A loner in his all-white high school, Chinese-born Xing (pronounced “Shing”) is a wallflower longing for acceptance. His isolation is intensified b...
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Jul 18, 2010
Beverly
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Man, what a stinker! This may be the most awkwardly written book I've ever read. ESL is written all over it. Never mind that Ha Jin, whose first language was Chinese, is one of the best writers of English in the world. This guy doesn't have that kind of talent or almost any talent except maybe for persistence. The story, a xenophobic fantasy, is as ridiculous as the language. What I don't understand though is publishers' marketing. If this had to be published at all it should have been as YA. I
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Dec 27, 2010
Natalie (Mindful Musings)
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Crossing was one of those books that I probably wouldn’t have picked up on my own. However, when I was given the chance to receive a review copy of the book, I thought the premise sounded interesting en0ugh, so I accepted. I’m definitely glad I did.
Crossing could be classified as a young adult novel, but it’s universal enough that adults would probably find it interesting as well. Its message is both true and heartbreaking—but I think it’s one that more people need to be aware of. Cr More...
Crossing could be classified as a young adult novel, but it’s universal enough that adults would probably find it interesting as well. Its message is both true and heartbreaking—but I think it’s one that more people need to be aware of. Cr More...
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Aug 09, 2010
Joella
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Xing Xu is one of two Chinese students in an all white high school. The other is Naomi Lee who finds it easier to get along in a white world than he does, and is the only one who understands his loneliness and frustrations. When a series of abductions of students takes place he is able to see and hear things others do not because he is virtually invisible and ignored by those around him. He solves the mystery of who is responsible for the abductions, and is a hero for a minute, but things chan
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Jan 18, 2012
Christine
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Cliche enough, but "you've got to read this!" The author, Andrew Xia Fukuda has proven to be great at writing; not surprising when he grew up being raised by university professors who emphasized the importance of reading each day. Reading The crossing for me wasn't necessarily about how good the storyline was. Throughout this book, I've realized that it served more purpose to the average teenager than I would have thought. Fukuda's character choice was very interesting. He had Xing who
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Jan 18, 2012
Ashlee
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Overall, I thought this book was fantastic. I love books about mysteries and this was one that had me pondering throughout the whole book. Fukuda did a great job on elaborating many of the different settings and gave visual images. He carefully portrayed what kind of character Xing was and demonstrated all the various perspectives on situations that were going on in the main character's head. The author himself was one who actually grew up in New York and moved to America from his home foreign c
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Jan 18, 2012
This book is about racial discrimination against minorities. It was the father of the protagonist's dream to come to America, only to live in poverty and neglect in a chinatown. It was not Xing's dream to be in America though, as he experiences much abuse due to his race. Xing's father dies not long after arriving in America - killed by a drunk driver (who goes unpunished) right before Xing's eyes. Left alone with his crestfallen mother and his only friend; he dreams of being back in China with
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Jan 11, 2012
Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda is a book about a boy who is dealing with many changes going on in his life. Xing is the only chinese boy in his all white high school besides his best friend Naomi. When murders begin to occur in his town, Xing become very interested and wants to find out more. Since he is new, people assume he is behind all of this and begin to point fingers at him saying he was the one who did it all. This relates to today's society because most of the time when there is a crime,
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Jan 09, 2012
Winnie
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Andrew Xia Fukuda's Crossing embodies the story of Xing Xu, a Chinese-American immigrant boy, one of two Asians in a white-dominated school, a socially awkward kid with a revisited talent, an outcast, an accused murderer. The novel creates a dilemma new immigrants, especially adolescent ones, often face: to hold onto the traditions of his birth culture, or to assimilate into the new one. In Xing's case, he didn't seem attached to either culture; he was more of a social outcast more than anythin
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Jan 09, 2012
Alexis
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I could really relate to Xing. We all feel like we are on the outside at times, and society is completely against us. Xing rises against the stereotypes that are forced upon him because of the way he appears. He remains silent of his suspicions even though he himself is suspected of committing the crimes, but even if he did who would listen? Through the story he develops a crush on his only friend, this helps everyone relate to his character, we have all had a crush at one time or another and di
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Jan 09, 2012
Kirk
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The book "Crossing" by Andrew Xia Fukuda was an extremely interesting novel. The book in my opinion is classified as a thriller. The story starts off as a young Chinese boy named Xing trying to fit in at an American high school. Xing has just moved from Chinatown, to New York City. Xing has only one friend, Naomi, and is antisocial. Murders start to take place in the town, the victims being the high school students. Xing starts to revoke his passion for singing by partcipating in the s
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Jan 09, 2012
Kayla
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"The Crossing" is a story of a high school boy named Xing. Because of his Asian background, Xing is discriminated against by his peers and has only one friend, Naomi. Xing tells of the horrors his town goes through when multiple students go missing. Ultimately, the goal of the book is to reveal who is guilty of these crimes, with unforeseen twists along the way.
Andrew Xia Fukuda, the author, was born in New York and raised in Hong Kong. He found inspiration for "The Crossing More...
Andrew Xia Fukuda, the author, was born in New York and raised in Hong Kong. He found inspiration for "The Crossing More...
Jan 09, 2012
Ashely H
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Crossing was written by Andrew Xia Fukuda, who is an Asian-American author. Fukuda spent some time in Manhattan's Chinatown with students, where he learned they felt the same type of feeling of isolation that he discusses in Crossing. When he went to an all-white place, he would get strange looks because of his race. Fukuda was inspired by the Virginia Tech massacre for the thriller idea of Crossing.
I enjoyed this book pretty much. I thought that I could sort of relate to Xing's awkwar More...
I enjoyed this book pretty much. I thought that I could sort of relate to Xing's awkwar More...
Jan 09, 2012
Katie
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This book is a good choice for teenagers around the globe. It is about a boy, Xing, who is accused of all the mysterious murders that have been happening throughout his school. It is about what happens when everyone suddenly seems to turn against you.
The author, Andrew Xia Fukuda, is half-Chinese and half-Japanese. He wrote this book in 2009, shortly after the Virginia Tech situation, and seems to mention it a few times throughout the novel.
This book deals a lot with ra More...
The author, Andrew Xia Fukuda, is half-Chinese and half-Japanese. He wrote this book in 2009, shortly after the Virginia Tech situation, and seems to mention it a few times throughout the novel.
This book deals a lot with ra More...
Jan 09, 2012
Cara
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Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda is a great revelation of today's effects of bullying. Xing is an Asian outsider at his high school, with only one friend, the love of his life, Naomi. With all of the mysterious disappearances at Slackenkill High School, Xing finally has the chance to prove himself. Xing constantly summarizes other students perspective of him as Seung-Hui Cho, the Virginia Tech shooter. Xing is the silent student who keeps to himself, unfortunately the victim of a horrible turn
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Jan 08, 2012
Drew
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Andrew Xia Fukuda is a Breakthrough Novel Award semi-finalist of his debut novel, "Crossing". "Crossing" hit the shelves in 2009 shortly after the Virgina Tech massacre in 2007. Fukuda is half-Chinese and half-Japanese. Fukuda wrote "Crossing" due to his experience working with Chinatown immigrant teens and his time spent as a criminal prosecutor.
"Crossing" is a story about a Chinese boy named Xing Xu who immigrated to the United States. Xing, a More...
"Crossing" is a story about a Chinese boy named Xing Xu who immigrated to the United States. Xing, a More...
Jan 08, 2012
Alana
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It started off as a kid in high school, Xing a loner, an outcast, who was either bullied for being Chinese or ignored because no one knew him. He narrates the story in first person, with some excerpts from the news, and local paper. The author, Andrew Fukuda, wrote this novel amazingly. With wording that was easy to understand but at the same time kept one thinking. As it comes to and end it keeps you going with a "who done it" sense, as children in Xing's high school begin to disappea
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Jan 06, 2012
Mary
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This book is a good, quick fictional teen read for those who like to read about high school teenagers and murder mysteries. It involves racial discrimination, bullying, murders, accusations, and some love interests. I would recommend this if you like a simple plot with some love drama on the side, and subtle hints throughout the story of who the killer might be. The book is easy to read and all the details are coherent throughout the story.
The story refers to the Virginia Tech shooti More...
The story refers to the Virginia Tech shooti More...
Jan 06, 2012
Carly
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Have you ever been discriminated against? For any reason at all? What if you were targeted just because of the color of your skin? Or where you are from? If you have been a victim of this, you know what a terrible feeling it can create. In Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukdua the reader follows a tale told by main character Xing Xu, a Chinese- American student living in New York City. He is one of only two Chinese students at his high school. The other being his best friend, Naomi Lee. Xing usually li
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Jan 03, 2012
Lisa
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This book was about a young man originally from China named Xing or Kris(his American name) In the town of Ashland, New York teenage boys start to disapear. After the disaperance of one teen, Kris gets the lead role in the musical where he is destined to be, having an angelic voice. Kris faces the troubles of bullies, friends and family but he finds that he ends up facing more than expected when he seems to learn the truth.
At the begining, I couldn't put the book down. I loved the my More...
At the begining, I couldn't put the book down. I loved the my More...
Aug 30, 2011
THRILLHO
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i was sort of torn about this book. i thought the writing was a little awkward. i have a decent vocabulary, but even i found myself looking up a few words. it seemed the entire book was peppered with some five-dollar words that were just thrown in for no reason. they didn't fit with the way the rest of the book was written. at one point i wondered if the book had been translated. the reason i give it four stars is because i didn't want to put it down because i wanted to know how it would end. i
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Jul 05, 2011
Terry
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Crossing is a twisty thriller in the vein of Shutter Island that never quite comes together. While the melancholy tone set by the narrator's terse style feels authentic, the mystery plot does not. There are a lot of interesting elements--a mysterious renter, the main character's tragic past, a shadowy figure in a red coat who may or may not exist--but each one feels half-done. In addition, the ending is a satisfying conclusion to the mystery (really, it's the only satisfying ending), but it make
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Sep 04, 2010
Michelle
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Racism, bigotry and abuse are the foundation on which of this very powerful novel is built. Set in small-town Upstate New York where few families are of any ethnic persuasion other than caucasian, we follow Xing through the traumatic events of a slew of child abductions.
Having been on the receiving end of bullies his entire life, Xing (called Chris so as to more fully immerse himself in American culture and not single his Asian heritage out) is immediately under suspicion when series More...
Having been on the receiving end of bullies his entire life, Xing (called Chris so as to more fully immerse himself in American culture and not single his Asian heritage out) is immediately under suspicion when series More...
Aug 14, 2010
Tiger Holland (All-Consuming Books)
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Xing (pronounced "Shing")is a Chinese American high school freshman, and he only has one friend: Naomi Lee, the only other Asian at his all-white school. Xing is a total outcast. He's not handsome or witty or personable and he has no skills except his angelic singing voice, which he never allows anyone to hear. Unfortunately, all this antisocial behavior means that when kids at his high school start disappearing, Xing is a perfect suspect.
Xing is an interesting character, a More...
Xing is an interesting character, a More...
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Jul 02, 2010
Newengland
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Ah, yes, the unreliable narrator. Remember that lesson in English class some decade or other ago? Andrew Xia Fukuda does, and he ponies it out in a big way for CROSSING, his debut YA novel that features your typical angry young (Chinese) man in your typical clueless and cruel (American) high school.
Xing Xu is called "Kris" here in the States and he attends a school Fukuda chooses to name "Slackenkill High School" (Dear Andrew: What WERE you thinking?). Xing is More...
Xing Xu is called "Kris" here in the States and he attends a school Fukuda chooses to name "Slackenkill High School" (Dear Andrew: What WERE you thinking?). Xing is More...
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Jun 13, 2010
Kari
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Complex and reverberating, Crossing pulls together several seemingly unrelated elements and weaves them together to create a complex and engaging tale. With intelligent writing, a unique main character and a “who done it” premise, Fukuda has put a memorable spin on both bullying and murder mysteries. A phenomenal world has been built, central to the main character, cataloging the struggles that happen in the present day for a teenage boy who has immigrated from China to the United St More...
Apr 08, 2010
Lawral
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There are some books that you stay up all night reading because you just have to know what happens. Then there are books that you stay up all night reading because you really don't want to turn off the lights. Crossing falls gracefully into both categories.
The whole story, the story behind the disappearances, is told by Kris. We see his classmates, his one friend, the town, through his eyes. Kris kind of goes through the motions of his life, the ultimate observer. It isn't until he s More...
The whole story, the story behind the disappearances, is told by Kris. We see his classmates, his one friend, the town, through his eyes. Kris kind of goes through the motions of his life, the ultimate observer. It isn't until he s More...
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Jan 08, 2012
Amber
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Having to deal with the move to American and the horrible death of his father, Xing has had to grow up real quick. With so much happening in his life, he seemed to distant himself from others and soon became the loner in school with only one friend.
Going to an all white school and being one of the only two asians in school, Xing seemed to always get picked on. On the first day of school, Xing's class was introduced to a new student named Jan Blair. She seemed differnt to Xing so he tr More...
Going to an all white school and being one of the only two asians in school, Xing seemed to always get picked on. On the first day of school, Xing's class was introduced to a new student named Jan Blair. She seemed differnt to Xing so he tr More...
Nov 08, 2010
Kathyladner
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May 02, 2010
Eileen
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"Crossing" by Andrew Fukuda combines the reality of American high schools, that despite the programs and the focus on bullying, the schools teem with outcasts and bullies. In this story, the high school loner carries an interior life of wistful yearnings--an artist in like his father or to regain his own ability to sing. When Xing comes to America, his classmates, and even his teachers, are not kind and welcoming. The kids find every reason to mock his clothes and his accent. The teac
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Aug 04, 2010
Traci
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