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Girl Overboard

by Justina Chen (Goodreads Author)

3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 1,163 ratings · 143 reviews

Everybody thinks Syrah is the golden girl. After all, her father is Ethan Cheng, billionaire, and she has everything any kid could possibly desire: a waterfront mansion, jet plane, and custom-designed snowboards. But most of what glitters in her life is fool's gold. Her half-siblings hate her, her best friend's girlfriend is ruining their friendship, and her own so-called...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published January 1st 2008 by Little, Brown Young Readers

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Best Asian-American teen fiction

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Nov 30, 2008 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, favorite-books

Syrah was injured in a snowboarding accident. Her dream is to become a Pro-Snowboarder. Her family is unsupportive. Her father, Ethan Cheung, made the cell phone of today. Her mother, Betty Cheung, is both a fashionista and do charity fundraising. All she want to do is be on the slopes with her best friend, Age,but he is too busy with his new boyfriend.
She soon befriends Lillan, an energetic and kid person. That spends most of her time at Seattle Children's Hospital. Lillan's sister, Amanda, has...more

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Jan 15, 2009 Ash R. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-books-sadelle

If you are looking for a book that is about a Rich girl and her perfect life don't read this book. If you want to read about a rich girl who has everything perfect her and she wants that to change then you should read this book. This book is about a girl who struggles to keep being rich out of living a normal life. She wants to be able to do things regular people do. She is tried of being different and doesn't want to be the Rich bratty girl, but the girl who is just like me.

I can make a text t...more

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Dec 27, 2008 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Girl Overboard stars a very unhappy girl, Syrah, who is frustrated with practically everything in her life: she's unhappy with how her knee is healing after a bad snowboarding accident; unhappy that there seems to be a mental/emotional block preventing her from moving on in her life after a disappointing first taste of love/lust; unhappy that her very best friend, Adrian "Age", has a girlfriend who won't allow him to see her; unhappy that her parents ignore her except for when they're bossing he...more
Girl Overboard stars a very unhappy girl, Syrah, who is frustrated with practically everything in her life: she's unhappy with how her knee is healing after a bad snowboarding accident; unhappy that there seems to be a mental/emotional block preventing her from moving on in her life after a disappointing first taste of love/lust; unhappy that her very best friend, Adrian "Age", has a girlfriend who won't allow him to see her; unhappy that her parents ignore her except for when they're bossing her around--how her mom is always onto her about her weight, how they both rarely take her seriously and how both want to keep her from ever snowboarding again; angry with her two half-siblings, Wayne and Grace, both much older than herself; disappointed that her only real friend in the house--her nanny if you will--Bao-mu is going to be leaving the family to go care for her own granddaughter; and super-super angry that her parents have told her that they're all moving to Hong Kong next year. Syrah has an oh-so-terrible life because her parents are oh-so-wealthy. But it has its advantages in a way too--when Syrah decides she wants to be a part of her family and use everything to get what she wants. And what Syrah ends up wanting more than anything is to help someone else--to save a life.

It's a coming of age novel heavy on the whine in the opening chapters. The first fifty pages didn't hook me. But I kept going, I kept reading and sure enough by the end I was enjoying it. While all the characters seemed a bit flat and stereotypical in the beginning, by the end, they were beginning (at least if not more) to become fully fleshed characters with heart and soul. Her developing relationship with her family--her mother, Betty; her half-sister, Grace; her mother's family whom she meets for the first time--her aunts and cousins, etc--add depth to this story. I liked how Syrah changed through the course of the book, how she came to be someone I could like, someone I could respect.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews (less)

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Apr 23, 2009 Doug Beatty rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

Syrah Chen is the daughter of Ethan and Betty Chen and the family is very wealthy. Syrah really enjoys snowboarding but after a run in the back country, Syrah damaged her knee and had to have pins put in. Syrah’s friend is Age who is dating Natalia even though Syrah would like him for herself. Syrah dreams of getting sponsors and becoming a snowboarding star. Syrah finds a friend in Lillian who she travels with to the hospital and helps her with a party she is having for the children. Lillian ha...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Karen Ball rated it 4 of 5 stars

Love this one! Syrah is the youngest daughter of Ethan Cheng, famous billionaire businessman. She's got it all: the waterfront mansion, vacation homes around the world, family jet, custom-designed snowboard. All her material possessions make her life glitter to any outsider... but there's a lot of un-glittering mess underneath. Syrah's half-siblings hate her and her mother, her best friend is a guy whose girlfriend is getting jealous and threatening their friendship, and a nasty accident means s...more

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Feb 28, 2010 Margaret rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-and-ya-fiction, authors-gh

Syrah Cheng is the youngest daughter of billionaire businessman Ethan Cheng; she lives in a mansion, goes to a private school, and has everything...apparently. But her half-siblings hate her, her parents are distant, her best friend's girlfriend is coming between them, and she's suffered a drastic knee injury in a snowboarding accident, causing her parents to forbid her to snowboard, the only thing she loves.

I loved Headley's examination of Syrah's relationships, especially with her family and...more

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Jan 16, 2013 7706mollie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: funny-sad-at-the-same-time, realistic-fiction, romance

Wow, I am totally ashamed of myself because I hated the first 20 pages of this book. The rest of it's fantastic! Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley focuses on a teenage girl named Syrah, who's dad is a millionaire. Syrah used to love snowboarding, but after a tragic accident, she has been forbidden to do that. She's also got family troubles to deal with, not to mention that her best friend, Age, is starting to keep his distance because of his new girlfriend. Poor Syrah is caught in the middl...more

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Jun 03, 2013 Michelle R rated it 1 of 5 stars

Girl Overboard by Justina Chen is yet another book about a rich spoiled brat, only the names ever change and in this book its Syrah, her father Ethan Cheng, is of course a billionaire and she has everything any kid could possibly want; a waterfront mansion, jet plane, and custom-designed snowboard, and what kid would want that i have no clue. Her best friend's girlfriend is trying to break up their friendship, and she also has a border line crush on him. She organizes a snowboarding fundraiser t...more Girl Overboard by Justina Chen is yet another book about a rich spoiled brat, only the names ever change and in this book its Syrah, her father Ethan Cheng, is of course a billionaire and she has everything any kid could possibly want; a waterfront mansion, jet plane, and custom-designed snowboard, and what kid would want that i have no clue. Her best friend's girlfriend is trying to break up their friendship, and she also has a border line crush on him. She organizes a snowboarding fundraiser to raise awareness for bone marrow transplants, but at the fundraiser she sees her old “boyfriend,” the one that used her to get to her father, she tells him off like she should have done before now.

This book is similar to The Daughter series by Joanna Philbin, again it’s about the daughters of rich parents, the parents try to force the daughters to go into the same business as them and the daughters don’t want to so they rebel, they then finally stand up for what they want.

I didn’t like this book because she’s just another rich kid only caring about herself, but then she realizes that she can do good with her father’s money so then she raises awareness for a cause that affects her and her new friend. I want to find a good, well written, realistic book that is easier to relate to than the crap I am reading now. I don’t think I will read another book by this author, but I might read another book of this genre. hopefully in the other book I read in this genre I will find ones without plot like this one that has been done and redone a thousand times. They over do this kind of stories so it’s hard to find books of a different plot.

I rated this book one star because I just did not like it. It annoyed me with its plot, and writing, I would not read this book because it’s just another about some rich girl getting everything she wants, and having “hard times” that of her getting her knee busted up. This book just made me angry because she was complaining about not being able to “do” anything, the children of those rich mostly stuck up and unaware of anyone else's problems.
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Apr 27, 2011 Evy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Que Syrah Syrah..."what will be will be." Well, not for Syrah Cheng, a.k.a. Ethan Cheng, billionaire's, daughter! Life for Syrah isn't as simple as it seems to be: ride in a limo, live in a mansion, eat your heart out, and basically mooch off your rich daddy's money. As appealing as that sounds, it ain't the life for her. Truth is, Syrah has an alternate identity: Shiraz, the sassy snowboarder chick. She and her best friend, Age, would cruise the mountains like the rich girls would cruise in the...more

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Oct 09, 2010 A Canadian Girl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008, 5-stars, little-brown

Out of all the novels I’ve read by Justina Chen Headley, Girl Overboard is by far my favourite. Headley always does a superb job with character development and Syrah’s evolution was no different. Initially, Syrah wants to just be seen as “Syrah” and not “Syrah Cheng” but by the end of the novel, Syrah has learned to embrace her last name and everything associated with being a Cheng while still being true to her own dreams.

Relationships were such a crucial element in Girl Overboard and this book...more

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Dec 13, 2009 Sam rated it 3 of 5 stars

I bought Girl Overboard because I really enjoyed Headley’s latest book, North of Beautiful. The whole snowboarding premise seemed really interesting to me because I tried snowboarding once and I fell about a million times. I’m much better at skiing.

I was a little disappointed, however. For about the first 100 pages or so, I felt like I’d been thrown headlong into Syrah’s life without any explanation, even though there definitely was. I didn’t really feel a strong connection to her love interest,...more I bought Girl Overboard because I really enjoyed Headley’s latest book, North of Beautiful. The whole snowboarding premise seemed really interesting to me because I tried snowboarding once and I fell about a million times. I’m much better at skiing.

I was a little disappointed, however. For about the first 100 pages or so, I felt like I’d been thrown headlong into Syrah’s life without any explanation, even though there definitely was. I didn’t really feel a strong connection to her love interest, Age, because he was in about three scenes and most of them involved him telling Syrah that he couldn’t see her because he had a girlfriend now. The snowboarding thing also wasn’t as big of a plot point as I thought it would be; Syrah goes snowboarding twice in the entire book. I was expecting scenes and scenes of her flying down the mountain or something.

Another problem I had was that the narrative was a little bogged down by all of these ridiculous similes and metaphors. I recognize that is Headley’s writing style, because she did it in North of Beautiful, but it seemed a bit much. For instance, “And just like that, the sky goes blank with blackness, mirroring the what I’m thinking, how I’m feeling.” Or, “A rocket blazes a shrieking path, reaching higher than any of the other fireworks before it explodes, burning a hole in the night just as Jared did through my head and heart.”

There was also the fact that not that much really happened until about page 250 or so, so I was a little bored. The writing is pretty beautiful, but that can only buoy me for so long. When things did start happening, I almost didn’t care anymore because I’d been waiting for them to happen for so long.

One thing I did like, however, was Syrah’s nanny, Bao-Mu. She was the best character in the whole novel, I felt. In the beginning, I thought that she was going to be annoying, because Syrah did often feel a little annoyed with her, but as the story progressed, she wormed her way into my heart. Same with her mother’s family; they were so sweet and family-like that I kind of wished I had something like that. Mentions of all the Chinese food made me want to try some of this stuff, or at least make dumplings like they did (maybe I’ll ask my boss to make me some tonight!).

Overall, I tried to enjoy Girl Overboard, but there was some major flaws that I found with it.(less)

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Jun 04, 2012 Nora rated it 5 of 5 stars

Syrah's parents don't love her and her best friend, Age, has a girlfriend that is spending so much time with Age that Syrah can't do a lot with him. Her half-siblings hate her, her babysitter has to leave, and she will move to Hong Kong. On top of that people treat her differently because she's the daughter of the billionaire, Ethan Cheng and she can't do the thing she wants, snowboarding. Syrah's life is horrible. But when she becomes friends with Lillian and finds out Lillian's little sister h...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Arthur Pengerbil rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reading Level: Grades 8+

To the outside observer, Syrah Cheng, daughter of billionaire Ethan Cheng, lives a charmed life. If only it were so. Between her critical, distant parents, her hateful adult half brother and sister and her sycophantic classmates, Syrah feels besieged and alone. Life has been even worse since the snowboarding accident that almost took her life and brought her under the unfavorable scrutiny of the press.

When her life long friend Age turns his back on her, Syrah realizes tha...more

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Oct 18, 2010 NTE rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, ya-supposedly, kid-lit, authors-i-autobuy

YA book doing what YA books do best - showing just how much work growing up can be. I know nothing about snowboarding, but appreciated the descriptions of it in this book, and what it meant to the main character - how much she misses who she is when she's on the mountain really struck a chord with me, who misses who she used to be when she danced. Syrah's a great character, who figrues out what it means to be Syrah - not her father's daughter or her horrible half-siblings' little sister, or her...more

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Jul 30, 2008 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: alltime-favorites

I started this book at 11:15 last night. I went to bed at 5:45 this morning. I don't think I've ever done that before. It was a great read. Coming of age, but dark. Very good.

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Dec 27, 2011 Gillysegal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Loved the journey main character Shiraz takes to learn about courage and standing on your own two feet and being a part of your family, for better or for worse. The depiction of Asian-American culture was engrossing and people who have struggled to integrate two cultures in their lives with empathize and see parts of their own struggle in this novel.

Shiraz's relationships with her family members and the friendships she learns to make over the course of the novel are the strongest element here,...more

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Dec 12, 2008 Terry rated it 2 of 5 stars

I know some people really like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I could not relate to the daughter of a super-rich business man who got anything and everything she wanted, materially speaking. True, the main character does end up doing some good in the end, but she spends most of the story complaining. I also didn't like the author's terminology that a biological family is the "real" family, as opposed to an adopted family. I bet many adoptive families feel like they are "real" famili...more

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May 03, 2011 Kate (VerbVixen) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought this was going to be a lighter read than it was in actuality. The cover is deceiving with its bubble-gum pink bubbles. I anticipated a light sort of contemporary snowboarding book, similar to The Ex Games. What I got instead was an interesting account of the trials and tribulations of being a wealthy Asian American child. The pressures, the loneliness, the eternal struggle to know and love one's absentee parents--were all poignant. Syrah's self discovery also leads to her charity work...more

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Mar 16, 2010 Madison Marino rated it 4 of 5 stars

Girl Overboard was actually surprisingly good. When I first started reading it I thought it was really boring. But then i kept reading and I got drawn to the character, Syrah. She amazed me. I didn't know how she could do the things she did. Her family drived me insane but then things worked out. For some reason i really got drawned to her nanny and got really sad when she had to leave. I really would recommend this book. Syrah actually kind of inspired me. Its weird because you wouldn't normall...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Laura Martinelli rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, own, library-reread

If there’s one problem I have with this book overall, it’s the cover description. Partially for giving out the entire backstory, but mostly for making it out to seem like another cookie-cutter YA rom-com.

Talk about wild misrepresentation. What looks like a fluffy, winter-vacation romance about girl snowboarders is actually a fairly deep and thought-provoking study of a girl learning to stand on her own and embracing her family, warts and all. What I love about Syrah is that she feels so real. I...more If there’s one problem I have with this book overall, it’s the cover description. Partially for giving out the entire backstory, but mostly for making it out to seem like another cookie-cutter YA rom-com.

Talk about wild misrepresentation. What looks like a fluffy, winter-vacation romance about girl snowboarders is actually a fairly deep and thought-provoking study of a girl learning to stand on her own and embracing her family, warts and all. What I love about Syrah is that she feels so real. I love that she has so many distinct personalities—dutiful, but wants to lash out with her parents; ‘don’t bother me’ at school; even confident and cocky whenever she’s on the slopes, and she still has these moments of fear and vulnerability. I liked that she’s so complicated and hard to pin down.

I really do like it in realistic YA (okay, in a lot of YA) where the conflict/plot is all centered around the romance. Syrah does linger on her ex Jared, as well as her convoluted feelings toward her best friend Age, but she doesn’t spend the whole book whining about either one. Any romantic discussion is more focused on Syrah trying to be herself, and whether or not if she necessarily needs someone to fulfill herself. Also, I just like her friendship between herself and Age—I like that they have an actual friendship, rather than just coy flirting and Syrah’s inner dialogue talking about how hot Age is. There’s some contrived drama with Age and their relationship, but I’ll touch on that in a bit.

I love that a lot of the book follows Syrah’s family and her place in it. One of the things that really stands out is that Syrah is the result of a broken home and she’s had to deal with this fact for her whole life. I like that while she doesn’t exactly kiss up to her half-siblings all of the time, Syrah does try to mend fences with them. I especially love Syrah and Grace’s emerging sisterly feelings and that they’ll try to be there for each other. There’s also a nice semi-parallel with Syrah’s mother and her sisters; it’s definitely a book that deals with the healing processes. And I also liked that Syrah wanted to be more than just how her parents were, and finds a way to reconcile with her family name with her own wants and desires.

One of the other things I really liked here was Lillian and her and Syrah’s growing friendship. I loved Lillian; I liked how she cared about her family, how she’s able to stand up for herself, and how she and Syrah slowly begin to open to one another. Not to mention, she’s the first to really spark Syrah’s change. I also like that because of Lillian, Syrah does start to see beyond other people’s facades, including the bitchy mean girls. The only bit I would I have liked to have seen with this (and this is my only other major problem with the book) is that I would have liked some reconciliation between Syrah and Age’s girlfriend Natalia. It just seems weird that she would have this revelation and not try to mend that particular bridge.

Also, I kinda sorta maybe wanted to see more with Syrah and Bao-mu. A part of me doesn’t want to, as so much of the story is focused on Syrah growing up and moving on, but Bao-mu does contribute a lot to the story, so I wanted to see the deeper part of their relationship.

As I said, despite the flirty cover, this is a surprisingly deep and interesting book. It touches on a lot of different issues—family, culture, history, self-esteem—but neither feels like it’s too cloying or simplistic. It’s a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it.
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Jan 21, 2010 Kelly Oram rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love it when I'm surprised by random books I've never heard before. I just plucked this one off the shelf at the library the other day because I was out of things to read. Usually when I do that I get some really blah book, but I absolutely loved this one!

I adored the main character in this book. And her situation was just so frustrating and felt so desperate at times that she could have just given up or become completely spoiled and selfish or rebelled by way of drugs/alcohol/destructive beh...more

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Sep 08, 2009 Naomi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: advisory-09-10

I think this was a good book, not as great as Justina Chen Headley's first book "Nothing But the Truth and a Few White Lies" but still showed the values of being Chinese American. This story chronicles the life of Syrah, the youngest daughter of her billionaire father and his much younger second wife, which already causes family problems between her and her two older siblings, Wayne and Grace. Both following the footsteps of their father in the business world, Syrah feels neglected by those who...more

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Mar 11, 2009 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

If nothing else, the Chengs know how to save face. So to everyone else, Syrah Cheng's life looks like a dream come true. Her father is a billionaire, her mother is beautiful and always buying her fancy clothes (and custom-designed snowboarding gear). Between that and the mansion and private jet, it really seems like Syrah has it all. But . . .

The worst part of having it all is having to deal with it all--the good, the bad, and the just plain weird.

Syrah knows better than most that appearances c...more If nothing else, the Chengs know how to save face. So to everyone else, Syrah Cheng's life looks like a dream come true. Her father is a billionaire, her mother is beautiful and always buying her fancy clothes (and custom-designed snowboarding gear). Between that and the mansion and private jet, it really seems like Syrah has it all. But . . .

The worst part of having it all is having to deal with it all--the good, the bad, and the just plain weird.

Syrah knows better than most that appearances can be deceiving. She almost never sees her parents, her half-siblings hate her, and it turns out real friends are not that easy to find when you can buy everything else. What Syrah doesn't know is how to change any of that, especially when she's been deceiving herself for so long.

Girl Overboard (2007) is Justina Chen Headley's second novel (following Nothing But the Truth (and a Few White Lies) from 2006). The writing here is snappy and really moves the text along, so much so that the story very quickly demanded my full attention to better catch the nuances of Syrah's narration. The writing here is also grittier than a lot of books I have read lately. Syrah's loneliness and depression are so tangible in the early stages of the book that, at times, reading it was painful.

After years of being a loner with a one-track mind for snowboarding, Syrah's snowboarding accident and resulting knee injury force her to look at her entire life in a new light. If one bad accident can leave Syrah terrified of her chilly home away from home, what else has Syrah misinterpreted? It turns out the answer is a lot.

This book deals with many themes in addition to snowboarding and overcoming a really scary injury (partly inspired by the author's own bogus wipeout). A first-generation American herself, Syrah's family still bears the scars of their past in China during the Cultural Revolution.The story also provides an interesting commentary on the cost of keeping up appearances and friendship. At its core though, Girl Overboard is about a girl who has found herself adrift and, while trying to get her own bearings, realizes she can help those around her at the same time.

In this novel Headley spends a lot of time in Syrah's head, partly because the book is narrated in the first person, but also because Syrah is a solitary creature--especially after her Accident. For this reason, Headley is really able to trace Syrah's growth as a character. At the beginning of the novel Syrah is lonely, sad, and desperate for a way out of her life. But as the story progresses, Syrah learns that before you can ask for help you have to think you deserve it. In fact, you have to think you deserve it all because if you don't who will?

In short, Girl Overboard is the latest example of what a CLW book should be not just because Syrah Cheng is an awesome, strong girl but because this book details how she became that girl.(less)

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Dec 24, 2008 Abby Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blogged

Syrah Cheng, daughter of multi-billionaire cell phone mogul Ethan Cheng, is not quite sure where she fits into her world. She's a snowboarder on the mend from a knee injury and a (vastly worse) heartbreak that's left her vulnerable and adrift. Her family is no help - all they care about is their bottom line - and she's having problems with her best friend. Finally, after studying her father's business model, Syrah will figure out what is important to her and learn to ask for what she wants.

Y'kno...more

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Aug 13, 2008 Smaileh rated it 4 of 5 stars

Syrah Cheng is a poor little rich girl--or so she thinks. Her father is too busy being a captain of industry to pay any attention to her. Her mother is too busy shopping for antiques to pay any attention to her except to complain about her weight (not that she's overweight--she's just more sturdy than her beautiful and tiny mother.) Her half-siblings hate her because her mother broke up their parents' marriage and they think she's a spoiled brat. She has a hard time making friends because most p...more

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Oct 26, 2008 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Who wouldn’t want to have everything, a huge house, a name that is well known, and billionaires for parents. Syrah Cheng that’s who. It may seem like Syrah has everything, but we all know that line about judging something by it’s cover.

Syrah wants nothing more than to be a pro snowboarder, but as soon as she tears her ACL that dreams goes down the drain. The almost boyfriend she thought she had was only using her, well he was only hoping to use her name. Her parents are never around and her step...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

If you are looking for a rags-to-riches story, don't pick up GIRL OVERBOARD. On the other hand, if you are looking for a story about a rich girl struggling to be a normal, well-adjusted girl, than this one is for you.

Syrah Cheng is the daughter of privilege. Her father, Ethan Cheng, made the cell phone what it is today. Her mother, Betty Cheng, is the queen of charity fundraising, and demands only the best. Unfortunately, all the s...more

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Mar 16, 2008 Nian rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: teenage girls

Shelves: 2008

After reading Justina Chen Headley’s debut novel, Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies), I was anxiously waiting for Girl Overboard, expecting great things from a Chinese American writer. I shouldn’t have. Five chapters into the book and I already felt the enthusiasm slipping away, replaced by a blank expression as I wondered why I’d been so eager to check this out at the library. It’s the story of a billionaire’s daughter who, despite what everyone else thinks, isn’t exactly leading the...more After reading Justina Chen Headley’s debut novel, Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies), I was anxiously waiting for Girl Overboard, expecting great things from a Chinese American writer. I shouldn’t have. Five chapters into the book and I already felt the enthusiasm slipping away, replaced by a blank expression as I wondered why I’d been so eager to check this out at the library. It’s the story of a billionaire’s daughter who, despite what everyone else thinks, isn’t exactly leading the most blessed life. She has her own set of problems, whether it is with her family or her friends. It’s a story of finding yourself, what you want, and what you can accomplish, with or without the money.

To start off on a more positive note, it’s always interesting to read about brand new characters. Syrah, named after a brand of wine, has elements that don’t jump off in the Young Adult shelves nowadays, particularly her love for both manga and snowboarding. This athletic interest gives Syrah a more American edge to it, while the other hobby gives the reader a glimpse into Chinese-related topics. Most authors like to play with the same characters—whether they’d be the damsel in distress, a witty girl heroine, or a cynical bad boy reformed—and create stories that don’t spark any originality. But Ms. Headley has once again put life into a girl that possesses some unique qualities that will also be relatable to most teenagers.

Aside from delightful supporting characters in addition to Syrah, there are lessons to be learned. It is the typical uncomfortable and pressuring family members that bring out the issues about relationships and just how high expectations can be. Considering all these things, it brings out a sense of realness to the story. As overused as the “rich girl” idea is, the author simply tells us that no one can lead a golden life, but much more in a way that doesn’t result in considerate groaning on my part.

However well the book might have been in the start, the same expectation does not flow towards the middle of the book. Whether it is books or television, I’ve come across enough of dramatic storylines to voice my opinion about the dragginess and overall unnecessary points of information included. In TV, some shows can be finished without needing the extra two or more episodes, and that’s the case with this book. I remember liking how, in the beginning, each chapter ends in a meaningful way that makes you ponder, but midway, I start to notice all these side stories that unbalance the first portion. Not only does Syrah have to juggle her family, her crush, her newest friend and her sister, but she finds out her mother was adopted and Syrah has a whole other family she doesn’t know about. Just trying to summarize all these different characters makes my head ache. Is it really necessary to incorporate so many characters, stories and messages in one novel?

I’ve learned that for every book an author writes, there is a purpose. But when I look at this book, I just see a battle of messy ideas that tries too hard to overlap each other. It’s like watching a group of children rush for the vacant swing, pushing another out of the way. And through that fuzzy mess, you just can’t be sure who the lucky winner is. I can’t be sure what message I’m walking away with.

Although Girl Overboard doesn’t reflect Ms. Headley’s best work, it has some good passages that pull me in otherwise. While I will not recommend this, simply because of the soap opera-like dramatics and the many loose endings that really need to be tied together, I will suggest readers to read her debut novel. However, if you like little irrelevant stories, hundreds of side messages, and a non-existent relationship between one of the most important figures in her life (her best friend Age), you know the way to the nearest bookstore.

(This is also my Writing Arts Review.)
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Jun 22, 2008 Brandy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008reads, teen, for-work, realistic

The publisher sent this to me as an advance copy several months ago. I was feeling guilty that I hadn't picked it up yet, that I'd waited so long, and really I just wanted to clear off that corner of my desk, so I finally read this.

Syrah was an avid snowboarder until she blew out her knee on the slopes. Now she’s stuck at home, where her wealthy parents don't approve of her life's ambition and don't make any time for her. They criticize her weight gain, trivialize her sport, and they don’t even...more

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Feb 17, 2008 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Syrah Cheng has everything- the Ethan Cheng life, money, and almost anything she wants. After all, her father is Ethan Cheng, self made billionaire, who is “new money”. But… what Syrah wants can’t be bought.She wants her old knee, before the accident. She wants real friends, who don’t diet on air, and she wants her half sister Grace and half brother (why am I forgetting his name? I had to return the book to the library) to like her. She wouldn’t mind being skinny, either, but most of all she wan...more

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About Justina Chen

Justina Chen is an award-winning novelist for young adults whose most recent book, Return to Me, was called an “uplifting story” by Publishers Weekly. North of Beautiful was named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus and Barnes & Noble. Her other novels include Girl Overboard (a Junior Library Guild premiere selections) and Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies), which won the Asian Pacific...more

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Nothing But the Truth [and a few white lies]

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