American Panda

"Even though she didn't understand, she nodded at me, one sharp movement. 'I'm so glad you're here. You fit. You'll do well. I know you'll get into the best medical school and become the best doctor.' They were simultaneously the best and worst words. I tried to focus on the pride in the voice and eyes, but instead, my stomach shot into my intestines." Mei Lu, a freshman at MIT, is on track to fulfill all of her parents' dreams: (1) attend a prestigious Ivy League school, (2) become a doctor, and (3) marry a family approved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer. The only problems standing in her way are that she is: (1) falling asleep in her biology classes, (2) too germophobic to touch anything medical, and (3) falling for her classmate Darren Takahashi. Mei attempts to balance her parents' expectations with her increasing feelings of independence and defiance. Before she knew it, lies and half truths begin to mount between her and her parents. In addition, a chance meeting with her outcasted brother, Xing, brings up all the old feelings of resentment and forces her to question her parents' traditional values. Mei realizes that she must find a way to bridge the growing distance between her and her parents before her mountain of lies and anger drive a permanent wedge between her and her parents. Have you ever had a book that you just want to shake out of love and frustration? Well, I have. Meet American Panda by Gloria Chao. Why? Because I identify with it so much but it really could have used a few more rounds of proofreading and editing to achieve that final polish. American Panda is a cultural coming-of-age story of Mei Lu, a Taiwanese-American freshman studying to be a doctor at MIT. There is much to love about this story. It is culturally rich and full of details ranging from snacks to rituals to the stubborn mind set of a Taiwanese family living on the East Coast of the United States. Of course, the narrator made it clear that it is "a" story of a Taiwanese-American girl, not "the" story of Taiwanese-American girls - a seeming nod to future stories to come. Gloria Chao's writing is extremely easy and heartwarming to read. There are also many tiny details that made Mei Lu's world multidimensional. If you want a cozy, heartwarming read with several emotional, yet heartbreaking scenes, this is the book for you. So the things I love. I love the little details such as the stinking tofu, the dry squid, and the horrible attempts at parking. The relationship between Mei and her mother overshadows all other relationships in this book. Mei's attempt to bridge her cultural difference between her and her parents is commendable. It's not easy, but her family is part of who she is. She isn't Taiwanese, nor is she American; she is Taiwanese-American. It's impossible for her to deny one or the other, and her parents are the Taiwanese half of her. Although I wish there was more depth, I also adore Mei's relationship with her brother Xing. And here are the things that make me want to shake the book. There are so many inconsistencies in this story. (1) Mei has never heard of Star Wars because her parents didn't let her watch American movies - and yet she is familiar with Beyonce and Narnia and is up-to-date with numerous other pop culture references when joking with her peers. (2) How did Mei's mother spend so much time alone with Mei in her dorm? Mei mentioned weekly dorm visits. Her mother refuses to drive through Boston traffic and will only take a cab - which costs her $60 per trip, one way. If Mei's father was the one who drove, where did he go while Mei's mother made her weekly inspections of Mei's grades and living conditions? (3) Mei taking yoga classes at MIT didn't make any sense and contributed absolutely nothing to her story. If she found a part time job teaching dance in the community, she should have taken dance courses at MIT instead and enrich the dancing subplot. It would have smoothed out the transition between not knowing her future to eventually wanting to fight for her dance passion (not a spoiler - the readers knew from the very beginning where this story was heading). (4) Mei's mother's language skills is ridiculously inconsistent. When we first met her (the mother) in the beginning, "she had wanted to attend some of the parents' events during orientation week and I knew she had held back because she was insecure about her English and rarely talked to strangers in the foreign tongue." Then, many pages later, we find out that her mother was a graduate student in a U.S. university in Missouri when she gave birth to Xing, the brother. Wait… what? How was she ever a graduate student at a U.S. university without speaking to 'strangers in the foreign tongue'? And her mother had no problems communicating with Darren. Her speech was NOT insecure at all. Overall, American Panda is an adorable, heartwarming, and courageous story full of Taiwanese-American references. Unfortunately, it also has quite a few problems that could have (should have) been fixed to achieve a smoother reading experience. Rating Story: Liked it Writing: Average, but has flaws Characters: Liked it Enjoyability: Liked it

Clearly written from experience, American Panda tells the story of Mei, an over-acheiving Taiwanese-American struggling to find herself while juggling traditional values and parental expectations. Being only seventeen and at an Ivy League college would be a big enough struggle, without throwing in the fact Mei's parents are dead set on her becoming a doctor. So Mei is enrolled in all the right classes to set her on that track, despite the fact biology bores her to tears and she is way to conscious of germs lurking everywhere. Her true love is dance, but her parents don't see that as a suitable career - certainly not one that will impress other Taiwanese parents, especially those with eligible sons. Sons Mei isn't interested in meeting because she's already met Darren, the handsome Californian with Japanese roots. As she struggles to balance her own needs with her parents' demands, Mei finds herself increasingly torn and reaches out to her estranged brother who has been cut off by the family for dating an unsuitable woman. She is surprised to find him happy and unrepentant and starts to wonder if trying to fit herslf into a box that is clearly the wrong size and shape is worth the lies and heartbreak. While I'm sure this book doesn't represent the experiences of all Asian Americans, it feels wholly honest to the author's experiences. I can imagine that re-living these experiences and emotions must have been incredibly difficult, but Chao has managed to write a book that is both touching and hilariously funny. The characters are authentic and never ridiculed, even when Mei is at her most exasperated at the cultural gap between herself and her family. Highly recommended!

Mei was awesome. I loved getting to know her and the story was amazing. I couldn’t put it down! There were times that I was laughing out loud walking around campus. It was cute and funny. Here are a few comments I made right afterward: This book FLEW BY for me! I couldn’t put this one down. I loved Mei and I loved her personal journey throughout the whole story. It was exhilarating, and I loved every moment of it. I wanted to finish this in time for the event that coming Saturday and I finished in time for my friends to even finish the book, too. This was a quick, sweet read. Mei’s parents are big characters in this book, and their presence is felt throughout the story. Mei’s mom was well-meaning and loving. She tries to do a lot for Mei so Mei can focus on studying. I understand where they’re coming from, and from what I can tell this is a very accurate snapshot of what it’s like to grow up with Taiwanese parents. (I cannot speak from personal experience because my parents are Caucasian and American, though I am Chinese.) Chao pulled a lot of personal feelings and emotions into this story, and I appreciate the accuracy of her representation. Another aspect I really liked about the book was her representation, even with the cover art. You never notice the lack of rep on covers until you see it, and you wonder why you haven’t see it before. I don’t see a lot of books with Chinese women or other Asian-American/Asian out in the world, but I love the recent efforts made by those women to write their stories. This book does a good job of having diverse characters but not having that as the main focus of it. The story centers on Mei coming into her own in her freshman year of college. This setting is also something that isn’t often written in. I found that a lot of stories are about adults or high schoolers, especially seniors. This is another thing done well by Chao. She captures the freshman experience within her novel. Freshman year of college is a huge transition, and I think that Mei went through a lot of the things I’ve felt this year so far. She is trying hard to set herself apart from her parents while still needing their help. She wants to do things her way and must balance the wishes of her parents. One thing I do wish it had done better was talk about Mei’s mental health. There are small conversations about it here and there, but it’s never addressed head on. However, I can see that it wasn’t the full part of the story so I can see why it wasn’t completely talked about. I feel like I could talk about this book for days, but I’ll wrap it up here. I had an amazing time at the event at 57th Street Books. This is one of my favorite bookstores to visit, and I make sure to go when I’m in the area. Here’s a photo! [photo on blog] Happy reading, Sophie 🙂

American Panda follows seventeen year old Taiwanese-American, Mei. Mei is a germaphobe, forced into a premed program by her very traditional parents. She is afraid to reveal that she instead would rather own a dance studio. Especially after her brother Xing is disowned for choosing a spouse his parents disapprove of. I enjoyed this book immensely which is remarkable because Young Adult literature is not my favorite. Gloria Chao's American Panda is thought provoking in its consideration of the perpetuation of traditions among immigrants. People who have left their home countries seem to hold on even tighter to traditions, cherishing these as a link to their home. But, considering that not all traditions have merit, why continue unnecessary, sometimes stifling traditions? Why not instead begin new traditions? Still, the book is far from all-heavy material. There are sweet moments between Mei and Darren, funny scenes with her dramatic family and great camaraderie between Mei and Xing. It also brings to life the ups and downs of college existence in a university like MIT. In Summary, American Panda is not just for young adults. Anyone who's ever embarked on the arduous journey to self will enjoy this read. A perfect blend of wit and substance, American Panda is delightful, inspiring and stimulating!

This book is everything I thought it would be and more! From the first chapter, we're sucked in Mei's world where she wades between filial piety and love and respect for her Taiwanese culture and her struggles to find her true self through her parents' strict rules and traditions. The book is hilarious and heartwarming, with a complex, effortlessly entertaining and lovable main character in Mei. There was so much to love, little details that all built up the story like Mei's germaphobia, the college setting (LOVE the college setting!), Mei's mother's voicemails, and the arm circling. But Chao also painted one of the most beautiful, painful, amazing mother-daughter relationships I've read in YA. One that made me laugh, cry, and ultimately come away with so much hope for Mei and anyone whose story mirrors Mei's. And beyond that, the portrayal of Taiwanese culture is so vivid and wonderfully rendered, just another reason why #ownvoices books need to exist.

Here's the thing that speaks to me so much about American Panda. I'm not Taiwanese, and my home life was so different growing up. But I felt like I was Mei, and she was me. It's rare that I connect so deeply with a character, but there was something so heartfelt and earnest and raw in the voice of this book, that I feel like anyone will be able to find a piece of themselves. There is something about #ownvoices novels by marginalized authors that help me relate to the characters in special way. There is a richness there that I feel all the way in my bones. This book has everything one could ask for in a contemporary YA novel. It's HILARIOUS. I'm talking scream laugh funny. There is also a sweet romance, and tidbits about MIT that are fascinating for this outsider. There are family dynamics, urban legends, and vivid settings. Plus, the book will make you hungry. I can't say enough good things about American Panda. It's one of my favorites of 2018. Highly recommended.

I'm an MIT alum and although I graduated long ago, this book brings back many memories with its descriptions of life at MIT, which really doesn't seem to have changed in any very substantial way. The story itself is a lot of fun. (I've been married for a very long time to an Asian and some of the things the author writes about ring a bell, too.) This is a coming of age story, in a way. The protagonist discovers love and romance while at MIT, but has to deal with a traditional Taiwanese mother and father who totally disapprove of a Japanese boyfriend. Things go downhill fast until ... well, you'll see. There's a lot here that will call to mind things like Tiger Mom, Helicopter Parents, and much more. It's done with humor and in good taste. The author to some large extent writes from experience. Perhaps the book is not "politically correct" and that in itself is an argument about taking PC-ness too far. (It is, however, NOT suitable for 12-year olds as is claimed in the description.) The writing itself is stellar. It's the right mix of tone, humor, language, and emotion. I really recommend this book and you don't have to be an MIT alum to love it.

There’s so much to love about this gem of a book, from the fascinating portrayal of a culture I don’t know much about to the richly layered character arcs. The balance of poignant moments with laugh-out-loud humor gave me all the feels. I was cringing on Mei’s behalf every time her mother or other family members commented on her appearance (weight especially) and gave unsolicited advice. I can relate—there’ve been people in my life just like that, and I cheered for Mei to speak up, advocate for herself, and break free. As I read, I had a love/hate reaction to the familial responsibility that was forced upon her; love because Chao wrote it so well, hate because of how messed up it was, the things Mei’s family expected of her and said to her. Chao’s writing is brilliant with wonderful nuggets like, “… she [Mei’s mom] was ladylike for my father, fighting her natural instincts in fear of being cast aside. She looked exhausted from a lifetime of acting.” What a profound observation for a young daughter to make, and I loved reading how Mei’s blinders fell away to the reality of her family dynamics. Not that she didn’t know what was there, what was broken, but she made the important step of really seeing these things that had been perpetuated. And the part about her dad’s cognitive dissonance? Wow, right on the nose! Okay, I might be getting close to giving spoilers, so I’ll type carefully, but another beautiful example (among many!) of Chao’s writing came near the end in describing a minor character’s transformation: “And when she walked away, she no longer disappeared.”

So good! We need more YA books set in college. Mei is a wonderful, three-dimensional character who realistically comes to terms with her parents plan for her life vs. her own talents and career-aspirations. She enters MIT as a 17yrold (So did I - fall birthday) and now must confront the fact that her biology/pre-mes major doesn’t work so well with her dislike of germs while coping with the stress of these life changes through dance. Her family and friendship complexities are handled with truthfulness and tenderness that reminded me of my own experience of coming into my own in college. I can’t wait to read more from Gloria Chao.

AMERICAN PANDA floored me with its nonstop humor and fresh voice, and then it sneakily broke my heart. Protagonist Mei's Taiwanese parents want her to become a doctor, but she pictures a different future for herself, perhaps one involving her love of dance. I've never seen a parent-child culture clash portrayed in quite this way; Mei clearly loves her mother and respects her culture, but she also aches for her independence. I also LOVED that this book takes place during Mei's freshman year at MIT, a rare setting for YA but one I desperately want to see more. It's still 100 percent a coming-of-age story, a story about identity, a story about being pinned between two worlds and how to forge your own path. Gloria Chao's debut is not to be missed.

"Even though she didn't understand, she nodded at me, one sharp movement. 'I'm so glad you're here. You fit. You'll do well. I know you'll get into the best medical school and become the best doctor.' They were simultaneously the best and worst words. I tried to focus on the pride in the voice and eyes, but instead, my stomach shot into my intestines." Mei Lu, a freshman at MIT, is on track to fulfill all of her parents' dreams: (1) attend a prestigious Ivy League school, (2) become a doctor, and (3) marry a family approved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer. The only problems standing in her way are that she is: (1) falling asleep in her biology classes, (2) too germophobic to touch anything medical, and (3) falling for her classmate Darren Takahashi. Mei attempts to balance her parents' expectations with her increasing feelings of independence and defiance. Before she knew it, lies and half truths begin to mount between her and her parents. In addition, a chance meeting with her outcasted brother, Xing, brings up all the old feelings of resentment and forces her to question her parents' traditional values. Mei realizes that she must find a way to bridge the growing distance between her and her parents before her mountain of lies and anger drive a permanent wedge between her and her parents. Have you ever had a book that you just want to shake out of love and frustration? Well, I have. Meet American Panda by Gloria Chao. Why? Because I identify with it so much but it really could have used a few more rounds of proofreading and editing to achieve that final polish. American Panda is a cultural coming-of-age story of Mei Lu, a Taiwanese-American freshman studying to be a doctor at MIT. There is much to love about this story. It is culturally rich and full of details ranging from snacks to rituals to the stubborn mind set of a Taiwanese family living on the East Coast of the United States. Of course, the narrator made it clear that it is "a" story of a Taiwanese-American girl, not "the" story of Taiwanese-American girls - a seeming nod to future stories to come. Gloria Chao's writing is extremely easy and heartwarming to read. There are also many tiny details that made Mei Lu's world multidimensional. If you want a cozy, heartwarming read with several emotional, yet heartbreaking scenes, this is the book for you. So the things I love. I love the little details such as the stinking tofu, the dry squid, and the horrible attempts at parking. The relationship between Mei and her mother overshadows all other relationships in this book. Mei's attempt to bridge her cultural difference between her and her parents is commendable. It's not easy, but her family is part of who she is. She isn't Taiwanese, nor is she American; she is Taiwanese-American. It's impossible for her to deny one or the other, and her parents are the Taiwanese half of her. Although I wish there was more depth, I also adore Mei's relationship with her brother Xing. And here are the things that make me want to shake the book. There are so many inconsistencies in this story. (1) Mei has never heard of Star Wars because her parents didn't let her watch American movies - and yet she is familiar with Beyonce and Narnia and is up-to-date with numerous other pop culture references when joking with her peers. (2) How did Mei's mother spend so much time alone with Mei in her dorm? Mei mentioned weekly dorm visits. Her mother refuses to drive through Boston traffic and will only take a cab - which costs her $60 per trip, one way. If Mei's father was the one who drove, where did he go while Mei's mother made her weekly inspections of Mei's grades and living conditions? (3) Mei taking yoga classes at MIT didn't make any sense and contributed absolutely nothing to her story. If she found a part time job teaching dance in the community, she should have taken dance courses at MIT instead and enrich the dancing subplot. It would have smoothed out the transition between not knowing her future to eventually wanting to fight for her dance passion (not a spoiler - the readers knew from the very beginning where this story was heading). (4) Mei's mother's language skills is ridiculously inconsistent. When we first met her (the mother) in the beginning, "she had wanted to attend some of the parents' events during orientation week and I knew she had held back because she was insecure about her English and rarely talked to strangers in the foreign tongue." Then, many pages later, we find out that her mother was a graduate student in a U.S. university in Missouri when she gave birth to Xing, the brother. Wait… what? How was she ever a graduate student at a U.S. university without speaking to 'strangers in the foreign tongue'? And her mother had no problems communicating with Darren. Her speech was NOT insecure at all. Overall, American Panda is an adorable, heartwarming, and courageous story full of Taiwanese-American references. Unfortunately, it also has quite a few problems that could have (should have) been fixed to achieve a smoother reading experience. Rating Story: Liked it Writing: Average, but has flaws Characters: Liked it Enjoyability: Liked it

Clearly written from experience, American Panda tells the story of Mei, an over-acheiving Taiwanese-American struggling to find herself while juggling traditional values and parental expectations. Being only seventeen and at an Ivy League college would be a big enough struggle, without throwing in the fact Mei's parents are dead set on her becoming a doctor. So Mei is enrolled in all the right classes to set her on that track, despite the fact biology bores her to tears and she is way to conscious of germs lurking everywhere. Her true love is dance, but her parents don't see that as a suitable career - certainly not one that will impress other Taiwanese parents, especially those with eligible sons. Sons Mei isn't interested in meeting because she's already met Darren, the handsome Californian with Japanese roots. As she struggles to balance her own needs with her parents' demands, Mei finds herself increasingly torn and reaches out to her estranged brother who has been cut off by the family for dating an unsuitable woman. She is surprised to find him happy and unrepentant and starts to wonder if trying to fit herslf into a box that is clearly the wrong size and shape is worth the lies and heartbreak. While I'm sure this book doesn't represent the experiences of all Asian Americans, it feels wholly honest to the author's experiences. I can imagine that re-living these experiences and emotions must have been incredibly difficult, but Chao has managed to write a book that is both touching and hilariously funny. The characters are authentic and never ridiculed, even when Mei is at her most exasperated at the cultural gap between herself and her family. Highly recommended!

Mei was awesome. I loved getting to know her and the story was amazing. I couldn’t put it down! There were times that I was laughing out loud walking around campus. It was cute and funny. Here are a few comments I made right afterward: This book FLEW BY for me! I couldn’t put this one down. I loved Mei and I loved her personal journey throughout the whole story. It was exhilarating, and I loved every moment of it. I wanted to finish this in time for the event that coming Saturday and I finished in time for my friends to even finish the book, too. This was a quick, sweet read. Mei’s parents are big characters in this book, and their presence is felt throughout the story. Mei’s mom was well-meaning and loving. She tries to do a lot for Mei so Mei can focus on studying. I understand where they’re coming from, and from what I can tell this is a very accurate snapshot of what it’s like to grow up with Taiwanese parents. (I cannot speak from personal experience because my parents are Caucasian and American, though I am Chinese.) Chao pulled a lot of personal feelings and emotions into this story, and I appreciate the accuracy of her representation. Another aspect I really liked about the book was her representation, even with the cover art. You never notice the lack of rep on covers until you see it, and you wonder why you haven’t see it before. I don’t see a lot of books with Chinese women or other Asian-American/Asian out in the world, but I love the recent efforts made by those women to write their stories. This book does a good job of having diverse characters but not having that as the main focus of it. The story centers on Mei coming into her own in her freshman year of college. This setting is also something that isn’t often written in. I found that a lot of stories are about adults or high schoolers, especially seniors. This is another thing done well by Chao. She captures the freshman experience within her novel. Freshman year of college is a huge transition, and I think that Mei went through a lot of the things I’ve felt this year so far. She is trying hard to set herself apart from her parents while still needing their help. She wants to do things her way and must balance the wishes of her parents. One thing I do wish it had done better was talk about Mei’s mental health. There are small conversations about it here and there, but it’s never addressed head on. However, I can see that it wasn’t the full part of the story so I can see why it wasn’t completely talked about. I feel like I could talk about this book for days, but I’ll wrap it up here. I had an amazing time at the event at 57th Street Books. This is one of my favorite bookstores to visit, and I make sure to go when I’m in the area. Here’s a photo! [photo on blog] Happy reading, Sophie 🙂

American Panda follows seventeen year old Taiwanese-American, Mei. Mei is a germaphobe, forced into a premed program by her very traditional parents. She is afraid to reveal that she instead would rather own a dance studio. Especially after her brother Xing is disowned for choosing a spouse his parents disapprove of. I enjoyed this book immensely which is remarkable because Young Adult literature is not my favorite. Gloria Chao's American Panda is thought provoking in its consideration of the perpetuation of traditions among immigrants. People who have left their home countries seem to hold on even tighter to traditions, cherishing these as a link to their home. But, considering that not all traditions have merit, why continue unnecessary, sometimes stifling traditions? Why not instead begin new traditions? Still, the book is far from all-heavy material. There are sweet moments between Mei and Darren, funny scenes with her dramatic family and great camaraderie between Mei and Xing. It also brings to life the ups and downs of college existence in a university like MIT. In Summary, American Panda is not just for young adults. Anyone who's ever embarked on the arduous journey to self will enjoy this read. A perfect blend of wit and substance, American Panda is delightful, inspiring and stimulating!

This book is everything I thought it would be and more! From the first chapter, we're sucked in Mei's world where she wades between filial piety and love and respect for her Taiwanese culture and her struggles to find her true self through her parents' strict rules and traditions. The book is hilarious and heartwarming, with a complex, effortlessly entertaining and lovable main character in Mei. There was so much to love, little details that all built up the story like Mei's germaphobia, the college setting (LOVE the college setting!), Mei's mother's voicemails, and the arm circling. But Chao also painted one of the most beautiful, painful, amazing mother-daughter relationships I've read in YA. One that made me laugh, cry, and ultimately come away with so much hope for Mei and anyone whose story mirrors Mei's. And beyond that, the portrayal of Taiwanese culture is so vivid and wonderfully rendered, just another reason why #ownvoices books need to exist.

Here's the thing that speaks to me so much about American Panda. I'm not Taiwanese, and my home life was so different growing up. But I felt like I was Mei, and she was me. It's rare that I connect so deeply with a character, but there was something so heartfelt and earnest and raw in the voice of this book, that I feel like anyone will be able to find a piece of themselves. There is something about #ownvoices novels by marginalized authors that help me relate to the characters in special way. There is a richness there that I feel all the way in my bones. This book has everything one could ask for in a contemporary YA novel. It's HILARIOUS. I'm talking scream laugh funny. There is also a sweet romance, and tidbits about MIT that are fascinating for this outsider. There are family dynamics, urban legends, and vivid settings. Plus, the book will make you hungry. I can't say enough good things about American Panda. It's one of my favorites of 2018. Highly recommended.

I'm an MIT alum and although I graduated long ago, this book brings back many memories with its descriptions of life at MIT, which really doesn't seem to have changed in any very substantial way. The story itself is a lot of fun. (I've been married for a very long time to an Asian and some of the things the author writes about ring a bell, too.) This is a coming of age story, in a way. The protagonist discovers love and romance while at MIT, but has to deal with a traditional Taiwanese mother and father who totally disapprove of a Japanese boyfriend. Things go downhill fast until ... well, you'll see. There's a lot here that will call to mind things like Tiger Mom, Helicopter Parents, and much more. It's done with humor and in good taste. The author to some large extent writes from experience. Perhaps the book is not "politically correct" and that in itself is an argument about taking PC-ness too far. (It is, however, NOT suitable for 12-year olds as is claimed in the description.) The writing itself is stellar. It's the right mix of tone, humor, language, and emotion. I really recommend this book and you don't have to be an MIT alum to love it.

There’s so much to love about this gem of a book, from the fascinating portrayal of a culture I don’t know much about to the richly layered character arcs. The balance of poignant moments with laugh-out-loud humor gave me all the feels. I was cringing on Mei’s behalf every time her mother or other family members commented on her appearance (weight especially) and gave unsolicited advice. I can relate—there’ve been people in my life just like that, and I cheered for Mei to speak up, advocate for herself, and break free. As I read, I had a love/hate reaction to the familial responsibility that was forced upon her; love because Chao wrote it so well, hate because of how messed up it was, the things Mei’s family expected of her and said to her. Chao’s writing is brilliant with wonderful nuggets like, “… she [Mei’s mom] was ladylike for my father, fighting her natural instincts in fear of being cast aside. She looked exhausted from a lifetime of acting.” What a profound observation for a young daughter to make, and I loved reading how Mei’s blinders fell away to the reality of her family dynamics. Not that she didn’t know what was there, what was broken, but she made the important step of really seeing these things that had been perpetuated. And the part about her dad’s cognitive dissonance? Wow, right on the nose! Okay, I might be getting close to giving spoilers, so I’ll type carefully, but another beautiful example (among many!) of Chao’s writing came near the end in describing a minor character’s transformation: “And when she walked away, she no longer disappeared.”

So good! We need more YA books set in college. Mei is a wonderful, three-dimensional character who realistically comes to terms with her parents plan for her life vs. her own talents and career-aspirations. She enters MIT as a 17yrold (So did I - fall birthday) and now must confront the fact that her biology/pre-mes major doesn’t work so well with her dislike of germs while coping with the stress of these life changes through dance. Her family and friendship complexities are handled with truthfulness and tenderness that reminded me of my own experience of coming into my own in college. I can’t wait to read more from Gloria Chao.

AMERICAN PANDA floored me with its nonstop humor and fresh voice, and then it sneakily broke my heart. Protagonist Mei's Taiwanese parents want her to become a doctor, but she pictures a different future for herself, perhaps one involving her love of dance. I've never seen a parent-child culture clash portrayed in quite this way; Mei clearly loves her mother and respects her culture, but she also aches for her independence. I also LOVED that this book takes place during Mei's freshman year at MIT, a rare setting for YA but one I desperately want to see more. It's still 100 percent a coming-of-age story, a story about identity, a story about being pinned between two worlds and how to forge your own path. Gloria Chao's debut is not to be missed.

I LOVED this book!! I couldn't put it down! It was funny, engaging, relatable, and unexpected. There were so many ways I could relate to Mei, from her insecurities to her wide range of interests, and so many things I learned from her, particularly trying to connect with her parents. The story takes you on Mei's wonderful journey to find her way, something we all can relate to. All the while you get to connect with these great characters in a vividly-descriptive MIT setting, all while told from a point of view that makes you feel like your talking to your best friend. It was the best YA book I've read in a long time. It was amazing!!

This book was really boring. I couldn't get all the way through it. All she does is sit with her counselor at school and tells what happened to her.

American Panda is a phenomenal debut for both adults (which I am) and young adults. Mei's coming of age against the backdrop of her Taiwanese culture is both compelling and poignant. All of the characters, even those in secondary roles, leap off the page with authenticity -- I was especially invested in the story line following her sibling. I can't wait for the author's next book.

AMAZING story! I rarely see great young adult novels set in college and this one was so well written and full of emotion. It really resonated me as the main character dealt with some family pressures that were familiar to my own experiences. LOVED this story and the amazing heart in it!

From my 11 year old son: American Panda is about Mei. Mei is a rebellious Taiwanese-American 17 year-old. She skipped a grade and is now attending MIT. American Panda is about her life, her inner and outer struggles, and her very traditional parents. I could barely put this book down because of the humor and the way the writing just pulls you in and lets you see Mei’s life as if you are really there. If you like realistic fiction or books with rebellious main characters, you will love this book!

Great storyline and so happy to have Asian representation in books. My daughter loved it. She is a freshman.

This is a beautiful and relatable book for anyone who feels as if they can't be themselves in front of their family. I also learned so much about Taiwanese culture and history, and now I want to learn more!

Very interesting book

I just finished reading another author's book and wanted to read something light but enjoyable aand found your delightful book. Looking forward to reading more of your works. Thank you

This book is happy and sad and joyful and heartbreaking and witty and wonderful.

Ok read

This book is magical. It's a wonderful story about the choices we make, who we are, how much we let others influence us, and the importance of finding your own voice. It's so easy to read, the audio narrator is amazing. It's rich, in depth, and a wonderful story that is timeless. Everyone, no matter their race or gender, should read this. It's just...so good, y'all.

This story was absolutely brilliant...so charming and hilarious and adorable. A pleasure to read!

This book explores tough family and cultural topics with a terrific, funny voice that keeps you turning the page. I loved it!

I thought it was a good read, it didn’t feel cliched due to the fun/interesting/heartbreaking Asian world the author immersed us in. Would read book #2 and now I want to find other books by Asian authors to read.

American Panda is such a great story with interesting characters. I recommend this book to anybody who loves a good slice-of-life story.

I read this so quickly!!! It was beyond adorable

Even though it was not my world, it is still an easy read, some romance, drama and you learn a lot about a different culture

Cute little book. Enjoyable read.

Simply loved Mei's story!

Cute book. Not earth shattering.

Good story of balancing cultures & finding oneself

[Reader Review] Mei Lu is a seventeen-year-old MIT freshman who is your typical obedient Asian daughter. Docile. Quiet. Subservient. Mei's oppressively traditional Taiwanese parents want her to study pre-med, but Mei is a complete germophobe. Bonus, she has a crush on a Japanese American lad named Darren who has gelled anime hair that helps Mei spot him through crowds. Mei slowly begins "rebelling" against her parents by teaching dance classes and dating Darren. Add some family drama with a disowned brother and other outspoken relatives, and the story plays out exactly like you think it will. The good: The writer has great moments in her book. For one, the man laugh. Hilarious. Her roommate is funny. Her relationship with Darren isn't too cheesy. A few lines were just awful, but they fit with Mei's personality. Mei is a well-rounded character. I wanted to punch her in the throat at times, but she is consistent and believable. She is honest and endearing and naive and helpless, like lots of freshman in college. She has an interesting relationship with her mother and I really enjoyed learning about her mother's background. I could identify a lot with Mei in those moments when she describes her mother's vulnerability and pain in an abusive relationship. The bad: I really wanted to like this book. I really wanted to read a young adult story with an Asian American protagonist that did not fulfill stereotypes and play on Asian tropes. I was sorely disappointed. The first indications of something awry were her Asian food metaphors. She compares the stress and panic of lying to her family to overfilling a dumpling. Eventually, it'll explode. Other weird food comparisons: chocolate cake lava versus red bean soup. Bland as rice. Wide mooncake eyes. Don't even get me started with all the chopstick references. Also, I love rice. Do you know what's bland? Cornbread. Cornbread is bland. Next, she says she doesn't want to reduce her parents to stereotypes, but she repeatedly describes them as unrelenting and likens them to oppressive dictators. She can't escape them, she says. Her father is stoic or outright abusive and is all about saving face or bringing honor to the family. Her mother is a stereotypical dragon lady. She thinks only criminals dye their hair, carries around a cow hoof, tongue clucks, and says things like "She had a semester full of B's. The horror," and "Put on sunblock. You look like charcoal." Bonus Asian trope, her parents don't say they love her or offer any physical affection. Mei herself is a complete lotus blossom. She doesn't think for herself until damn near the end of the book. Luckily, the major catalyst for her change is not Darren, though he does ask her what she wants in life and she says, "No one had asked me that before, including myself. It almost sounded forbidden." Ugh. She says other silly things like, "Dance was the only place where I truly belonged-where age, race, looks, and intelligence didn't matter." I'm no dancer, but that sounds like complete foolishness. There's more. "I wasn't Chinese or American, just a twirling, leaping force." Mei is completely clueless is that regard. She uses the word Caucasian and prides herself on not flinching when a girl on a bus tells her she's gay. When describing a group of students, she describes them and points out an Indian, Latino, and a brunette. Ex-nomination of whiteness. White is default. So disappointed. I can go on and on. A Chinese American doctor used as a plot device. Mei's judging of her high school friend who is busy "impressing sororities," aka, living her life and not worrying about her identity and lying to her parents. Blaming her brother for not showing her the world. Size zero being obese for Asians. I did find one line to be intriguing: "A lot of Asians don't like it if your material doesn't match their experience, and non-Asians sometimes just don't get the joke." I completely agree. But I didn't need this book to match my experience. I just didn't want it to match the stereotypical narrative of Asians and Asian Americans and reinforce these images in the minds of readers. Let her write what she wants, you say. I agree. Write what you will, but know that stories like these can be potentially damaging to readers. On that note, I've read reviews by Asian American girls that love the book and are so excited to see parts of their own experiences in this story. That's awesome. Kudos to Gloria Chao. It's hard to be an Asian American writer. You get flack for not writing enough about your culture. You get flack for writing stereotypes. It's so hard to please everyone and find a balance. Ultimately, yes. Buy this book to support an Asian American writer. Remember that this is a story about one character and one perspective by one author. [Teacher Review] [Should you teach this book] I mean… If you really want, though it seriously reinforces stereotypes. Teacher must be well-versed in the myriad of Asian American experiences and understand that it is not a monolith. Must complement the book with other readings to provide other Asian American perspectives and voices. [Grade level] 7-9th grade [Themes] immigrant child guilt, oppressively traditional parents, estranged sibling, death of a relative, young love, identity issues, mother/daughter relationship, roommate dynamics [Cultural considerations] reinforces stereotypes of the model minority, patriarchal Asian man, dragon lady, and lotus blossom. [Social Justice/Equity considerations] none [Warnings] white hegemony unchallenged

Yes, the premise of this book is similar to the last few YA contemporaries I’ve read this year, but I still loved it! In fact, I feel like the only reason this book wasn't as popular as others with the “girl wants to break free from controlling parents” trope, like When Dimple Met Rishi or Love, Hate & Other Filters, was because it was released after them. As far as the overprotective-and-demanding-parents trope is concerned, American Panda showed my favorite approach. In this story, we follow Mei, a Taiwanese-American MIT student who’s pressured by her parents to become a doctor, despite the fact that she’s a germaphobe and has always dreamed about opening a dance studio. Wishes and dreams aside, Mei is convinced she has to follow her parents’ rules and the path they have prepared for her. If she doesn’t, she will be disowned just like her older brother. Two things immediately caught my attention about this story, First, it’s set in college. Mei is still seventeen and her voice was perfect for YA, but I was so happy to see a YA Contemporary not limited to the high school experience. Please, gimme more of that! Second, Mei’s struggle felt bigger and the stakes for going against her parents higher simply because I could feel her love for them. She feared hurting them, and that really touched me. In the past, I’ve struggled with this trope because it often felt like the main characters didn’t care for their parents at all. The MCs were convinced of their choices and didn’t give much thought to why their parents acted the way they did. It was a “I’m right, they’re wrong, so I’ll do what I want no matter what” situation. American Panda brings another perspective when it shows Mei’s parents under a different light, exploring their pasts and their own struggles. Mei’s mom steals the spotlight countless times. I could connect with both Mei and her mom, which made me wish that much harder for them to find some common ground. I thought the way Mei went from agreeing with everything her parents wanted to finally finding her voice was perfect, because she remained respectful the entire time. She not only worried about her parents, but she tried to understand their culture and where they were coming from while also learning what it meant for her to be Taiwanese-American. This entire plotline put a huge smile on my face. Speaking of smiling, I absolutely adored the voicemails and messages Mei’s mother left on Mei’s phone. The woman was hilarious! Despite how suffocating the woman was, I was in love with her the entire time. The romance wasn’t my favorite—it was as bit too quiet, but Darren was respectful and, if we’re being honest, I didn’t get the vibe that the romance was supposed to be a big thing in this book. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t mind it. For me, American Panda was a story about family. About how Mei realized she could love those that were closest to her, but still disagree with their choices, as long as they all learned how to respect each other. Not everything went the way she wanted, but I loved the not-perfect-ending.

When I originally started reading this one, I wasn’t in the mood for it, and thought I’d hate it. So I put it aside, read two other books and returned, and I am so glad I did. I loved this one so much. I thought American Panda was going to be a cute love story, while at the same time exploring the two cultures in Mei’s life. However, this one is not so much a love story (although there is a swoon worthy boy), as it is a coming of age story about a girl learning to be comfortable with who she is (even if she has to define it herself). Mei was a wonderful narrator to follow. I loved how she loved her parents and wanted to please them, while at the same time struggled to figure out who she was as a Taiwanese American and what that even means. The continuous struggle of being grateful and trying to please parents but at the same time trying to live your own life and be happy was relatable and realistic. The relationship between Mei and her mom changes throughout the story and I adored that. It was dealt with very well, and it felt natural as it progressed. At the end of the day, these are two smart women who grew up in different times and cultures and are trying to communicate and learning in the process. It was very well done. This book was a wonderful read, funny and amusing, serious and thoughtful when need be. It had all the things going for it, and I honestly enjoyed reading it. If you’re a fan of contempory, I say give this one a try.

Content warnings: Unhealthy parenting, death of a relative Why I Recommend Bumping This UP On Your TBR: I couldn't put this down. I loved reading about different Taiwanese cultural norms, histories, and superstitions, and I appreciated the way that the author highlighted the fact that every family within a culture is different and behaves differently. The protagonist's journey resonated with me as a bicultural person and also just as a daughter trying to exist between her parents' values and her own. Depending On Your Personal Preferences: There were some strange writing choices in terms of plot progression. If you prefer when writers stick to well-tried formulas, you might feel irked by this. If you, like me, tend to appreciate when authors try to be more progressive with their writing and take some story-telling risks, you might not be bothered by it. Why You Might Bump This Down On Your TBR: There is a lot of talk about STD/STI's in this, which is great because STD/STI's happen and we should be talking about them and it but obviously the author's goal to normalize talk about them, BUT this comes off as slut-shaming at first (and a bit out of place), even though eventually the author does address things and tries to un-slut-shame. It has a bit of a too-little-too-late feel when it's addressed, though.

Mei Lu is a freshman at MIT and she has a crush on Darren Takahashi. Because of her parents strict rules for Mei, they disapprove Darren. Her parents want her to graduate MIT and go to medical school to become a doctor. The thing is, Mei has germophobia. In the meantime, she is expected to meet a MIT Taiwanese guy and eventually get married and have kids with the parent approved guy. Mei wants to break way from her stereotypical family and do what makes her happy. I am glad Mei was able to find her way to express herself through dance. Even though her parents took away dance classes after Mei got accepted to MIT, Mei was still able to teach dance to Chinese adopted children. Even though I haven't been raised by stereotypical Chinese parents, I can connect with Mei and dance. When my parents presented me the choice of taking Chinese language classes or Chinese dance classes, I opted to take Chinese dance classes. I was lucky to have options in my life and I wasn't forced into anything. However, my grandmother always hoped that I would attend MIT or Harvard to become a doctor or a lawyer. I hope other readers will related to Mei in American Panda as well. How does one live a life balancing cultural and traditional expectations with American values? I am ecstatic Mei was able to reconnect with her other brother, Xing, and realizes that she can pave her own path in life. I am surprised how overbearing her parents are, especially her mother. Mei's mom would call her day and night. Her parents meet her at a Taiwanese restaurant to check in with her every week. No wonder Mei wants to break away from her parents and wants to call the shots to her own life. Mei is a likable character. She is funny, sincere and thoughtful. Gloria Chao penned a honest journey through the eyes of Mei and how Mei manages to delve into her passions and her happiness. Darren cares about what Mei thinks and how she feels about things. Even though Mei's parents want a certain life for her, Darren encourages Mei to follow what her heart says. And she finally opens up about her desires to her parents. However, only one parent gives in to her passion and honors her wishes. American Panda is a delightful coming-of-age book; it's about finding yourself. Through cultural values and identity, family expectations and living life to the fullest, Mei is able to follow her dreams even though she has to jump over many hurdles in order to succeed. Mei defines what it means to reach an American Dream. If you enjoyed reading Starfish and/or When Dimple Met Rishi, you will love American Panda!

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.

Yet another fantastic 2018 debut! American Panda is witty as well as heartwarming. I laughed. I cheered. My heart fluttered with happiness as well as sadness. I even shed a tear or two, which is a huge rarity. My favorite part of American Panda? The leading lady, of course! Mei is sarcastic, charmingly awkward, and kind. Like most college freshmen, she's trying to find her place in life. She knows that pre-med isn't the path for her (she's TERRIFIED of germs), but she doesn't want to disappoint her parents. After watching her brother get kicked out of the family years ago, Mei has always tried to be the perfect daughter. She loves her parents and she knows they have incredibly good intentions, but she also wants to do her own thing, choose her own major as well as her own boyfriend/spouse. Over the course of the book, Mei finds herself. It's not easy - sometimes it's even incredibly embarrassing (i.e. the rash incident) - but it's worthwhile, no matter the consequences. I loved seeing Mei teach dance, make friends, pursue a relationship with a "forbidden" boy, reconnect with her brother, and even stand up to her parents. It caused for a fantastic transformation to occur, as with every chapter Mei becomes more confident, more unapologetic, and, most importantly, more free, and let me tell you - I adored this Mei! I also appreciated that not every storyline had a picture perfect ending; instead, Gloria brings about a realistic feel. Some things work, some things don't, but no matter what Mei continues to try. In addition to Mei, I adored the other characters. Mei's romantic interest was nerdy as well as sweet, and I loved the connection between them. Like most things in Mei's live, it wasn't easy; however, is anything truly worth having easy? I also enjoyed seeing Mei's brother and Mei's family in general. I have to say, though, Mei's mother was my second favorite. When the book first began I found Mei's mother to be frustrating. I understood why she said the things she did/did the things she did; however, I had hope that she'd become a bit more lenient/understanding. Throughout the book, Mei and her mother have many ups and downs when it comes to their relationship. It broke my heart at times, especially when Mei's mother revealed more about her past, but at the same time I loved seeing a bridge form between generations. It warmed my heart to say the least. Going along with that, I appreciated the amount of detail and time Gloria put into the Taiwanese culture. Prior to reading American Panda, I didn't know much about Tawian's traditions, superstitions, etc.; however, over the course of the book, I learned a lot and it provided some food for thought. As mentioned before, I also appreciated seeing the challenges that come from different generations. I think many will be able to relate to Mei's story. Last but not least: the setting! Between this & Nice Try, Jane Sinner we're being spoiled with college settings. I thought Gloria did such a great job of incorporating MIT into the storyline as well as typical problems freshmen face at college - roommate problems, the dreaded health center, etc. Overall, American Panda is a rich, well written addition to YA lit. Gloria captures Mei's coming-of-age with humor as well as tact. She's definitely author to keep on your radar.

17-year-old Mei should be in high school, but skipping a grade was all part of her parent's plan for her to go to MIT become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, and produce a litter of babies. When she reconnects with her brother, Xing, the truth she's carefully constructed starts to waver and the truth leaks out: she hates germs, falls asleep in biology lectures, and has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese. The short review... Mei’s life is about to become a dumpling with 3 spoonfuls. The skin bursting because it’s just too much! I felt for Mei and actually she’s pretty funny... If you want to know what it COULD BE like to be the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants in America then you NEED Mei's story. You may not relate at first if you're a rebellious one, because this girl isn't. She's well versed in the Asian guilt and its a huge motivator for her. Going away to college literally gives her a chance to be exposed to choices and a different way of making choices. While there is A LOT of family pressure in this story there is also lots of love and light and laughter! I don't want you to think this isn't totally balanced as Mei struggles to find her feet. I LOVED the people in her life, especially Darren, and ALL of the little minor characters that makes this book so heartfelt (I'm looking at you Nic!) Love DID NOT solve Mei's problems but it did challenge her and support her. AND THAT END!!! It all comes together in an unexpected way that made me love everyone in the story... Cover & Title grade -> B- I’m not a fan of this cover. I don’t really like covers with people on them, I want to imagine the character for myself. I do LOVE the title art and the doodles around the picture! I feel a cover with doodles like that with some dance flair and germ or medicine focus would be much better! And the title fit too though I almost think one about dumplings would be more fun? Why was the end so incredible and spot on? We literally learn about the traditions Mei is up against! Sprinkled through the book and also at the wedding and funeral we get a concentrated look at some Taiwanese culture. Mei does an excellent job helping us understand the position she's in between a rock and a hard place. She loves her parents and her culture but also comes to understand that her choices don't have to be the same her parents made. Mei developed relationships of all kinds! She has to go head to head with her roommate and is surprised by what she finds. She meets a boy... not a totally off limits white American boy nor the totally acceptable Taiwanese one, but another Asian who sort of understands and sort of doesn't. Then there is her brother and the woman he left their family for!! (Now this really gets tough...) And we have her totally traditional parents who believe time has stood still... or do they?! Plus there is the school mate from the past... And boy does it come together! Everything played out true to life but also in a hopeful way! I'm not sure that the fact this is an #ownvoices novel is why this reads so full and rich, so natural and right and so touching and heartfelt... but it certainly contributed to it!! It had hard topics like racism within the Asian culture as well as funny (but real) ones like germophobia. It touches on work, love and family as well as ones own prejudices! The end was hopeful but NOT perfect. Life isn't but Mei learned a skill to maneuver around that fact and still be happy. Isn't that what's MOST important!? American Panda is so, so cute and authentic! Mei learned what it means to bridge her Taiwanese tradition with American desire. It meant sacrifice and taking bold (if scary) steps to preserve her choices! This is a must read and one of the best YA contemporaries of 2018.

4.5 stars I really, really, enjoyed this book! Moreso than I originally even thought I would. Without throwing total shade, this is the kind of story that I wanted when I read, “When Dimple Met Rishi”. However, with that novel, I was sadly disappointed. As much as the novel was diverse, I did not like some of the characteristics or actions made from the main character Dimple. When I heard about “American Panda”, I thought I may have a similar experience to “When Dimple Met Rishi” because the storylines did share some similarities. Plus, I have to say the covers do look quite similar too. This was not the case! I loved everything about “American Panda”, from the intense humour at the beginning to the incredibly emotional moments regarding family and self-discovery throughout. It was such a well rounded novel on all fronts. I cannot personally speak to the story’s cultural authenticity but from conversations that I have had with friends, these issues and topics have been an authentic representation for some of them. After reading this debut, I’m eagerly awaiting for what is to come next by Gloria Chao. Along with her creativity in writing such an incredible story, her writing was truly delectable and I sped through it with ease and enjoyment. I’m highly anticipating her next novel which is slated to be released later this year. ***Thank you to Goodreads as well as the author and publisher for supplying me with this novel via a giveaway***

Mei's voice is great, and I love the arc of her relationship with her mom. Both of them grow a lot. I enjoyed the romance between Mei and Darren. It's not the focus of the story, but it is important, and I love that they draw humor out of each other. Other characters I appreciated: Xing, Esther, Ying-Na. Dance, and many kinds of it, is really important to Mei, and I love the different ways that it comes through. She teaches, she dances in her dorm, she performs, she makes analogies. I thought the movement was described well, which can sometimes be an issue in books with dancing characters. And there was really only one dance thing that struck me as off (you wouldn't glissade into a changement?); the rest was great. I liked how Mei started noticing that it's not just culture but how culture is expressed in different families that matters, that different people are "strict" in different ways. I thought the structure of voicemails and texts between chapters worked really well. And I loved the chapter numbering, that unlucky numbers in both of Mei's cultures were skipped. The asides explaining that, breaking the fourth wall a little, were really cute, and it fit in with Mei occasionally explaining things (related to language, culture, MIT, etc) throughout the narration. I loved that this was set at MIT, that Mei lives in BC, that the book talks about punting and tooling and hacking, that Mei and Darren happen upon MIThenge, that the geography of the place is so present. (W20, Killian Court, the Infinite, Memorial Drive.) One instance of "just be friends."

I am not Chinese, nor Taiwanese, nor Japanese, but I am as Asian as I could be and somehow, I could very well relate to Mei with regards to the customs and traditions {superstitions actually| that she and her family had to obey and follow through. Mei Lu, at the age of 17, is already a freshman in MIT and it's her first time living away from her parents (although their home is just nearby). Germophobe and isn't actually interested in her biology classes, Mei's parents has already instilled in her the value of her chosen profession Having to deal with a very traditional family is killing her, but she can't refuse nor blatantly disregard their rules. She must marry a fellow Taiwanese who's going to be a doctor, forget dancing (ballet) because it won't give you money, there's no other respectable profession than in the medical field (but being a professor also counts). Don't engage in premarital sex and no boys allowed until you graduate (unless your mom already has found & selected someone for you to marry). And yes, be a baby-making wife someday. My most favorite rule though was, Don't eat too much, you'll get fat; men don't like pandas, be a cat. But as stubborn and curious as she is, Mei is able to find ways to rebel against their wishes and pursue her dreams in hiding. I was surprised by some of the situations and conditions set in this dysfunctional family. When they disown a family member, they really mean business and will go to greater lengths to avoid that person wherever, whenever. I thought Mei's parents were ridiculous, I didn't like her Muqin (mother) and I couldn't stand her father either. They command Mei's actions, dictate her every move and control her future. I couldn't blame Mei for acting a little defiant and unnerving. The ending was far better than I had imagined, and I am glad there's maturity and growth among the other characters involved. I love how Gloria Chao told this beautiful story about social differences and cultural diversity among the characters. To other readers, maybe they see Mei and her brother Xing disrespectful and insolent towards their parents. I get that, I know parents only want what's best for their children. But not to the point that they get suffocated and couldn't breathe anymore because of all the responsibilities and duties that the elder ones put on their shoulders. American Panda is indeed a laugh-out-loud comedy and endearing drama about love for family, love for oneself, love for culture and country and self-realization. It's a coming of age story that's sure to win your hearts, both young and young-once alike.

At seventeen, Mei is now a a freshman in MIT. Just what her parents had planned. But that's the thing, it's seems like everything is planned by her parents. Her taking up Pre-Med, the guy that she's going to marry, and even the food she has to eat are all planned by her parents. And of course, her growing crush on a Japanese boy won't be allowed by her parents. This is so relatable! I loved it so much! I remember obeying to my parents wishes when I was growing up. But the thing is, I discovered that I always had freedom with the final answer. But still, reading this book made me realize how much I relate to Mei. I love how Mei thoughts are. The way she thinks that she wants her freedom but she also wants to please her family are so well put in place. Family are always such an important thing. And I like the way this book made sure that Mei can't just go emancipate herself. Characters are amazing! Even the minor ones. They made sure that they make a mark on Mei's life, realizations, and choices. The drama in this book is so enticing! It's not the oh-my-gosh-this-is-so-sad-drama, but it's just so realistic, it's so good! Some things I didn't like, though the romance aspect of this book is cute, we have another love interest who's flawless and amazing... So... yeah... I also wish that there was more brother-sister relationship. It's part of the book description so I though there was going to so much more, and more significance to it. Amazing debut! Pretty good stuff!

This was a fantastic read! I blew through the first half in one night. It reads so easily and reminded me of college and Mei was more relatable than I expected :) When I first picked this up, I was mainly interested in the diversity aspect. I fell in love with Mei and really connected with the feeling of being sheltered by overprotective parents. I was kind of a religious kid in high school (raised Catholic and went to private school 1st-6th grade) + no swearing (I honestly got upset if I even so much as *thought* swearwords at people) + wasn't allowed to see PG13 movies til I was 14 (but my parents had no problem with R movies once I was 17). So seeing Mei trying to juggle breaking out of her shell on campus and seeing her parents every weekend, plus her mom knowing her schedule and constantly calling (my mom wanted to see my "report card" and tried to ground me when I wouldn't tell her my grades) -- yeah, that's something I can relate to. Some of the stuff she went through all in the name of "tradition", though? Huge culture shock here. For one thing, I can't imagine any parents not letting their kid get glasses or contacts on the basis of it not being a good look. All the little superstitions and in-jokes were really interesting though, and definitely helped inform Mei and her world. She made me want a tiny hand sanitizer for my purse, no lie. And seeing MIT fleshed out so lovingly -- I've never been near the campus, but it made me miss where I went to school, because I could picture it so clearly. And MIT pranks are on another level, guys. It was great to see all of the characters get fleshed out; Mei's parents, her aunt and grandma, Xing, Esther, Nicolette, Darren, even Ying-Na and Dr Chang (which was fantasticccc). The similarities and differences between Esther's and Xing & Mei's parents were interesting, and Mama Lu's voicemails were always amusing. As a whole, this book had its tough moments (those family confrontations!) but the ending had such a warmth that it was impossible not to feel hopeful about the futures of these characters.

Mei is a freshman at MIT. Her Taiwanese-American parents have decided that she will become a doctor, though Mei tends to be a bit freaked out by germs. They also want her only to marry a Taiwanese boy selected by them. As Mei chafes under their expectations and excessive attention, she starts to date a Japanese-American boy at MIT. But her brother was kicked out of the family for dating a girl her parents didn’t approve of, so she has to keep him secret. She is also keeping her love for dancing and her dream of owning a dance studio from her parents. And when she starts to see her brother again, she also can’t tell them that. As Mei’s lies and secrets grow larger, it becomes inevitable that they will topple over and the truth will come out. But what does that mean for her relationship with her parents and extended family, going to MIT and her own dreams? Chao has created a book that she needed as a teenager, one that reflects the deep-seated expectations of a family. At times, the reactions and actions of the family are horrifying, including the put downs of Mei, the disowning of children, and the expectation that the parents’ opinions are all that matter in every scenario. And still, readers will see the love shine through since Chao allows spaces to form that give Mei and her family hope for reconciliation in the future. The book is masterfully written allowing readers to see culture as both a foundation but also as a constricting world at times. She imbues the entire novel with humor, since Mei is funny and smart, seeing the world through her own unique lens. The messages from Mei’s mother pop up between chapters, offering their own moments of laughter. The steady growth of connection between Mei and her mother is one of the most vital parts of the book, as Mei’s discovery of her own voice allows her mother to step forward too. A book that belongs in all public libraries, this novel will speak universally to all teenagers looking to make their own paths. Appropriate for ages 13-16.

I heard a lot of great things about this book and I was finally able to get a copy of it in September. American Panda is a good story, it's really easy to sympathize and cheer Mei on. Though I should say that I think this book should come with a trigger warning for parental abuse and manipulation. Right off the bat you are introduced to Mei's parents who have very strict ideas of what she should be doing with her life, which is fine expect that they are so abusive about it. She has to do everything exactly their way or they start manipulating her or threatening her. This brought up a lot of bad memories for me and I'm sure it has for others as well. That said Mei is a great character, she's sweet and loving and she tries really hard to make everyone happy with her. You want her to succeed. And it's great to see her transform into a person who knows what she wants out of life, you cheer her on every step of the way. Although I think that her transformation could have been written a little more clearly. I also liked that she's able to start a new relationship with her parents, that's something that takes so much work but she does her best and I was very happy with the ending. It felt realistic, bittersweet and good. In the end I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.

This review originally appeared on herestohappyendings.com. 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. Note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

'American Panda' by Gloria Chao is a lighthearted, at times irreverent, and often redundant, portrayal of the life of Taiwanese-American MIT student, Mei. I picked this up as a diversity read in the hopes of expanding my recommendation list for the genre. Unfortunately, I cannot give much credit to this title. It reads primarily like a diary entry, it's melodramatic, and deeply personal to the extent that it is unrelatable. The characters are poorly developed and Chao doesn't give us much to invest in as readers. Consider this book a VERY SPECIFIC glance into a 17 year old, mostly sheltered but playfully rebellious, Taiwanese-American student during her first year at MIT. Honestly, I was more bogged down by the MIT lingo and culture represented in the book (which was pedantic and boastful and mostly just added to show that the author "did her research") than I was the Mandarin (which was great and totally what I came here for). The blatant lines ripped from Mean Girls (out of context, I might add), and the complete drop of the one interesting character (hello, sassy lesbian MIT student met on the bus!), frustrated me and almost knocked this into the DNF pile.

I am so in love with the entire premise of this story—how the author tackles the dilemma between Mei's family, of being Taiwanese in America and everything that entitles. I honestly didn't expect to love this book as much as I do but I'm glad that I do. Mei struggles with a lot of things even the most important thing in her life, her own happiness. There is nothing wrong in trying to catch one's own joy and the things that makes one happy. It's her life, after all. She deserves it. I'm proud for her that she stood up for herself, proved what truly matters to her and that she doesn't give up easily by continuously fighting for the things and the ones she love. Not only do I love the familial relationship between Mei, her mother and Xing, even her love life is swoony and romantic all on its own. It doesn't matter if you have flaws (everyone has them after all so there's no point in trying to hide it) because there will always be people who will love you as who you are, just like Darren loves Mei. Towards the end, Mei's mother stood up against her dad who is too caught up with tradition that he's missing out on what truly matters and it's such a shame. Even Xing, who doesn't show it but deep down cares a lot about his sister. I honestly think that Mei's aunt and grandmother is way over the top with their traditional mindset. Even to the the extent of accusing of murder, I'm so done with them and really wish that they would just go away. This book is such an awe inspiring story and way under hyped. I wish people would pick this book up and read it because I would totally recommend it.

Mei is a 17-year-old MIT student, pushed by her parents to become a doctor because they know what is best for her. The fact that she is a germaphobe and falls asleep in biology classes will make that just a bit difficult for her. Her mother wants her to marry a smart boy who is also Taiwanese so there will be two doctors in the family, but she wants to marry for love. On and on it goes, a struggle between her Taiwanese culture and the Chinese American culture. She has been taught to honor her parents by obeying them, but they do not know what she wants out of life. When she says no, the problems escalate. Can this family mend itself? The characters were compelling and well written. You can feel Mei's sadness and confusion as she tries hard to be what her parents want her to be, but becomes unhappier all the time. When she meets Darren and he enjoys her sense of humor and wants to help her deal with all her issues, again she feel for this young woman who is so unsure of what to do. I loved Mei’s mom. She was actually quite funny, even if that was not what she intended. She was a very repressed woman who followed customs and beliefs, even if they made her unhappy. When Mei finally got through to her that it was okay to be happy and stand up for herself, it was great to see the small changes she made. Nic, Mei's roommate was another great character, she also helped her to see what she was missing out on. The other family members helped to paint a picture of the struggles that Chinese American children go through when they are caught between two very different cultures. I enjoyed the writing in the book and the plot flowed nicely, with a few slow places in the middle of the book. Overall this is a great YA entry that would be a good book to read for any struggling teens dealing with the clash of two different cultures. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

When I started American Panda I thought it was going to be an incredibly cute and fluffy book. It wasn’t, not really, but it was a thousand times better because of it. I absolutely adored Mei’s voice, and I loved being able to spend some time in her head. She’s incredibly bright, funny, intelligent and caring, and so relatable at times. Especially when it came to her germophobia, or her hatred towards Biology. The character development that Mei goes through is astounding, and made me love her even more. Mei definitely has some prejudices towards a few people, but she works through them, which was wonderful to see. You could also really see the growth Mei goes through in her relationships with people. Like the one with her roommate and the one with the love interest, but most of all in the relationship with her parents. The latter was definitely the most difficult to read about, and the most heart-wrenching, but you could really see Mei change the most in this relationship, which was great to see. The balance between heavy and light stuff in the book was incredibly well done. The book dealt with very hard and important topics, which were incredibly difficult to read about, but it never got to a point where I had to put the book down and take a breather, because there would always be a cute/fluffy/funny scene following it. At times I still had tears streaming down my face from a previous scene, while laughing out loud at the scene I was currently reading. The cute/fluffy/funny scenes that the book had were so, so good. Like I mentioned before, I laughed out loud a couple of times, which usually doesn’t happen while I’m reading books. And the romance? SO CUTE. There’s also a couple of scenes which involve dancing, a thing Mei loves to do, and I couldn’t stop smiling while reading them. It’s not my place to say anything about the way the book deals with the cultural elements, but I’ve seen a couple of #owvoices reviewers saying that it’s amazing. I’d definitely recommend you checking out some #ownvoices reviews before (or after) you read the book. All in all, this book was absolutely wonderful and far exceeded my expectations. I would definitely recommend you picking it up once it comes out, because you certainly won’t regret it. I’m 100% sure that this is one of the best contemporaries of the year.

“There was no right or wrong decision here. No morality. Just two roads, leading in different directions but both ending in heartbreak. Life was, as I was finding out, Choose Your Own Adventure with most of the fun stripped away.” What a great contemporary read! I mean it was genuinely fantastic, filled with humor, heart, amazing characters, basically everything you could ever want in a story. American Panda follows Mei as she starts her first year at MIT under the mounting expectations of her Taiwanese parents. Mei must decide who she is and what she wants, while trying to please her parents. Things I Liked There was so much incredible humor in this story that I could not stop laughing! Not only is Mei’s personality amazing, the dialogue is smart and witty, there are so many humorous situations as Mei attempts to follow in her parents path, and one of the most hilariously awkward scenes I have ever read in a book. It was such a joy to read. I love seeing a YA character in college. I like that we’re getting to see more YA books with a focus on college aged teens and what their experiences are like. I loved seeings Mei’s journey so much! It was such a great exploration of the responsibility to your family vs your responsibility to yourself, especially in Asian American cultures where family and respect are highly valued. I loved seeing Mei come into her own, and discovering what she wanted for herself, not just what her parents wanted for her. I also loved that she never shunned her culture because of her parent’s strictness. I loved the romance in the story. Mei and Darren were adorably sweet and made me smile all goofy. They had fantastic flirty banter and genuine care for each other. Things I Didn’t Like Mei’s mom says some body shaming things to her through the beginning of the story. They just kind of made me uncomfortable, but I appreciate their role in the story, and we get to see her thoughts evolve by the end. This was such a wonderful contemporary about finding yourself and finding happiness. And it was just so lovely. Mei had such a strong and clear voice that was a joy to read, the humor was engaging, and the characters are endearing. American Panda is truly the contemporary you need in your life. I received a copy of the book from Simon Pulse via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Mei is seventeen and already in college at MIT, pursuing a dream. But the dream is that of her parents: become a doctor, marry the right man, and live a successful, secure life. Mei's parents have given up so much for her and her brother to live this dream. Her brother, Xing, however, has been disowned by the family. He is a doctor, but fell for the "wrong" woman, and the family no longer speaks to him. Mei, meanwhile, lives in fear of telling her parents her secret: she doesn't want to be a doctor. At all. She's afraid of germs, she hates biology, and her true passion is dance. She's also falling for a classmate, Darren, who would definitely not be on the parental-approved list. Mei is terrified of letting her parents down--and ending up like Xing. But will she ever have the chance to live her own life? "Study hard. Bring honor to our family. Do not disappoint us. You know the stakes." So, I wasn't sure I would really like this one when it started: it seemed a little predictable and got off to a rocky start for me. Mei, for instance, meets a germaphobic doctor "exactly like her" at the school's clinic (what are the odds?!), she's the meek daughter scared of her parents, oh she falls for a boy her parents wouldn't approve of, etc. Luckily, though, the book really grew on me and definitely expanded beyond the expected. Mei is a great character, whom I found myself rooting for, and I couldn't help empathizing with. Her parents, honestly, are just so frustrating and stressful. Sure, you can see where they are coming from and the cultural expectations, yet your heart just breaks for this poor seventeen-year-old and the weight of the world she feels upon her shoulders. "To them, a secure future was the ultimate gift a parent could give. How could I refuse them when this was their motivation?" The book really soars as Mei expands her wings in college and experiences some growth--meeting Darren, dancing, and reaching out to her brother. It's really sweet and touching, honestly, watching her make some of her own decisions. For me, her friendship and potential relationship with Darren made the book. It's so adorable and fun and was easily my favorite portion. It was exactly what the book needed and somehow felt fresh and not like the usual YA romances. Mei has a really unique voice, and I felt that Chao did an excellent job of capturing her main character. You cannot help but feel for this girl and start to want what she wants. "'Look, what I feel-the sense of duty-it's debilitating, makes me feel so ashamed that I don't even care what I want.'" So, even though things can be a little sweet and simple at times, the book really does cover a range of complex issues--cultural, family, societal, and more. It also does a good job of making you smile, and Mei is a lovely character. (As is Darren!) It might wrap up a little too easily, but it was a really enjoyable read overall, and I think Mei's voice is one sorely lacking in YA. 4 stars.

Mei is the dutiful daughter—she's attending MIT, going to be a doctor, and going to be married to a Taiwanese boy her parents find. And aside from attending MIT, she wants none of it. Can she find her way alongside that of her over-bearing parents'? Or will she be forced to be a shell of herself for the rest of her life? A fantastic, funny and emotional book that had me laughing, crying and cryaughing out loud, much to the consternation of my wife. I know absolutely nothing about Chinese or Taiwanese culture (but I went to college in Boston and know a lot of MIT grads....so....there's that), and this was a wonderful #ownvoices story about how one Taiwanese-American girl juggled life, school, love and family. It's fiction, but reads as deeply personal and ingrained in the author's own experiences, which makes the emotion so much deeper, the anxieties heavier and the stakes higher. And it's in Boston (okay, Cambridge but whatevs)! I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

OKAY, THIS WAS ADORABLE AND I TRULY HAD FORGOTTEN JUST HOW FEELY AND CUTE AND JUST TOO MUCH GOODNESS THAT YA CONTEMPORARY CAN BE. This review is probably going to be a mess, but I just couldn't handle the fluffy feels and then the feely feels and JUST. THE. FEELS. To be completely honest, I wasn't fully sure what I was getting when I picked this book up. I had kind of totally forgotten what this book was about, but I had seen a few blogger friends give it high ratings in the past few days plus my mother offered to buy me a book so it was this or Reign of the Fallen, and by the book gods, I totally made the right choice. This was one of the most well done contemporaries I've read in such a long time with the equal amount of adorableness and seriousness. Let's start with Mei. Omigosh, I loved Mei. She is SO relatable. I mean, I literally felt like I was her at times. She has such a dynamic voice, and I just loved her so much. She was so funny, and she was so distinct, and I JUST FELT FOR HER. I want to hug her. She had such passion and her inner turmoil was just so reallllllllllllllllllllllll. Okay, this book was so good that I can't even describe what Mei was like other than really good - literally at a loss for good words. I also can't believe Chao is a debut author. She writes with such finesse that is easy and breezy. She includes so much light-heartedness along with the depth that hits you hard in the heart. She had enough funnies and funny situation that allowed for some great comedy but it never felt like it was too outrageous or outlandish. I literally laughed out loud a few times, because a few moments were just that great. It just fit wonderfully altogether. The last 30% pacing did lag a bit more than the first part, but it was still quite enjoyable. Also, the way that Chao wove in the Taiwanese culture was just brilliant. It added just this big, bright dimension to the story, and it was so vibrant and I loved every second of it. The other supporting characters were great as well. I loved reading about the Lu family, and see all of their little dynamics. Each voice and character had their own distinct personality to them, and I could easily pick all of the characters if they were in a lineup with only a few sentences to describe them - I mean, why that would happen, idk, but they across that well. Even if I didn't agree or like what some of the characters were doing, I still appreciated the depth and well done characterization that they had. And Darrennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. Omigosh, such heart eyes. I was sooooooooooooo into this ship. IT WAS JUST SO CUTE. I kept whispering makeithappenmakeithappenmakeithappenmakeithappenmakeithappenmakeithappen. They easily brought out the best in one another, and they never tried to change one another - they just tried to get each other to see a new perspective. The mutual respect was beautiful, and it's been such a long time since this girl who has such a love for swoons actually swooned - but this book did it. The conflict built up throughout the book, and I felt like it was super well done to get us to a climax. Sometimes in a contemporary, you're sitting there going, but, um, does this have a plot? But this book totally did and it was just a fantastic coming of age story. I also loved the college setting. MIT sounds so cool, and I loved the feel of it. If you're looking for a college set YA, I'm going to be a super book pusher here with this one. Overall, this was such an adorable, fun read. If you're looking for something that is going to warm your heart and turn you into a feely pile of goo, this is the book. It's adorable, funny, and just adorable, cheesy goodness - but totally takes on such important topics such as finding yourself. The culture woven in was so brilliantly added, and Chao's writing was just so talented (definitely will be picking up any other book this woman decides to write). The swoon was just SO CUTE AND I CAN'T HANDLE IT - THE SAME WITH MEI. The only issue that I had was the pacing got a little off at the ending and since it was the last 30% of what I read, it did change my thoughts on it becoming a full favorite. It is totally a five crown read, though, and a Tiana rating!

American Panda is a standalone Young Adult contemporary novel. The narrator is 17 year old Mei (she is Taiwanese-American). She is a freshman at MIT, where her extremely strict parents have her studying to become a doctor. I think that this book is very relevant. It shows what it is like for kids whose parents are immigrants to grow up in the US. It also gives the reader some insight into how strict parents who came from Taiwan might act. The book begins with Mei starting university at MIT (she skipped a grade, which is why she is in university and not high school). She is quite shy and quiet. She absolutely loves dancing. Her parents live fairly close by. So there are a lot of scenes with her parents in this book. IMO, there is a bit too much with her parents, especially in the first part of the book. This book is very funny. However, there is a fine line between funny and real vs too much and annoying. I think that the second half of the book had a much better balance. I found parts of the beginning to be too much. Most chapters end with voice mails from Mei's mom. And those were very funny. But for the most part I found Mei's parents to be more than I could handle. They were so overbearing. I just wish that some of the beginning parts with them had been cut. This book is about a girl's self-discovery. She is trying to figure out to have the life that she wants while still making her parents happy. If you want to know who Mei's mom reminded me of (think of Lane's mom Mrs. Kim on The Gilmore Girls - even though she was Korean). There is romance in this book. And I really enjoyed that part of the story. I also really liked everything to do with Mei's brother and all of the scenes with her roommate. Overall, this was a good Young Adult contemporary story. Mei's family may be too much for some people to handle. But I thought that the book was interesting, different, and very funny. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read this book.

American Panda is a truly authentic exploration of the cultural clash that happens for many young Asian Americans whose parents hold tight to their roots. The book is obviously deeply personal, and it resonates with the reader because of that. What Fed My Addiction: Cultural ties. As I said in my intro, this book presents the issue of growing up in America, surrounded by American culture and values, and how that can be difficult with first-generation parents who were raised with a completely different set of values and cultural mores. Mei has always been a "good girl." She has tried hard to please her parents, and she sees the value in their deeply seeded Taiwanese culture. At the same time, she struggles to find herself when her parents' expectations start to clash with her own wants and needs. She has to decide if she will live for her parents or live for herself---a question that might seem simple from an outside perspective, but is anything but. Seeing the world through Mei's eyes, you can't help but sympathize with her and understand the struggle that she goes through daily to fit into two very different worlds. Family ties. Mei's relationships with her family truly take center stage in this book, and those ties are complicated, to say the least. Her brother has been cut off from the family for years, and Mei's feelings about that are difficult to parse. On the one hand, she was relatively young when it happened and she didn't feel like she had much control over the situation (not to mention the fact that the only perspective she got was her parents'). But now that Mei is older, she sees her brother and her family's banishment of him very differently. Mei's relationship with her mother is also a key component of the book, and it was beautiful to see that relationship transform as the book went on. All the feels. This book is funny, but it's also so much more than that---Mei's personal journey isn't always easy, and you can expect to get wrapped up in it in a hundred different ways! What Left Me Hungry for More: Not much focus on the romance. The romance is actually much less a focus of the book than I thought it would be (which is fine but just surprised me). I just never completely felt a connection between Darren and Mei, but they were cute together! I also felt like the plot itself was a bit lacking in the middle of the book---it's more of a character-centric story than a plot-based one---but that was minor. This is one of those books that I would encourage everyone to read because it gives such insight into a cultural perspective many of us might not otherwise experience, and it gives many YA readers who have experienced this cultural clash a glimpse of themselves on the page. I look forward to reading more by Gloria Chao! I went back and forth on my rating for this one a bit, but ended up settling at 4.5/5 Stars. ***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

First and foremost, this is an #OwnVoices novel. American Panda follows the story of Mei, a first generation Taiwanese-American, in her first year at MIT. Her parents was her to be a doctor, but she has no stomach for the human body, and germs make her sick. What we must understand about Mei is that her culture is different than American culture. Her culture promotes obedience and respect, reveres tradition and errs to the side of caution when it comes to superstition. When Mei's parents say she is going to be a doctor, it isn't a suggestion. It is her future. This isn't your typical sweet, teenage romance. And it's good that it is not. I knew from the moment I started reading that this book was not written for me, and I was just along for the ride. Mei was a great character, caught in the struggle of her own love of her Taiwanese culture and her desire to be heard. I adored Mei's mother's story as well, and found her brother's character and her aunt's character powerful and interesting, both struggling for their personal beliefs and feeling betrayed. Esther, in particular, stood out as a strong character in the background and I am now desperate to learn her story. There is a lot in this novel that is beautiful, and there is a lot that is sad. I found it a really educational read, as I don't know very much about Asian-American culture. I think there are definitely elements of that culture that should be more universally represented - such as respect - but I also see where people may feel trapped by their traditions. It made me very grateful for my own life experience. It also spurred a conversation with my first-generation Chinese-American coworker, for whose insights I am grateful. As far as I can tell, this novel well mirrored her own experiences. We agreed that the revolution of cultural understanding and learning is amazing, and we both want to learn more. I absolutely recommend this book - it's an educational read that will tug at your heartstrings.

I'll be the first to admit it; I am usually not a fan of contemporary. But I picked up American Panda one afternoon and the next thing I knew, it was 10 pm the same day, and I had finished it. Because -- it's THAT GOOD. Right from the beginning, I was drawn to Mei - a bit of a child prodigy who has been fast-tracked into MIT at 17 years old. She's funny, wry, awkward, nervous. All of it blends into one amazing main character. Navigating through the pages with Mei as my guide was incredibly refreshing - i loved her descriptions of her body sweat and germophobia. 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. You feel all the emotions as the story rolls along - the fear/nervousness she has with her parents, the awkwardness she has with Darren, her crush, the utter joy she feels when she's doing the one thing she really does love - dancing. Overall, I LOVED it. I'm finding myself drawn to books with a strong female Asian main character - and Mei is definitely no exception. If you loved books like THE SECRET OF A HEART NOTE or THE EPIC CRUSH OF GENIE LO -- make sure you check out this book. (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.

Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. #partner I absolutely loved this young adult book!!! The characters are fantastic, the heartwarming story is captivating and it’s so well written. It’s full of many laugh out loud moments as well as dialogue that leaves you absolutely mortifyed for the main character. This book focuses on the Taiwanese culture and what happens when a new generation begins to break traditional customs. It’s a wonderful coming of age story that covers of a wide range of emotions. Mei was the perfect lead character. I loved watching this timid, shy - yet opinionated young lady slowly grow and find herself over the course of the book. Her awkwardness and germiphobia added some wonderful comedic relief. However, Mama Lu (aka - your puquin) is the most complex character I’ve read about in a long time!!! The relationship between these two is highly entertaining, yet very touching. Mei’s parents put some extremely heavy expectations on her regarding her education, career focus, love life, etc. I think many readers will be able to relate to this part of the book regardless of their background. The cultural aspects of the story were so well done though. I learned quite a few new traditions and enjoyed watching Mei struggle to blend the Taiwanese and American customs as she explored her own true happiness. The book also included storylines of characters who had gone against their parents beliefs and showed the heartbreaking repercussions they were receiving from those decisions. You can tell that Gloria Chao found inspiration in her own personal experiences -which she shares about at the end. This is definitley going to be an author to keep an eye on. Go add this book to your must read list immediately. You definitely don’t want to miss out on Mei’s story.

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.

Don’t let the adorable cover fool you- American Panda was the first 2018 novel I’ve read, and it’s also one of the most honest, interesting, and evocative books I’ve ever read regarding struggling to find your identity amidst the pressures of your family and culture. Gloria Chao’s debut novel blew me away with its ability to tell a story that depicts the struggle of living between two cultures and generations so well. There’s a lot to unpack in this contemporary coming of age story, and I can’t wait to impress upon your why this story is worth reading no matter what type of family or cultural background you come from. Family Feels First and foremost, this book is about family- dealing with their expectations, developing an identity against theirs, growing within the confines that they’ve placed and perpetuated. Mei’s life is defined and decided by her family and Taiwanese culture, no questions asked. Her obedience is as much a part of her personality as her her favorite food or beloved hobby, and it rules her behavior and sense of self even when her parents aren’t around. Though I didn’t grow up in a Taiwanese household, I did grow up in a fairly strict Latin household, and it was so refreshing to see Mei’s culture and family play such a big role in her plot and character development, both for better and for worse, a huge shift from the stereotype of the ever-absent YA parents. From Mei’s anxiety about “What will my parents think?” or “What if my parents find out?” to the sometimes tactless or crazy yet well meaning ideas and opinions that her family has, it resonated with my own upbringing and brought back the sharp feelings of pride and shame that I felt as a teenager whenever I wanted something different than what was expected of me by my relatives and/or culture. That feeling is such a pivotal part of being a young adult and growing up, and it’s explored constantly and in many different shapes an scenarios in this novel. Mei’s story also focuses on the very important juxtaposition of both loving and resenting your family, and splits things into shades of grey that you start to see once you begin transitioning out of high school and into college. Yes, her father is unmoving and uncompromising in his expectations, but is it because of his own trauma from his childhood? Yes her mother often makes wildly inappropriate comments about people’s appearances and career choices, but is it driven by her own fears of the consequences her children will face if they veer from the predetermined path? Mei’s anxieties and inner turmoil over her family’s wants and her own take up a large portion of the novel, but as Mei grows into her own personality and starts to recognize and pursue her own passions, she also learns jarring secrets and hidden details about her family’s past that cause her to have to shift her perspective again and again, which honestly happens so often as you become an adult, and I applaud Chao for adding in these shifts in perspective and creating multidimensional characters. Higher Education American Panda takes place during Mei’s freshman year at MIT, and I LOVED the setting. I’m always hunting for more YA books set in college (because that young adult stage lasts well into your 20s, trust me), and the personal touches Chao integrated about the campus really created a vivid landscape for the novel (I haven’t been to MIT myself, but feel like if I ever went I would already know where some of the coolest spots were, like the walkway with the benches that play with and magnify sounds, and I could keep up well enough with the MIT vernacular). The novel also captures so many of those college firsts so well- that first dreaded trip to the on campus clinic, the first time not living in your house and realizing randomly paired roommates can be the WORST thing ever, the first time you come face to face with your planned career path and realize it is not the right path for you. I felt like I was reliving my not fantastic freshman year of college with Mei, but it also made me nostalgic to do it all over again. Talking About the Tough Stuff Given the cute cover and funny title, I was surprised to find that not only does American Panda has a huge amount of depth to its story, but it also tackles a lot of tough issues and doesn’t shy away from the gross or uncomfortable aspects of being in college or learning about your body or even being pre-med. For instance, Mei’s germaphobia is pretty prevalent to her character (and a key reason why she cannot go through with being a doctor), and it’s mentioned several times throughout the novel- not just in passing, but it impacts Mei’s day to day life and her relationships and is a consistent part of her personality rather than a character personality quirk. There’s also quite a few scenes in the school clinic that reinforce the importance of personal hygiene and personal protection when living in a college dorm with hundred of other students or engaging in physical intimacy with others. The novel also deals with emotionally difficult topics too- the resentment and conflict when a family member that you love holds a belief that you find deeply offensive, the grief and conflicting emotions when a family member passes away, the feeling of bouncing between two cultures and never fully fitting into one (there’s a scene in the beginning when Mei s unfamiliar with Star Wars references because she wasn’t allowed to watch the movies growing up and her peers are shocked- it brought back all too well memories of constantly feeling behind on the times because I wasn’t allowed to watch things like MTV or Boy Meets World or even the news growing up). Straddling the Knife’s Edge of Comedy and Tragedy The novel’s synopsis bills it as a “laugh out loud contemporary,” and there were definitely some truly funny moments (even if they were born out of absurd family situations or Mei scrambling to keep all of her secrets straight). One scene that particularly had me in stitches is when Mei’s mother demands to know the names of everyone in Mei’s fictionalized study group (that she uses as a cover when she’s practicing dance or teaching dance classes) and she pulls inspiration from the Kardashians- when her mother asked about Kim, Khloe, Kourtney and Kendall, I pretty much lost it with laughter (I love a good pop culture reference). Yet this humor is often used to counteract the seriousness/darkness of a lot of the plot elements, which include disownming, shame, anxiety, etc. and some pretty nasty family showdowns and scenes. Particularly intense is the relationship and associated scenes with Xing, Mei’s older brother who was literally disowned by his parents for dating someone they didn’t approve of. Chao’s writing navigates emotional disasters and fallouts so intense to be hard to read, then sneaks in humor to provide levity when the family drama threatens to become too much. Unique Touches American Panda has some really unique formatting touches that really made the book stand out for me, and feel epistolary in nature. Each chapter starts out with a voicemail from Mei’s mother, which are often hilarious or sad (or both) and really help breathe life into her character. There’s also little notes from Mei at the beginning of certain chapters explaining things (such as why there’s no chapter number four) and the cover font is carried throughout, complete with an adorable doodle of a dumpling (I think- the dumpling is a running metaphor in the story) at the beginning of each chapter. Even reading an e-galley, these unique touches really shined through. Overall: I went in expecting to like American Panda, but it completely exceeded all of my expectations. It’s a novel about family and identity and navigating through a strict culture and even stricter parents. It will resonate with any reader who felt stifled by their upbringing, or who wanted to deviate from the planned path, or who felt like they were straddling two cultures and/or generations growing up. It tackles culture and family drama in a brutal and blatant way that I’m extremely appreciative of, and I could not put Mei’s story down, finishing it in under 48 hours during the work week, an extremely unusual feat for me. I can’t wait to pick up my own copy and Chao is going to be a difficult 2018 debut novelist to beat.

Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way. Even though this book is about the experiences of an Asian-American teen and the pressure to maintain her cultural traditions, I totally related to this book. The story of Mei, and her epic clash with her parent's wishes, is a universal one, of a young person breaking free of her childhood and finding her own way. This was a highly entertaining and, at times, heartbreaking book. What I Liked: Characters: Mei is caught between trying to be respectful of her parents, and following her own path. Her parents, with the best of intentions, have planned out her life: where she should go to college, what her major will be, her career as a doctor, and even who she will marry! As her parents hold the purse strings, she feels compelled to do as they say. I loved reading Mei's struggles as I went through some very similar situations with my own family. her need for independence is wrapped in guilt and fear. What will her parents do if she doesn't tow the line? Will they disown her as they did to her brother when he didn't follow the rules? I also really loved Mei's mother. Most chapters finish with voicemails from her mom which are annoying for Mei, but also funny and heartbreaking. Mei's mom truly loves her daughter, Mei's father is overbearing and unreasonable. She seems afraid of him. Although it was not explicitly stated in the book, I felt that maybe he was physically abusive toward her. He certainly was verbally abusive. Nicolette is Mei's roommate and a super fun character. At first I thought she would just be a two-dimensional character, but she eventually becomes a bigger part of the story. She is also trying to adjust to her sudden independence and popularity. She helps Mei to do more than just study and worry over her situation. Setting: The author obviously went to MIT, where the book is set. The many small details of MIT life are every present in this novel. The propensity for pranks (this was the school to come up with the term hack), the special little nooks, and traditions all made me want to go to this school! Story: What do you do when your parents and your brother are alienated? Mei really doesn't want to choose sides, but feels pressure from both her brother and her parents. With her dad holding the purse strings, she has a real fear of losing out on going to college if she defies him. Even though the situations seemed extreme at times, I know these kinds of things really happen in real life. Ending: I don't think I will spoil anything by revealing that there is not a tidy ending where everyone learns an important lesson. That is not real life. Instead we see a more realistic version of their ongoing issues. This was very refreshing. What I Was Mixed About: The book hints at Mei having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She is super worried about germs and uses excessive amounts of hand sanitizer. I wish this had been more of a focus in the book. I feel like this problem was used for comic effect more than really dealing with why Mei was so preoccupied with germs. I think it was a missed opportunity.

American Panda is a young adult contemporary novel about 17-year-old Mei Lu. Mei’s parents have her life planned out; 1) attend and graduate from MIT, 2) become a doctor, and 3) marry a pre-approved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer preferably a doctor. The problem with that is Mei is only happy with one of those three things. Mei who does not want to become a doctor is faced with the issue of being honest with herself or following the path that has been laid out for her. Mei’s passion is dance specifically Chinese dance. Mei feels that she needs to hide this part of her because her parents feel that it is a waste of her time. Mei with the support of some of her friends sees that to be happy she needs to find her own way. I love how the Taiwanese culture is woven throughout the story. The author also made sure to look at “other” families and even show that there are differences and that the culture and how things are handled are not all the same. I always like learning more about other cultures and in this story, you really get to see how culture and being one’s self can clash. There is a lot of growth in this story not just with Mei but also with her mother who has to learn that she may not understand what is best for her daughter and that the hardest thing is letting her daughter choose her own road and not knowing the outcome. As a whole, this story is very cute and I really enjoyed it.

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!

When I finished this book, I was unsure whether I’d be able to review it or not. Information or facts I remember about the book may be incorrect, as there is a time gap between me finishing the book and reviewing it. This was such a sweet story! I really loved the view into Taiwanese culture, and what it’s like to be a Taiwainese-American. I definitely related to Mei. I understand the pressures she was under, to fill a certain expectation, an expectation that was often unrealistic. The constant comparing, always falling short… It’s something I think a lot of people can relate to. I really loved the romance. It was so cute and wonderful! Darren is honestly the sweetest. He’s so good to Mei, even when her family is… less than sane. I also really enjoyed Mei’s relationship with Xing. I love strong sibling relationships in stories, and I loved the big brother/little sister dynamic. It’s something I definitely relate to! The writing in AMERICAN PANDA is really good, and I found the book to be well-paced. Overall, it’s a cute story with vibrant characters, fun dynamics, and estranged family!

The style and story in this book were completely different from what I expected! But that’s not a bad thing at all, because it turned out being even better in a way! I think that, due to having come across so many praises for this book, I was worried that my expectations would become too high, and that the book would thereby inevitably fall short. But I’m happy to say that no such thing happened (phew)! I found Mei’s personality and tone (she’s the narrator for the entire book) to be extremely likeable and funny. This is a very important thing for me, especially when reading books that are written in the first person. I need to click with the character, or reading the book will be tough. I didn’t have to worry over anything like that happening with this book though, because Mei was just great! One of the main focuses of this book is the struggle faced by the children of families who have immigrated into the West. With Mei being of Taiwanese descent, the focus was mostly on how she dealt with the expectations of her Taiwanese parents, as well as balancing Taiwanese culture, and American culture in her life. I am always very interested to see how immigrants from other places in the world deal with having moved to Canada or the U.S., since my parents, my sister, and myself are immigrants in Canada from Romania. I like to see the similarities, and the differences, and I also like to be informed! I think that Mei had to overcome quite a few obstacles when it came to her parents, and fitting into American culture, and I really felt for her. She also said something that really resonated with me, about not fully belonging in America, and also not fully belonging in Taiwan either, because I feel very similarly about Canada and Romania. That’s the issue with being an immigrant — one never really feels like they 100% belong in any one place. I appreciate that a lot of focus was also placed on Mei’s family, since they are an important part of her life, and the situations of parents obviously matter as well. They had their own struggles to deal with, and it was really great to get that perspective. I particularly liked learning more about Mei’s mom, and I think that she was a great character, and definitely the funniest for me. The other characters were really well-written, and fleshed-out as well, and I really liked a lot of them. There were people from varying walks of life, and I think that Chao handled talking about all of them in an amazing manner. I absolutely adored Darren Takahashi, and liked a lot of the other characters (for varying reasons) as well. Something that was also quite new for me with this book was learning about the culture at MIT! I’ve always found it amusing and interesting to find out about the traditions of particular universities, and thought it great that some of the universities in my town also have some fun and funny “rituals.” And, finally, my last point returns to Chao’s writing style in American Panda. I liked that some more mature (for the lack of a better word) things were handled in this book, and how they were handled. I think that a lot of things which were discussed in American Panda need to be discussed among teens and young adults, and I really appreciate that Chao included them in this book. I also appreciated some of the more mature subject matter due to being an adult reading YA! American Panda was a heartwarming, heartbreaking, and eye-opening read. It was definitely one of my top reads of the year so far (and will likely make my top 10 in December). I highly recommend this book to readers ranging from their teens, into their adult years, those who enjoy reading contemporary, as well as readers who might be wanting to dip their toes into contemporary YA for the first time!

i received a review copy of this book from the Kid Lit Exchange in for my honest opinion. 17-year-old MIT student Mei wants to make her own decisions about her life (and that means definitely NOT becoming a doctor), but in a traditional Chinese family children honor their parents when they follow the career path they are told to pursue and marry whom they are told to marry. As Mei attends her first year of college, she learns a great deal about who she is and is not, and very little seems to jive with what her parents want her to be. Mei’s parents have already disowned her brother Xing for disobeying them. Is Mei strong enough to follow her own heart and dreams and possibly pay the same price as her brother? I like this book. I appreciate the look into the dynamics of a Chinese-American family, because they are very different from mine. The tension between Mei and her parents is sad but believable. Characters' voices seemed authentic, and Mei and Darren are likeable. Author Chao says she drew on her own experiences and those of people she knows to write the story. I look forward to more from her.

American Panda is an adorable contemporary book that follows Mei as she navigates the line between her dreams and her parents'. As a Taiwanese-American, she struggles with the expectations her parents have of her as a perfect, dutiful daughter who is a doctor. Unfortunately, biology bores her and she hates germs. I really enjoyed reading about her journey and getting to know Mei. Her struggle felt authentic and I really felt for her plight. It's tough to want something other than what your parents expect from you and she cannot imagine a world in which she defies them. I appreciated the diversity and representation that this book provides to the YA book world, as it is great to see the main character represented on the cover and the book was own voices. Darren was my favourite character in the book and I liked how he balanced Mei's character. He was Japanese-American, but didn't have the same expectations from his parents. Although they wanted him close to home he realized that he needed to do what is best for him. He provided us with a different view of the situation, and he was very likable. Their interactions were super cute and so classic YA contemporary. It was a nice break from the fantasy that I had been reading and exactly the palate cleanser that I needed. I was rooting for them the entire time because they were so adorable. Despite the less than perfect family dynamic, I really loved seeing the depth that Chao gave to her characters. They felt authentic with their ups and downs, fights and struggles, as well as uplifting feelings of support that shone through at times. I was really impressed by the fact that Gloria Chao is a debut author. The pacing was good and the plot was engaging, but the characters are what shone for me. This is definitely the perfect "feel good" YA contemporary book to lift your mood and make you have all the feels.

Title: American Panda Author: Gloria Chao Read by: Emily Moo Zeller Publisher: Simon & Schuster Length: Approximately 7 hours and 33 minutes Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster. Thank-you! Mei is a seventeen-year-old Taiwanese American student starting at MIT. Mei’s life has been mapped out for her by her overprotective traditional parents. Her parents want her to be a doctor, but Mei is not so sure as she hates germs, Biology, and gets squeamish at the sight of blood. She doesn’t want to disappoint them, but she dreams of working in her real passion, which is dance. She also is afraid of getting kicked out of her family, as her brother Xing did for dating an “unsuitable” women. Mei misses Xing and wonders – what will happen to her if she follows her dreams? Especially when her dreams include fellow student, Darren Hakahasi who is Japanese American. This still makes me laugh, but I thought it was a memoir until about halfway through the audiobook. I guess you can say this really felt like realistic fiction to me! I really enjoyed the story. It’s a young adult story about finding yourself. Mei really wants to be a good daughter to her parents, but can she do it without losing her own soul? I also really liked how her parents want her to keep her Taiwanese traditions, but she is American and has a problem trying to be both American and Taiwanese. Family is complicated. The title, American Panda, is a sad fat joke. Mei thinks she is an American panda as she is not a skinny Chinese girl. It was a cute joke in the book, but also sad. Emily Moo Zeller was an excellent narrator. I felt that she was Mei in the novel. Favorite Quotes: “And right now, I had no idea where I ended, and my parents began.” “I couldn't go through life as a shadow.” Overall, American Panda is a very enjoyable coming of age novel.

Mei is seventeen and just entering her freshman year at MIT. She is on track to become a doctor and to marry the ideal Taiwanese mate, all according to the “plan” laid out for her by her parents. The problem is Mei is a bit of a germaphobe, would prefer to be a dancer, and has zero interest in the boy her parents want her to marry. Mei has found herself pulled between wanting to pursue her own dreams and the knowledge of what it means to go against her parents. Mei’s brother, Xing, was banished from the family for following his heart and, as Mei discovers her own hopes and happiness, she fears how close she is to repeating his path. Mei finds herself torn between the desire to make her parents proud or to find her own happiness. American Panda is engaging, and funny, as well as heartbreaking. The characters are so vividly portrayed I could hear them as if they were speaking and standing in the room with me. Even though this reality is so far from anything I’ve known in my life I felt the pain and pressure that Mei—and girls just like her—must feel. What a delightful and engaging story! *Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Pulse for the chance to read an ARC of American Panda.

This book was one of my most anticipated of 2018 and it lived up to the hype it received. I loved the peek into the Asian culture from different generations. I felt it authentically represented the customs and traditions as well as the struggle of younger people trying to live up to traditional parents' expectations. I loved the focus on family as well as friendship. I had hoped for more development with the love relationship--not the romance part, but the friendship that was the basis of the relationship. I loved Mei and her geekiness, intelligence, and love of dance. I identified completely with her and would have loved to have Mei as a real-life friend. Mei's struggle and character growth through the emotional pain she endured and overcame is amazing and inspirational.

I received this book from #kidlitexchange to read in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟American Panda by Gloria Chao is an amazing YA read. Mei Lu is a 17 year old college freshman who is so smart she was able to skip the fourth grade thanks to choices made by her parents. Mei's parents have had her future planned since the day she was born, who she will marry to her career path. She was raised with strong Taiwanese roots and is expected to become a doctor. However, Mei struggles with these expectations. She is paranoid of germs, crushing on a Japanese American boy which is strictly forbidden, and struggles to understand her family's strict rules. Her brother refused to follow their strict rules and cultural beliefs and his family has disowned him. No one in the family is allowed to talk to him or help him in anyway. Mei struggles with this choice also. One day she decides to bend the rules and find out just who Mei can be. Only one by one her secrets begin to spill out and her family life becomes unravelled. Mei struggles with what she wants vs. what is expected of her in order to be the best Mei she can be. In the about the author notes the author tells you about how her life and Mei's are very similar in the way they struggled to become their own person. I had some idea of the cultural beliefs of Taiwanese Americans but had no idea just how strong and rooted they were. It was very interesting to read and understand why the struggles seemed so real for Mei.

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.

Seventeen-year-old Taiwanese-American Mei knows what she wants in life. She will become an MIT-educated doctor, marry a fellow Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, and pass the baton over to her future brilliant children. Oh wait… that’s what her parents want. Her dreams are a little different from theirs. She will have to please her parents, but first she must treat her germaphobe tendencies, and she must get over Darren Takahashi, her super cute Japanese-American classmate. Her parents have crafted her life for her. Will she be brave enough to tell them the truth? It won’t be easy to break free. Her brother followed his heart and… let’s just say Mei is between a rock and a Panda bear behind bars. “I was used to being shunned by others for my different-tinted skin, different-shaped eyes, and my parents’ difficulty with I’s and R’s…” American Panda is a romantic comedy with lots of nuances and pathos. Mei is such a sweet character. She wants to please her parents, but she also longs to find a balance between fulfilling their wishes while staying true to herself. She’s fun, smart and relatable. Gloria Chao’s droll debut is a great addition to #OwnVoices YA. I give this five salted caramel mocha frappuccinos. Enjoyable from beginning to end.

Where do I even start with this amazing book? I do not want to spoil this book because it is a must read so I will keep this review short and simple. It's clever, witty, and powerful. I enjoyed the characters, from Mei who's a Germaphobia to her passion for dance, to her mother who brings so much to this story, and so many more characters. I could go on about the characters but there is more about this book I want to talk about. My favorite part of the book is the mixing of two different cultures that make one life for many people. Her writing does such a good job of balance this. The realness of this book is what makes it an amazing read. I love the witty, funny to warm-hearted moments. A great diversity read, with wonderful writing, raw feelings, and a joy to step into this world! I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't in any way influence my opinion on it. So, this is a 100% honest review by me.

Reading this book while visiting my friends in college really gave this book more meaning to me. This is because based on the main character's age and her resolve to become truly what she wants to be was profound. I also appreciated the internal struggle because it was so real. We all want to make our parents proud, but ultimately we also want to be happy. I really enjoyed learning more about the Asian culture in this book and i am really glad that there was more than one kind and old as well as new was represented. Because of these points and overall feelings I am going to rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it for an asian contempory

This book is like a breath of fresh air. It follows Mei, a plucky teenage college student, as she tries to find her true self by balancing her Taiwanese heritage and her family obligations with the person she wants to be. The squee-worthy romance will likely be the thing that draws in most YA fans, and though it's particularly well-written, it's the deeply conflicted, nuanced, and ultimately inspiring mother-daughter relationship that really sold me on this story. Gloria Chao's fun, quirky, and accessible voice provides a much-needed perspective for the YA community. Her debut should be on everyone's must-read list for 2018.

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!

This book was fantastic. It's #ownvoices about a Taiwanese-American MIT student trying to figure out who she is and how she can balance her two cultures. During this internal struggle, Mei is a likable, relatable, funny, and smart character who felt so real to me as I was reading. All of Chao's characters were fully fleshed out and the complicated relationships between them sucked me into their narrative and kept me turning the pages, especially the YA romance. American Panda grows intense at times as Mei navigates difficult situations, and at other times the witty, light-hearted banter had me laughing out loud. This is a book that will stay with me long after I've read it. Gloria Chao's debut is so brilliant, I can't wait to see what she writes next.

I was blown away by this powerful debut from Gloria Chao. I expected the moments of humor and romance in Mei's story (and they're everything you could want in terms of awkward swoon!), but what caught me off guard in the best possible way was the seriousness and deeply-felt intensity of Mei's struggle between cultures (the Taiwanese culture of her heritage and parents; the American culture of her childhood experience; and the unique university culture of MIT). AMERICAN PANDA will disarm you, make you laugh and probably pee a little, and then make you ache from head to toe as you root for Mei to find her path.

What a cute book! What a necessary book. I tagged this story with Feminism because there are cultures who need more individual growth and less tradition. I think everyone should read this book to see where one's traditions and growth of personhood resides. The author, Gloria Chao, does a marvelous job bringing us into her world, learning the traditions that she grew up with. It is wonderful seeing that change can happen. That individuals can find their own happiness. My copy was the Kindle version borrowed from the e-library. If you can you should look it up. It is a light read to have so much to it. I might read it again, someday.

I've been wanting to read Gloria Chao's debut AMERICAN PANDA ever since I saw the deal announcement, and *really* wanting to read it since I saw that absolutely adorable cover. (Probably one of my favorite covers of 2018!) While AMERICAN PANDA was a much more serious read than I'd anticipated in many ways—Chao writes some of the most intense family drama I've ever read!—it also managed to be laugh-out-loud funny. I identified so much with Mei's awkwardness and her uncertainty about where, exactly, she fit into the effortless lives of the people around her. The romance was sweet, and while the conflict between Mei and her parents was sometimes tough to read, it ended on what I consider to be a perfectly bittersweet-yet-hopeful note.

Me, reading this book: I just want to hug Mei. As a 17-year-old accepted to MIT, Mei struggles to balance what she wants (to dance, time with the cute Japanese-American boy on campus) with what her parents want for her: a medical career and marriage to a Taiwanese American doctor. This book deftly presents Mei's struggle to find herself in sometimes heartbreaking ways, but does so with such a warm heart and humor. I was particularly impressed with the nuance of the characters (no one gets reduced to a simple stereotype), many of whom surprised me in good ways. Definitely worth the wait.

I loved this book so much! It's funny, touching, heartbreaking, and romantic. There are moments when I laughed out loud--Mei, the narrator, is extremely witty and observant and her sense of humor is delightful, whether she's riffing off of her romantic interest or describing an embarrassing bathroom incident--and parts where I teared up. Chao balances the comedic and dramatic elements of Mei's story perfectly. It's a story about family, culture, acceptance, and belonging (not necessarily in that order), and Chao tells it beautifully.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I was rooting for Mei throughout, and I was extremely happy with her character development. At times, it was hard to read because being Asian myself, I grew up disagreeing with a whole bunch of my parents' traditions/culture, as well. Gloria Chao really hit the nail on the head in certain scenes. I teared up during this one conversation between Mei and her mother towards the end of the book because it was so relatable and every child just wants their parent to be happy for them regardless of their likes and dislikes. All in all, a solid debut.

This book was phenomenal. It was, at times, funny, fluffy, but at the same time heart breaking and real in its exploration of the themes of parenthood. Don't necessarily expect only a cute panda story, and don't expect it to be black and white. This book is nothing like that. It can be hard, it can be emotionally upsetting, but it can also be uplifting, hopeful, and resilient. It was 100% my kind of book in its devotion to the truth, rejection of the black and white, and exploration of themes. This has been one of my most hyped up book and it lived up to the ALL the hype and more. Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley. this does not impact my review as it is unbiased and honest.

I received a free copy exclusively from YALLFest. This novel really lived up to its hype. It was a fast read for me, but it was also very educational when it came to traditional family values that Gloria put into this story, based off of her real life experiences and what she has seen herself. I loved Mei's character and admired her spirit in this book, as well.

17yo Mei Lu, having skipped a grade, starts her freshman year at MIT and soon feels like she’s living a lie. Her immigrant Taiwanese parents expect/demand that Mei become a doctor and follow close to their traditional values. Mei, however, knows that she can't become a doctor. As pressures mount and her secrets pile up, Mei is soon at a breaking point. She must decide once and for all if she will stand up for her happiness. A laugh out loud squirm-inducing (in the best way) read.

This book was adorable. A YA novel about a 17 year old girl named Mei at MIT whose parents dream of becoming a doctor. She’s American and Taiwanese and struggles with blending the cultures as she grows up and makes her own decision. There’s parental upheaval and family drama which played well on the page, and first loves all kept me interested in the story. One thing I didn’t like was a lot of bathroom talk but it wasn’t enough to hurt the story.

American Panda by Gloria Chao is a funny, heartbreaking book filled with culture. Mei is a great main character; she's relatable, hilarious, smart, and sympathetic. The side characters are all three-dimensional and interesting, and her family unit is intense and engaging. The second part of the book is particularly heavy and had me tearing up at different scenes. Lastly, it was SO great to see a YA take place in college! I really recommend this book.

I listened to this on audio, and I highly recommend going in that way. This was such an adorable story around family and the culture of Mei as a Taiwanese American. This follows Mei, a seventeen-year-old, who is in her first year of college. Mei is trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life without disappointing her parents. Her parents have strong cultural beliefs and her own brother was disowned for going against the family. I found this to be a cute YA read. It did not blow me away, but I did enjoy it.

This was wonderfully written with an ADORABLE romance and a lovely friendship and a girl figuring out what she wants to do with her life and exploring her familial relationships as well as her relationship to her culture and I loved it SO much. Gloria Chao is going on my auto-buy list.

I'm about as white as white people get, but still I loved this book. Mei's journey to discover who she is and to balance the Chinese and American sides of her life is something everyone should be able to relate to.

Don’t let this cute cover fool you, American Panda is way more serious than it seems! It is a heart wrenching look at what it means to be straddling two cultures and not belonging to either. I binged this story at work almost in one sitting and there were moments I laughed, gasped and almost cried. Lots of family drama, a bit of love, and friendship too (reminded me of Cath and Regan from Fangirl!), would definitely recommend! Audiobook narrator note: Good but I couldn’t stop thinking about The Bone Witch, that’s obviously all on me.

An absolute must read! What might appear to be fluffy contemporary read on the surface, is actually one of the thoughtful and meaningful novels I've read. I love this story about Mei's discovery of her place in the world and her mother. The characters are fully fleshed out and written with an empathetic and compassionate eye. There's nothing *not* to love!

Wow! I absolutely loved this book! From the humor to Mei struggling to accept what she wants, each page touched my heart. I love Mei for being strong and pushing towards what she wanted, even if it meant being disowned by her family as her older brother, Xing, had been. I highly recommend this book! Especially if you struggle to know how to balance two completely different worlds due to heritage. Thank you Gloria Chao for such an inspiring book!

American Panda is a beautifully written, fresh, emotional and honest story that will appeal to a wide audience. Loved it! I was voluntarily provided with a complimentary review copy by the publisher. @crushingcinders

This is a great book for anyone looking for an authentic an uplifting story about a Taiwanese-American girl coming of age while trying to balance family expectations and a desire to determine her own path.

I really loved this one. There were scenes that made me laugh out loud, reminiscent of what I would have read in Meg Cabot or Angus Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging. This was full of heart, even when it was heartbreaking, and the voice was just utterly fantastic.

Very sweet and lovely novel with some important themes. Looking forward to reading more from this author

I love to read about the experiences of other American minorities. After reading Love, Hate & Other Filters, I wasn't too excited to read what I thought would be just the first half of the previously mentioned. But the story went past romance and straight into drama that felt relatable and still brand new. I enjoyed America Panda, and I look foward to more from Gloria Chao in the future. 🐼

When I read YA (or anything, really), the voice is THE most important thing for me. That's what drew me into American Panda. Mei's voice is fresh, funny, achingly real, and oh-so-vibrant. Definitely pick this one up for the sweet romance and stand out voice.

American Panda is really cute read about finding yourself amid your family's expectations. Though entrenched in Taiwanese-American culture, it's relatable on many levels to anyone trying to discover who they are and what they want. I highly recommend it for avid young adult readers.

This book has it all: family drama, swoon-y romantic leads, and scenes in doctor's offices in which you simultaneously want to throw up and laugh out loud! Read it!