide her aversion to germs. Which is another reason she struggles with the career path her parents have chosen for her. She has a love of dance and the arts and also math. She might be frustrated with her family but she truly loves them.

The book deals a lot with what it is like to move to another country with different values then what you are raised. As well as with different eras and moving forward with the times. My grandparents were immigrants from Lithuania and there was certain things I found I could relate to. It’s easy to judge someone else’s family without understanding where they are coming from. My grandma came to America at 16 with no parents and pretty much no belongings. She was lucky to have family here already but her outlook on the world was just different. She often put me down, thinking that it would make me work harder. Strange ideology yes but it made me understand Mei better. I loved learning about Mei’s family and their traditions. Yes Mei’s mom wants her to be a doctor and marry well but you really get to see why. Why does her mother want these things for her, how does the culture and traditions influence that. I just felt like there is so much depth to the storytelling in that respect.

Mei’s relationship with her mother is a big focus. I liked seeing how it changes and evolves in the book as Mei is trying to find her voice. She doesn’t want to hurt her parents, especially her mom and you see her struggle with this. She does appreciate what they have done for her, but also sees a different perspective of what they are expecting from spending time Xing.

I really liked the voicemails and the information about why certain chapter numbers are missing.

The MIT setting is so much fun. Especially since Gloria Chao is a graduate of the school herself. It made it feel like you were getting a secret inside view. I loved all the different lingo that MIT students have for things and all the different things they do. It made me miss college a little.

Mei and Darren’s relationship is the cutest thing ever. I loved how awkward they are! I loved that it’s both of them at different times. I enjoyed reading about their relationship. It made me smile.

American Panda is such a great story! I really loved everything about it.

American Panda made tons of people’s lists of most-anticipated 2018 book releases, and with good reason. Though this wasn’t my perfect contemporary, it was a solid middle-of-the-road read for me, and I think so many readers will be able to see themselves in the pages of this book.

The thing that stands out most to me about American Panda is how clear it is that this story came straight from Gloria Chao’s heart. You can just feel it in every word she writes. This is a huge reason I enjoy reading #ownvoices books so much, and this one was no exception. Our main character, Mei, is Taiwanese-American, and though I can’t speak directly to the quality of the representation as a white person, I thought this book provided an excellent glimpse into the struggles many first-generation immigrant children face. Not only is she attempting to balance her own happiness with her strict parents’ desires, but she’s also adjusting to being in college and battling her increasing germaphobia. (Also, while we’re on the subject, can I just say how much fun I had reading a YA book set in college? More of this, please!)

Mei’s voice was the saving grace of the novel and what kept me reading. She’s a standout character, and I loved learning and growing along with her. So many parts of this book were painful to read simply because of how painful they were for Mei to experience. It felt very… real. Learning about yourself is hard, emotional work, and so many stories don’t emphasize that enough, in my opinion. This narrative also strikes a great balance between darker elements and comedic moments.

Other than those elements I loved, I had some issues with the overall structure and plot of the story. My biggest issue lies in the fact that every scene change felt SUPER abrupt and jarring. There were just no smooth transitions. I also personally didn’t care for the romance. I didn’t dislike it, but I’m not sure how much it added to the story overall. Mei’s friends and love interest felt a bit two-dimensional, especially compared to Mei herself, who felt so vibrant.

In general, I think this one is worth picking up if you’re anticipating its release. It fills a much-needed gap in representation in YA, and I think readers will connect with Mei on a very human level. Despite the often clunky writing, this story kept me turning the pages throughout, and it also addressed so many important issues.

Have you read American Panda? If so, what did you think? If not, do you plan to read it?

I had so much fun reading American Panda! I found myself laughing out loud throughout the book! Mei is such a fun and interesting and awkward character. I loved the fact that Mei is in college. You don't see that much in YA. I loved all the characters, especially the fact that they had flaws. They were complex and interesting. Mei and Darren are so cute!I loved how family was a big part of American Panda. I loved seeing Mei find herself. Also, the food descriptions made me so hungry. Don't read this on an empty stomach! I really enjoyed this fun, cute, and witty Contemporary!

From the very first chapter of this book, I knew for a fact that this was going to wind up being a 5 star read. It’s been a while since a book has really captured my attention and made me fall in love quite the way American Panda has. I had a feeling it was going to be a fun interesting book, but I guess I didn’t know just how much until I actually picked it up and started reading. Then I was completely blown away by how much I loved it!

American Panda had so many laugh out loud moments, as well as so many tender, heartfelt moments with family and self-discovery that made it unique, fun, and sweet. I honestly didn’t know much about Chinese and Taiwanese culture before going into this book, so I was a bit worried that the fact that I didn’t have much background knowledge might affect my enjoyment of the book, but that wasn’t an issue at all. In fact, Gloria Chao really allows this book to be enjoyed by all readers – even those who might not be familiar with customs and the culture.

“Even with seventeen years of practice, I didn’t have a fighting chance against a dish named stinky tofu. I gagged. My mother sniffed and smiled. ‘Smells like home.’ Mmm. Who doesn’t love the scent of athlete’s foot with lunch?”

At the start of the book, we are introduced to Mei and her parents. Mei is a seventeen year old Taiwanese-American girl who is a student at MIT. Her parents have pushed her to become a doctor, and she believes that she must, because that is their wish, so she is struggling against making her parents happy, and trying to figure out how on earth she can possibly become a doctor when germs gross her out so much.

“By the end of the day, I was bathing in my own sweat. I didn’t know how I was going to do this – get through medical school, make this my life. A few hours and I was ready to immerse my entire body in a hand-sanitzer bath.”

Along with being pushed to become a doctor, her mother is always pushing her to find a husband (well, to meet one that she believes is suitable), and to keep herself looking slim and good so that she could be attractive for men. Her mother believes she has found the perfect guy for Mei, and she is always pushing her to meet him, despite her wants.

“I smiled, but it wasn’t because I thought Hanwei was cute. I could never date the boy who once peed on my foot. Sure, we were six at the time and in a car, but to me he would always be the boy who couldn’t control his bladder.”

She is also constantly reminded of her brother’s disownment, and the fact that she could never speak to him or see him again, all because of the woman that he chose. This makes Mei feel pressured to only date someone of the same culture as she, even though she finds herself slowly falling for someone her parents would never approve of.

“No one understood me or how hard this was. How I felt like I had to split myself in two, neither of them truly Mei, just to make everyone else happy.”

So what Mei decides to do is attempt to live two lives – one that allows her parents to be proud of her, hiding everything that makes her unique and happy, and the other she keeps for herself, including attempting to see her brother, acting on her feelings for a boy her mother and father would never approve of, and teaching dance classes, because that is where she feels happiest. However, since her parents would never allow any of these things, Mei starts to feel as though she is keeping too many secrets, and she is afraid her parents will disown her the way that they disowned her brother.

“Dance was the one place I truly belonged, where age, race, looks, and intelligence didn’t matter. I had pretended to continue dancing for my parents’ sakes – partly to earn brownie points but mostly because I was scared if they knew just how much I loved it, they would take it away. Dancers don’t make money, Mei.”

When Mei finds herself in need of speaking to her brother, just to see where it all went wrong and because she doesn’t believe he should have just been cast out in such an aweful way, she has to fight her parents wishes once again to do what she believes is right, keeping even more secrets.

“I could agree to stop seeing Xing and Darren, try harder in biology, stop teaching dance…Except I couldn’t. I had already tried. And failed. If I lied, the real me would disappear. I’d become that hollow shell, nothing more than the emptiness I saw in Dr. Chang.”

I loved Mei’s story – it was so heartwarming and it really made you appreciate your family, but it also gives readers a sense of empowerment, because although Mei is going behind her parents’ backs to do what she feels is necessary for her, she still does it. She wants to honor her parents’ wishes, of course, but at the same time, she doesn’t want to disappear and become someone she doesn’t recognize. And she really has no desire to eat stinky tofu. She also wants to make new friends, fall in love, and stand up for the things that she believes in.

The relationship that Mei had with her parents was interesting – especially with her mother. While you might think that her mother is overbearing and pushy, that is part of Mei’s culture. I found the character development in American Panda to be incredibly moving and I think it really made the book.

The supporting characters in the book were interesting – for example, I went from not liking Mei’s roommate Nicolette very much, to absolutely adoring her. What unfolded when we finally learned about her brother was also interesting and vital to the story.

If you are looking for a great read that you won’t be able to put down, American Panda is perfect for you.

American Panda follows Mei, a 17 year old Taiwanese-American who is starting her first semester at MIT. Throughout the story Mei struggles with finding a balance between two cultures, which traditions to hold on to and which to let go of, and how to be her own person at school away from her parents.

I really enjoyed reading his book. I felt connected to Mei and could definitely feel and understand her emotions. As well as connecting with the character, I learned about Mei’s culture and how traditions can vary amongst families. I think it’s important that there’s a passage in the book about culture and how it’s varied, it’s super important for people to know that just because people have the same ancestry or culture, the way they incorporate those into their lives can be very different.

One thing that surprised me was how emotional this story is. I thought it was going to be a light hearted, fluffy contemporary, but there were some serious and difficult moments. It was sad to read about the guilt Mei feels because she does not want to live up to some of her parents expectations of her, and that she feels guilty for hanging out with her brother.

My favorite part of the book was seeing how Mei and her mother’s relationship changes throughout Mei’s first year away from home. I know it’s normal for parent/children relationships to change once children leave home, but it was a little different in this story because of the more collectivistic culture and because Mei is starting college a year early.

I loved the romance, it felt authentic to me. Mei and Darren’s relationship was cute and realistic. You see her struggle because this being the first guy she’s interested in pursuing romantically, and like with other family issues you can feel Mei’s guilt for being interested in someone her parents don’t approve of.

Mei loves dancing, and you can really tell based on how descriptive the parts about dancing are. I like how it was used as a way of self-care. Not only does Mei enjoy teaching dance, but she enjoys dancing for herself, and is something she does when she’s stressed out or upset. I wish there were more descriptions of Mei teaching dance classes, it’s mentioned a couple of times, but I wish it was brought up more often.

Overall this was such a cute and emotional story, and I can’t wait to read whatever Gloria Chao comes out with next!

American Panda is a great read that provides an intimate look at both the immigrant experience and Taiwanese culture.

The story is narrated by Mei, a first-generation Chinese-American attending MIT. Her parents immigrated from Taiwan, and they have very high expectations for Mei: she must become a doctor and find a suitable Taiwanese boy to marry. Mei believes that she cannot disappoint them, especially after her older brother chose to date a woman her parents disapproved of and was disowned as a result. However, Mei is phobic about germs and can’t imagine actually working with sick people. Then she meets a handsome Japanese-American student, Darren, who makes her want to ignore everything her parents have ever told her about Taiwanese boys. So it comes down to what’s more important to Mei—to please her parents or to please herself?

Interestingly, I actually had a little bit of exposure to Mei’s culture before reading this book, because I roomed with an international student from Taiwan in college. She told me more than once that her parents disapproved of something she was doing; for example, she was dating another international student from Hong Kong—not good. Being a typical American, I told her she should do what she wanted to do, of course. However, I don’t think I really understood what disapproval from her parents could potentially mean for her until I read this book.

Mei faces two different sources of pressure from her mother and father. One of them involves traditional Chinese expectations of filial piety (respect for elders and ancestors). The other is the pressure faced by many children of immigrant parents, the pressure to succeed in order to justify the sacrifices their parents made in coming to a new country. With the dual weight of both of these forces acting on her, it’s easy to understand why Mei finds it so difficult to defy her parents and follow her own dreams.

The book’s message goes beyond those groups, though, because many people may struggle with making choices that will their families unhappy. That’s a point brought home in the story through a conversation Mei has with a student who came out to her parents and was rejected. So there’s a lot to appreciate about this novel just as a portrait of a young person who is learning to respect her own desires and needs and stand independently from the people who raised her.

All of that probably makes the book sound very serious, but it’s actually quite funny. Mei’s first instinct is to react to discomfort with jokes, and she finds herself in some pretty humorously uncomfortable situations and responds accordingly. There’s a lot of humor in some of the more extreme beliefs and behaviors of her Chinese family, too.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys YA contemporaries! I’m really looking forward to reading the author’s next book.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

i am so excited for this book. unfortunately, due to the fact that i can't get it onto my kindle, i couldn't read it. so, review to come.

REVIEW -

oh WOW. i picked up this book at like 2 pm this afternoon and have just now finished it -- I LOVED IT.

The main character, Mei, is instantly likeable AND relatable. She's funny and wry, awkward and nervous. i loved her descriptions of her body sweat and germaphobia. She's one of those once in a lifetime characters that you know, love, and want to be --- and in some instances, ARE.

This book focuses on Mei fighting a large internal battle -- wanting to be the daughter her parents want her to be but also trying to be the MEI that she wants to be - and how hard it is to play both parts. The story is infused with her amazing Chinese culture throughout, and I just adored following her journey from beginning to end.

(spoiler) - my favourite thing about the book is that it has no chapter 4 or 13, due to Chinese Superstitions. it's amazing. this book is fun, quirky, and immersive. i can't say enough good things about it.

I really liked this story!

Mei’s situation is very relatable. Her parents insist that she go to medical school, but she doesn’t want to. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to study what I wanted, but I know that isn’t the case for many people.

I loved Mei’s mother. She was so funny. She was constantly leaving voicemails for Mei and always ending them by saying “It’s your mom,” as if she didn’t know. She also called the police when Mei didn’t return her call for hours. She was very strict but also funny.

I’m a very squeamish person, so I don’t like reading about medical things. There were a few moments where Mei was in medical environments which were so gross! It was ironic since Mei was such a germaphobe. Those parts really grossed me out.

Overall, I really liked this story! It’s definitely worth the hype!

*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This is such a cute story. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book and watching Mei grow as a person and individual.

This book is all about character development and growth, so at first I was worried because if this isn't done gradually or well, then the story can fall apart. I feel like Mei's growth is done slowly throughout the book making it more believable. Besides her, the other characters do seem a bit dim, but nothing to complain about. I did wish Mei had more friends, but when she did talk to people the conversation wasn't always about boys and romance, so plus there!

As for the romance, it is insta-love :( How unfortunate....
The author does have them hang out and do things a few times though, so at least their relationship seemed to have a good foundation, even if to me the relationship felt too good to be true. I do really like his character though!! Whenever he showed up, I was excited :)

I have to warn you, this is a tear-jerker, or it was for me at least. The writing had me connected with Mei, so when she wasn't sure what to do or was being criticized by her parents it really hurt my heart! My parents were never this strict and I'm so thankful for it. I mean, maybe I would have done better in school, but that isn't all there is to life!

So, this is a cute, heart-felt, coming of age story that I will recommend to people.

LOVE THIS SO MUCH! 我很愛這本書喔 (｡♥‿♥｡)

<b>1. IT'S SO, SO RELATABLE. </b>

I'm Chinese, and I could really relate to some of the family stuff Mei had to deal with. My parents are not as traditional as Mei's, BUT - I'M REALLY FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF STUFF IN THIS BOOK AND IT FEELS GOOD, YA KNOW?

Stinky tofu! It's one of my favorite Chinese street foods and although it stinks, it tastes so delicious *drools* (Sadly, Mei doesn't like stinky tofu D:)

Insecurities - Mei is dissatisfied with the size of her nose, and I RELATE SO HARD. My nose is so big it kind of looks like a pear. And I always pinch it, hoping I'll be able to make it smaller. (I've never heard of the big nose = fortune Chinese myth though! It's so interesting hahahaha I wonder if it works.)

Clothing with misspelled words on them. HAHAHAHAHAHA I SEE THESE ALL THE TIME IN THE MARKETS WHERE I LIVE! I have a crop top with two smiley faces on it, and below them there's the word "simile" instead of "smile". I'm pretty sure that's a spelling mistake, but "simile"'s an actual word, and there are TWO smiley faces, so I think that works as well.

<i>Not just high school. I wore neon leggings and sweatpants with misspelled English for the first ten years of my life. Bums Bunny and Butman made me a target no matter what I did.</i>

<b>2. MEI DECIDES TO FOLLOW HER DREAMS IN THE END.</b>

Mei, I am rooting for ya :) Mei's parents are kind of unreasonable, tbh. They plan out everything for her, making Mei skip one year of high school, go to MIT premed, and even pairing her so that she can produce some Taiwanese babies. That is kind of insane. Mei dreams of becoming a dancer, not a doctor. She's afraid of going against her parent's wishes, but soon realises that she can never become what her parents want her to be. (GOODNESS I SOUND LIKE MY LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER SHE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT INTERNAL STRUGGLES AHAHAHAHA.)

I love how bravely Mei pursues her dreams. Her parents might never understand them, but instead of letting anyone tell her what to do, Mei does what SHE wants to do at the end.

<b>3. DARREN TAKAHASHI</b>

<i>He took both my hands in his and turned me to face him. "I love you, Mei." My entire body froze. "I started falling for you when I first heard you talk about Horny, and then we moved on to beavers and nuts and magicians..." He placed a hand over his heart.

"I love you, too," I said, no hesitation. "Ever since you told me you wanted to try stinky tofu because it smells so bad."</i>

Darren = nerdy, friendly and supportive (my version of tall, dark and handsome ;)). HE'S ALSO BRAVE ENOUGH TO TRY STINKY TOFU + DANCE LIKE THERE'S NO ONE WATCHING and wow. I think my ever-growing list of book boyfriends just got longer.

The best thing I love about Darren is how he always makes someone feel like they belong. Like when Mei needs emotional support, he is always there to give it and aaahh he's the sweetest guy ever I NEED A DARREN TAKAHASHI IN MY LIFE.

<b>4. MAMA LU'S MESSAGES TO MEI ARE HILARIOUS.</b>

<i>Remember Amberly Ahn? She had eyelid surgery and it turned out great. We should think about doing that for you. Maybe we can tattoo your makeup on at the same time. Remember, there are no ugly women, only lazy women. Repeat that three times every morning.</i>

I don't know if I should call this hilarious, ridiculous, or ridiculously hilarious. It is evident that Mama Lu wants the best for Mei, but sometimes she can be quite annoying, and I totally feel Mei when she says that she doesn't want her life all planned out by her parents.

I had a great laugh reading their messages though! 😂

<b>Overall Rating</b>
★★★★.5

Mei’s a freshman at MIT and is on track to fulfill her predetermined future (as dictated by her parents): become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, and produce a litter of babies.

After all her parents have sacrificed, Mei can’t bear to tell them that she hates germs, falls asleep during biology, and has a crush on her Japanese classmate Darren.

But as Mei reconnects with her estranged brother Xing, she wonders if the secrets are worth it–keeping her true self away from her family as her lies slowly unfold.

5 stars

American Panda is such a real novel.

As an #OwnVoices depiction of being a first generation Asian-American teen, it hits the bulls eye right in the center.

I’m a first-and-a-half generation (first on one side, second on the other) Asian-American teen, and I totally understand where Chao is coming from, even though my parents are super un-strict (book arrives at house? oh, that’s cool).

But this is real. This is happening every day. It’s not exclusive to everyone who’s not Asian–the idea of parents pressuring their children to fulfill their dreams instead of their children‘s dream is unfortunately reality for many.

And so I applaud Chao for writing this novel for all the people who feel like they have to fit into the boxes other people give them. It’s got a fantastic message and great themes that aren’t just applicable for Asian readers.

But it does hit hard for those who feel like they have to live up to someone else’s expectations or pursue something they’re not passionate about. This book’s message is not limited by race.

Mei is such an awesome character. She’s not super skinny, she has insecurities (that mole on her forehead? better get some bangs to cover it up), and she goes through a few flailures from time to time. She’s got so many complexities and you can understand how she feels like she’s being torn in two between the self she wants to be for herself and the self she wants to be for her parents.

She’s dealing with a plethora of problems, and Chao does a great job at balancing everything that’s happening in Mei’s life while also including information about the culture (even some things I didn’t know!).

Whether it’s Mei’s love life or her desire to dance, she’s got a balanced narrative that moves from one topic to the other very well.

This novel is paced nicely–I sped through the whole thing quite quickly and I had such a fun time reading (it’s also just a really cute book format-wise). It’s plot is mostly-character based, but things happen and there’s never really a dry moment.

The romance is also so cute. I really enjoyed the Mei & Darren flirtationship and the working their way to “like.” Most of the other side characters from her college weren’t super memorable, but I did love the poster girl of Taiwanese what-not-to-do because she created an incredible juxtaposition.

Also, I forgot to mention–college! We need more college-aged YA (that’s not smutty) and I love how this is another one to add to the list. It’s so important because a lot of the teens who read this book have no idea what to really expect in college–while they had lots of reference with all the high school books out there.

Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this and the culture references were so on point (stinky tofu? no thank you.). I love the humor that’s interspersed and sometimes it’s just Mei being an awkward smol bean and other times it’s from silly intercultural misunderstandings.

The only criticism I have is that in Asian-American contemporary YA novels with a large focus on Asian-American-ness, this type of storyline is the most common one (parents who have high expectations). In a way, through exposing people about this aspect of Asian-American culture, it’s also perpetuating the idea that Asian-Americans have tiger parents which leads to stereotypes and comments like “Oh, you’re parents must be so strict!” 😒

This isn’t really a criticism against American Panda because it’s not really the book’s (or Gloria’s) fault. But those who read it should take it with a grain of salt–one Asian-American experience is not representative of the whole Asian-American population.

You should definitely read this–I’m definitely not discouraging you from this. But remember to not take it as everyone’s experience as although I can relate on a certain degree, Mei’s life is far more extreme than mine.

I would totally recommend American Panda to anyone and everyone. If you’re feeling pressured, if you want to read something real, and think about someone else’s then you should definitely go and get your hands on a copy of American Panda!

The links will go live on February 4th with the blog tour & will also be shared on Twitter on that day!

I was really excited to be able to receive a digital galley of this book because it’s one I’ve really been looking forward to reading. It was not even a little disappointing! It was a bit different from what I was expecting, but that didn’t stop it from being thoroughly enjoyable, something made crystal clear by the fact that I read it in a single day and stayed up until 2:30 in the morning to finish it.

The characters are all really well developed and three dimensional. I felt like I could easily have had a conversation with any of them. There was also something to each character that I don’t get to see much in YA: a high level of complexity. Much of the time while reading YA, the characters aren’t quite as they appear with friends often being revealed later as villains and vice versa. With American Panda, the characters aren’t quite as they appear at first… they’re so much more. We’re given a first impression of the character which is then built upon instead of turned away from later. I really enjoyed that.

The story is set in Massachusetts, going back and forth between MIT’s campus and Boston. Each location was described with just enough detail that I was able to fill in any gaps with my imagination and put myself into the places where the characters found themselves. The world building itself is so tied into the plot that it’s hard for me even now to separate the two.

When I saw YA Contemporary and a cute girl on the cover, I figured American Panda would be a light, fluffy read. It. Was. Not. Throughout the novel, I got a window into part of what Mei calls “Chinese Politics,” which is both incredibly complicated and incredibly overlooked in western society. I had to remove what I typed here because I accidentally included a spoiler but… part of an ongoing theme throughout the story reiterated the fact that Asian people are not interchangeable, which is something I would definitely LOVE to see more in media.

While I generally don’t mention the Author’s Note or Acknowledgements in my reviews, the Author’s Note at the end of American Panda really struck a chord for me. I read this novel as a white American woman and LOVED it. But… the whole time I was reading it and learning the different aspects of Mei’s experience I couldn’t help thinking “Someone out there is having this experience. Someone out there is Mei. This is so important. They need this. They deserve this.” So seeing the Author’s Note at the end after having thought this for the majority of the book was as perfect as the book itself.

American Panda is a wonderful book about a girl navigating the confusing worlds of first love, family dynamics, academic expectations and living away from home for the first time. Mei is wonderfully funny, loyal and smart, and the story moves quickly, wrapping the reader up in her world and her problems, making us feel her triumphs and troubles.

I very much enjoyed the way her relationship with her mother unfolded as the books went on. It was an incredibly realistic portrayal of how our perspectives about our parents change as we get older. And I loved the inclusion of Ying-Na and Mei's discovery of how her story really unfolded.

I requested this book because the teens on my advisory board have been asking for more books with Asian American characters. And although, as Ying-Na states, every Asian American story is different, I think this book will resonate with them, and even with readers of other backgrounds and cultures.

I remember adding this and wanting this when all I had seen about it was the cover. I LOVED seeing a POC on the cover and it made my heart skip a beat. And then when the synopsis came out, it I knew it was something I HAD to read.
Mei is a freshman at MIT at the age of 17. And that's just one of the things she's doing to make her parents happy. But she's never once thought about what makes her happy. But as time goes on, she watches those around her and realizes that there is more to life than putting other people before yourself.
I picked this up after a creepy read because I wanted something fluffy and funny to read right after it. And I definitely picked the right thing. American Panda really did make me laugh out loud. I loved being inside Mei's head because she was the awkward type of funny that I am as well. And because of that, I laughed at all her corny jokes and sometimes I laughed so hard I snorted water out my nose.
I also really liked the characters. They all made the story for me. I loved that no matter how big the character was in the story, they all had an equally important role. Also, Mei was sucha fun character to get to know. It was such a fun ride to being inside her head and watching her grow and find out so much about herself.
But what I loved most about this book was learning about the Taiwanese culture. It was great to learn about another culture and some of their beliefs and customs. I found many of them very interesting and tried to learn more about them.
However, I was not a fan of the plot. It moved a touch too slow for me. It seemed as if everything was based on the internal war that Mei was having with herself and since that isn't resolved until the end, it took quite a while for the twists and turns to come out.
American Panda is a very cute read that will also make you FEEL. It's a fluffy read, but still has enough heart to warm the reader, just like the hot chocolate on the cover.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Simon Pulse for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Plot: Seventeen-year old Mei is a freshman at MIT, thanks to skipping fourth grade- all part of her parents’ master plan. This plan also includes Mei becoming a doctor, marrying a Taiwanese boy selected by her parents, and have a bunch of babies. Unfortunately, between her hatred of germs, her inability to stay awake during biology lectures, and a crush on her Japanese classmate Darren, Mei knows that she doesn’t want this future that her parents have planned and worked so hard for. When she reconnects with her estranged brother Xing, she begins to wonder whether it was worth keeping so many secrets from her parents, or if it was possible for her to find a way to live life on her terms.

I think the Goodreads synopsis of this contemporary YA novel can be a little misleading. I went in expecting a hilarious romantic comedy of errors, but instead was hit with a plethora of intensely complicated emotional drama. Gloria delivers a very real story that is not uncommon in many Asian families. Mei is a strong narrator throughout the book, and I found myself getting caught up in her angst and conflicting emotions. She’s clearly experiencing a tremendous amount of cognitive dissonance- wanting to make her parents happy and not let their sacrifices go for nought, while at the same time having ambitions and dreams of her own that are so far left field from what her parents have envisioned for her. While I didn’t grow up with parents as intense as Mei’s, my expat childhood was filled with a lot of these constant, conflicting desires. Gloria does an excellent job as portraying them for what they are- hardworking immigrant parents who’ve lived their lives holding firmly onto these perspectives and values and wanting their kids to have a secure future to the point where they’ve lost sight of personal happiness and their kids’ happiness, and the fact that the world and the country they live in is very different from the one they grew up in. Mei’s parents are very conservative and old-fashioned, ascribe to all manner of superstitions and beliefs, and yes, their love is conditional on their kids’ obedience- as evidenced by the fact that their son is estranged for falling in love with a non-parental-approved girl. I developed a certain appreciation for Mei’s mother, especially towards the end of the book. She’s a complex woman, her own story is sad and touching, and as a reader you’re definitely given some perspective on how the same cultural values and beliefs she upholds has had its effect on her own life.

Mei’s character arc itself is really strongly written and great to follow- she goes from being the kid who is too scared and too sheltered to disobey her parents, to a person that accepts that in order to live her life on her terms she is going to have to be okay with disappointing them once in a while. Boy, is that a life lesson, and one that does not get easy over time (yes, this is indeed the voice of experience). Juxtaposing her passion for dance and her lack of interest in her pre-med courses is a really good choice in terms of the writing and helps with the progression of the story. It also really made me empathize with her emotional turmoil. I also absolutely loved that she’s a college student; that transitioning worldview and exposure to a plethora of ideas, experiences, and possibilities was one that I related to completely because I remember experiencing those things when I was 17 and had moved away from my parents for the first time. It’s exhilarating and nerve-wracking, and superbly depicted in the story.

As for the other side characters: I adored her brother, and I was super invested in their relationship. Again, I could relate to that entire story arc on a personal level (not my immediate experience, but it’s happened within our family). You can still see how he does hang onto some of the values he was raised with, and it’s interesting to see how sometimes you can fall into the traps of sharing your parents’ thought processes even if you don’t mean to. Ying-Na serves as a reference for all the things that could happen if you choose to go against your conservative parents and community, and I really liked how she doesn’t just remain a caricature in the end. Darren is an adorable love interest, but I definitely appreciated that their romance was a secondary arc that was there to reinforce the primary narrative instead of taking over Mei’s story.

Overall, this is an intense and emotional read. All the tiny pieces of the puzzle don’t miraculously fall into place in the end; these characters are all a work in progress, as in life, which I appreciate deeply. Unfortunately I didn’t write this review before my ARC expired but I think there’s a potentially amatonormative sentence in there somewhere that made me wince (don’t quote me on this, I don’t remember it. I’ll just have to wait for the finished copy to double-check). However, this novel is still deeply personal and Gloria’s voice and writing are an important addition to the Asian diaspora. Familial expectations versus following the path of uncertainty; undoubtedly, many will find a home, heart, and connection in it.