Poetry Books
Seeing Emily
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Manufacturer: Amulet
Author: Joyce Lee Wong
Publisher: Amulet
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $6.95
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Amulet
Author: Joyce Lee Wong
Publisher: Amulet
Average Customer Rating:
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Seeing Emily Description
Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780810992580
ISBN: 0810992582
Label: Amulet
Manufacturer: Amulet
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 288
Publication Date: 2007-03-01
Publisher: Amulet
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Studio: Amulet
EAN: 9780810992580
ISBN: 0810992582
Label: Amulet
Manufacturer: Amulet
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 288
Publication Date: 2007-03-01
Publisher: Amulet
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Studio: Amulet
Editorial Review of Seeing Emily
A perceptive, lyrical novel about a Chinese American girl seeking a new vision of herself
Readers will instantly relate to the heady, messy experience of being a teenager in this poignant novel in free verse, which Publishers Weekly called “highly visual and eloquently wrought” and Kirkus called “finely crafted.” Emily, a Chinese American teen, is determined to reinvent herself outside the mold in which her family and friends have always viewed her. Her interest in a sexy new student propels her to try out different versions of herself. In the end her art may provide the key to understanding who she is.
An International Reading Association Notable Book
A New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age
Readers will instantly relate to the heady, messy experience of being a teenager in this poignant novel in free verse, which Publishers Weekly called “highly visual and eloquently wrought” and Kirkus called “finely crafted.” Emily, a Chinese American teen, is determined to reinvent herself outside the mold in which her family and friends have always viewed her. Her interest in a sexy new student propels her to try out different versions of herself. In the end her art may provide the key to understanding who she is.
An International Reading Association Notable Book
A New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age
Customer Reviews of Seeing Emily
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A finely written, affecting gem of a novel
Review: "Seeing Emily" is a real find, engaging and poignant. Formally simple yet poetically and thematically rich, Joyce Lee Wong's writing possesses the depth, delicacy and force of authenticity. Very highly recommended.
The novel weaves together a series of poems through which unfold the story and portrait of a Chinese-American teenager as she discovers and crafts her own identity. As Emily's childhood memories are collaged with more fragmented experiences from her fledgling present, the imagery is at times stark, lyrical, blunt and startlingly beautiful. At its best the poetry combines striking images with an unusual gentleness and warmth which subtly convey the author's profound feeling for her own roots.
Emily's close relationship with her parents, movingly depicted, is at the core of her strength even as it is her own examination of this closeness which propels her to break from the confines of her family background. Here, the refinement of Chinese culture -- skillfully communicated through a haunting accuracy of images rather than through philosophy -- and the dynamism of American youth form a tender mix.
Lee Wong also explores both thematically and stylistically the link between the transformative natures of love and art, as she pairs Emily's growing confidence as a young adult with her development as a painter.
The directness and beauty of the author's style give an elegance to the book's complex layering of meanings, while affecting the reader's heart in a disarmingly straightforward way.
The transformation of Emily's perspectives on herself, her parents, and her friends in shifting contexts will speak to any young person who has experienced a sense of being outside the mainstream, and to any reader who relishes fine and hopeful writing.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: This is beautiful coming of age story (4.5 Stars)
Review: This is beautiful coming of age story. The poetic style is well written and striking in its imagery. I loved the cat themes. This was a great quick read and I think it will resonate well with teenage girls, who can relate to Emily's quest to see her true self, regardless of the racial elements of this book, which are also well done. This great pick.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A strong, debut, lyrical in quality
Review: Seeing Emily is a novel told in free verse poetry. While this allows the author to weave in beautiful symbolism and meaning, it also can be slow in places. Emily is Chinese-American, the only child of a couple that runs a Chinese restaurant in Virginia. She is struggling with issues of identity, wearing lipstick, dating white boys, and finds expression through her art. What I really liked about how her struggles were depicted was that she always had respect towards her parents, there were never screaming fights or things like that. They didn't always understand her, but they loved her, and she acknowledged and appreciated that. Too many young adult novels portray the struggles of growing up and differentiating from your parents as this epic battle, but not all teenagers go through that. Details of the Chinese culture were woven throughout, and quite interesting, and I liked how Chinese words were occasionally used.
The plot wasn't hugely original, and I did have to question its relevance. I grew up in a big city where Chinese-Americans were commonplace, so the way she is teased for being 'different,' etc, seems a bit out-dated to me. While the poetry is gorgeous I have to question whether or not a teenager would be willing to stick with it, and would only recommend this book to dedicated readers. Even still, most adults would enjoy it.
Review Summary: A finely written, affecting gem of a novel
Review: "Seeing Emily" is a real find, engaging and poignant. Formally simple yet poetically and thematically rich, Joyce Lee Wong's writing possesses the depth, delicacy and force of authenticity. Very highly recommended.
The novel weaves together a series of poems through which unfold the story and portrait of a Chinese-American teenager as she discovers and crafts her own identity. As Emily's childhood memories are collaged with more fragmented experiences from her fledgling present, the imagery is at times stark, lyrical, blunt and startlingly beautiful. At its best the poetry combines striking images with an unusual gentleness and warmth which subtly convey the author's profound feeling for her own roots.
Emily's close relationship with her parents, movingly depicted, is at the core of her strength even as it is her own examination of this closeness which propels her to break from the confines of her family background. Here, the refinement of Chinese culture -- skillfully communicated through a haunting accuracy of images rather than through philosophy -- and the dynamism of American youth form a tender mix.
Lee Wong also explores both thematically and stylistically the link between the transformative natures of love and art, as she pairs Emily's growing confidence as a young adult with her development as a painter.
The directness and beauty of the author's style give an elegance to the book's complex layering of meanings, while affecting the reader's heart in a disarmingly straightforward way.
The transformation of Emily's perspectives on herself, her parents, and her friends in shifting contexts will speak to any young person who has experienced a sense of being outside the mainstream, and to any reader who relishes fine and hopeful writing.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: This is beautiful coming of age story (4.5 Stars)
Review: This is beautiful coming of age story. The poetic style is well written and striking in its imagery. I loved the cat themes. This was a great quick read and I think it will resonate well with teenage girls, who can relate to Emily's quest to see her true self, regardless of the racial elements of this book, which are also well done. This great pick.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A strong, debut, lyrical in quality
Review: Seeing Emily is a novel told in free verse poetry. While this allows the author to weave in beautiful symbolism and meaning, it also can be slow in places. Emily is Chinese-American, the only child of a couple that runs a Chinese restaurant in Virginia. She is struggling with issues of identity, wearing lipstick, dating white boys, and finds expression through her art. What I really liked about how her struggles were depicted was that she always had respect towards her parents, there were never screaming fights or things like that. They didn't always understand her, but they loved her, and she acknowledged and appreciated that. Too many young adult novels portray the struggles of growing up and differentiating from your parents as this epic battle, but not all teenagers go through that. Details of the Chinese culture were woven throughout, and quite interesting, and I liked how Chinese words were occasionally used.
The plot wasn't hugely original, and I did have to question its relevance. I grew up in a big city where Chinese-Americans were commonplace, so the way she is teased for being 'different,' etc, seems a bit out-dated to me. While the poetry is gorgeous I have to question whether or not a teenager would be willing to stick with it, and would only recommend this book to dedicated readers. Even still, most adults would enjoy it.