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Shu-Li and Diego
by Paul Yee and illustrated by Shaoli Wang
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Paul Yee’s award-winning 2007 chapter book, Shu-Li and Tamara, and his 2009 sequel, Shu-Li and Diego,
follow his young characters through instructive and entertaining
adventures. Both books, charmingly illustrated by Shaoli Wang, are set
in Vancouver’s vibrant multicultural Commercial Drive area, where
Shu-Li’s parents run a popular Chinese deli and Shu-Li’s mother
uninhibitedly keeps her Indian, Italian, Cuban, and Chinese customers
happy and in line.
In Shu-Li and Tamara,
fourth-grader Shu-Li is still adjusting to a new school. The snobby
“Nah-Nah girls” embarrass her about her mom’s English, and the neighbor
boy, Joey, is a troublemaker to avoid. But working on a school bake
sale (raising money to buy goats for an African village), Shu-Li
becomes friends with Tamara, and when Tamara is subjected to unfounded
suspicions about stealing, Shu-Li stands by her. Even Joey, who has
contributed to the gossip, helps out in the end. Shu-Li’s father plays
a key role in the story by helping the girls make won ton dumplings. At
the back of the book are international recipes from their successful
bake sale.
Shu-Li and Diego
treats the daunting responsibility of caring for a dog. Baxter’s owner,
Mr. Simpson, is going in to hospital, and Diego and Shu-Li
enthusiastically volunteer to care for the good-natured animal. But
Tamara’s fear (she was bitten once) strains her friendship with Shu-Li.
Diego, who had a dog once, teaches Shu-Li useful tips: no trash food,
no off-leash runs in the park, no getting on the bus. When Baxter slips
his collar and runs away, the kids’ frantic search includes tough
decisions about when to tell what and to whom. The highly satisfactory
plot resolution is followed by additional tips for young dog owners.
Vivid
characters and challenging plots create thought-provoking moral
ambiguity for Yee’s readership. His themes—malicious gossip, feeling
embarrassed by parents, challenging new responsibilities, exotic foods,
charity fundraising projects—provide a wealth of information, context,
and stimulation for individual pondering and for group discussion.
Wang’s shaded black and white line drawings and Yee’s chapter format
create the feeling of a grownup book for newly independent readers,
while younger children and their parents will appreciate Shu-Li and her
friends as role models and will look forward to hearing more about them
in this promising series.--Charlotte Richardson,
August 2009 papertigers.org |
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