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40th out of 59 books
—
415 voters
The Great Call of China (Students Across the Seven Seas)
by
Cynthea Liu (Goodreads Author)
Chinese-born Cece was adopted when she was two years old by her American parents. Living in Texas, she's bored of her ho-hum high school and dull job. So when she learns about the S.A.S.S. program to Xi'an, China, she jumps at the chance. She'll be able to learn about her passion - anthropology - and it will give her the opportunity to explore her roots. But when she arriv...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
February 19th 2009
by Speak
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Can this book have any more stereotypes in it? I kept wanting it to get better but it seemed as if every single stereotype about Asians, Chinese Americans, Asian Americans, Chinese people, etc. was in the book. Spoiled, rebellious, boy-crazy, bratty Chinese American girl? Check. Hot half Chinese half white boy as love interest? Check. Chinese boy who's nice but can only be seen as a friend and is obsessed with American culture? Check. Neutral white girl as best friend? Check. Chinese people eati...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I say this every time, but I really like the S.A.S.S. series because they feature better teenage female protagonists than so many other books out there. It's great to feel good about recommending this series to teen girls. :) Having said that, I must confess this wasn't my favorite installment. The program attendees did not have the diversity I've come to expect. Usually, the students come from a variety of backgrounds and I like that. This one, however, dealt with Chinese people almost exclusiv...more
The book Great Call of China by Cynthea Liu is about a girl named CeCe who was adopted from China when she was two. Now that shes older and has the chance to go to China. When she leaves she hopes to visit the orphange that she grew up and in and try to find her birth parents. A internal conflict which should go to find her birth parents or obey her mom and not go looking. A external conflict that CeCe faces is with Jessica her roomate. In a certain part of the book tension rises between them.
I...more
I...more
A fast read, but felt superficial at times. I liked Cece as the narrator of the story as she seems genuine and likeable. She has her moods and her uncertainties. Other than Cece though, I felt like there was a lack of connection with the characters. I didn't understand why she liked Will and the fast connections that you develop with people on these sorts of trips felt like it was missing. I enjoyed Cece's search for her birth parents and its conclusion, but felt the essay she was writing for th...more
I really enjoyed this book, especially for a YA semi-chick-lit story. Cece, a Chinese-born high school student who was adopted by American parents, spends her summer at an anthropology program in Xi'an, China. While she's there, she attempts to learn more about her own heritage and her birth parents. The book contains many little snippets of information about China and Chinese culture, woven in as Cece and her classmates see the country. The characters are fun, and the romantic thread of the sto...more
Dec 08, 2012
Amy
added it
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I think I really only give it 3.5 stars, but I'm being generous today. This YA (aimed at the preteen+) stars Cece, an American-adopted Chinese girl who travels back to China through the S.A.S.S. (Students Across the Seven Seas) program. Through the anthropology program, Cece goes to Xi'an (home of the famous terra cotta warriors) and learns about her cultural history.
I am an American-adopted Korean, who now resides in Beijing, China. So I take particular interest in the part where Cece returns t...more
I am an American-adopted Korean, who now resides in Beijing, China. So I take particular interest in the part where Cece returns t...more
Great Call of China is great for a short and entertaining read. I loved how quick the story flew by.
Cece was an interesting main character. Though there weren't too many details about her and her personality, it could be portrayed through the way she steadfastly went looking for her real parents in Beijing. And even though she knew that she might face negative answers and responses, she had a determination and courage that allowed her to find out about her family.
I also loved reading some parts...more
Cece was an interesting main character. Though there weren't too many details about her and her personality, it could be portrayed through the way she steadfastly went looking for her real parents in Beijing. And even though she knew that she might face negative answers and responses, she had a determination and courage that allowed her to find out about her family.
I also loved reading some parts...more
Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com
The good and the not so good:
The main story of Cece finding her birth parents was excellent. Cece had to face her fears and by the end of the story she not only appreciated her adopted parents but also she knew the story behind her birth. She was a very believable character and I really enjoyed her search for friends and her family in China.
What I didn't find believable was that she didn't have any jet lag after flying for about 20+ hours from Tex...more
The good and the not so good:
The main story of Cece finding her birth parents was excellent. Cece had to face her fears and by the end of the story she not only appreciated her adopted parents but also she knew the story behind her birth. She was a very believable character and I really enjoyed her search for friends and her family in China.
What I didn't find believable was that she didn't have any jet lag after flying for about 20+ hours from Tex...more
Lovely story about a teen who spends her summer abroad in Xi'an studying anthropology. This is part of a larger series of books featuring teens studying abroad, which is a fun idea, but this one is special since there are few YA novels around that feature teens adopted from China. A must-save for my daughter.
The story itself has the usual hallmarks -- a cute boy, some friction with parents, the studious friend & the party-girl friend -- but also shares some of the issues of an internationall...more
The story itself has the usual hallmarks -- a cute boy, some friction with parents, the studious friend & the party-girl friend -- but also shares some of the issues of an internationall...more
I found myself learning more about china in this book. There are a lot of familiar pinyins in this book that I know how to read, there are histories that I am fimiliar with. I can relate to a lot of the facts in this book. I can't relate to the main character though, main character Cece was adopted and wanted to find out about her origin, that was part of the reason why she went to SASS program. The ending came a little too quickly but I still like the ending.
It's one of those cliches stories, but I also think it has it's own originality. A girl wants to truly discover who she is as a whole person. Being one that just found an unknown part of my heritage, I feel that I don't know myself. This is what the main character- Cece- feels. She wants to know who she is, why is she who she is. She was an adopted Chinese girl with no recollection of her birth parents or her homeland.
In this book, it's all about to change.
In this book, it's all about to change.
I liked this book, it was a very easy read though. I really liked the main character Cece, she is Chinese but got adopted by an american family.Now she is in China again for a anthropology program. I love all of the people she meets through the program because they seem so realistic.But because she is already there in China she decides to try to find her orphanage and birth parents. It's very interesting what she finds out.
A SASS book. Cece was adoped from China when she was two, and now she is on her way back, and she hopes to find answers to her past. She is also interested in anthropology, and she wants to explore her heritage. She meets a guy on the plane, Will, and she makes friends with several other people in the program, and with their help and support, she may be able to face her past and decide her future.
the first chapter is weak, but it gets better and better. the story is engaging, and it moves along nicely, toward the end, it is driven, it makes you want to turn the pages faster. it's informative about Chinese culture, the one child policy, and adoption. it's simple, but good. it made me feel as if I were in the anthropology program.
May 15, 2012
ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
library-books,
young-adult
This was really good. I read it in just 6 hours and cried at the end. A lovely story about an adopted girl who looks for her birth parents in China while there as a summer exchange student. Nicely works in alot of Chinese culture and history.
I was dissapointed with this book. Not all characters were developed, and it took about 40 pages to pique my interest. But, I did finish the book, and it had some redeming qualities. Learing about China was also interesting.
I don't usually read a book from cover to cover but it was engaging enough that I wanted to finish it. Good romance and fun facts about China wrapped up in the 250+ pages.
This book was fun and I learned about the Chinese culture when reading it. Great book for that, great book for teens that have been adopted, cute storyline.
Although this book was highly predictable and not life changing in any way, I still enjoyed it as an easy, no-brainer of a read.
it was my wish to come to China before when I read this. It's such a nice story and it also made me cry, good story
hmmm, it was okay, not that good though. the whole romance with will didnt feel like it was there to me.
must read lilly told me 1 hundred times to so maybe
I enjoyed this book about an adopted Chinese American visiting her home country. Not my favorite from the SASS Series, but good!
This was a great book and I totally love the s.a.s.s series
it was a pretty cool book,has some chinese in it
about adoption
bf totally understandig
bf totally understandig
One Country down China
"The Great Call of China" is one of Cynthea Liu's best books! The character Cece is a wonderful teenage girl that searches for personal answers in the country of China. The story was well written and I had a hard time putting the book down (which is a good sign). The author's writings reached deep into my emotions which made me laugh and cry. Five stars all the way!
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Cynthea spent her formative years in Oklahoma and Texas where she was a Whiz Quiz member, an Academic Decathloner, and a spelling bee champion. (Yes, she was very popular.) After attending college on the East coast, she worked at a corporate job where she mastered PowerPoint and racked up thousands of frequent flyer miles. Eventually, she traded in her suit for sweats to do the fun stuff–writing f...more
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