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117th out of 306 books
—
2,029 voters
The Great Wall Of Lucy Wu
by
Wendy Wan-Long Shang (Goodreads Author)
In this humorous and heartfelt debut about a split cultural identity, nothing goes according to plan for sixth-grader Lucy Wu.
Lucy Wu, aspiring basketball star and interior designer, is on the verge of having the best year of her life. She's ready to rule the school as a sixth grader and take over the bedroom she has always shared with her sister. In an instant, though, he...more
Lucy Wu, aspiring basketball star and interior designer, is on the verge of having the best year of her life. She's ready to rule the school as a sixth grader and take over the bedroom she has always shared with her sister. In an instant, though, he...more
Hardcover, 312 pages
Published
January 1st 2011
by Scholastic Press
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Who did Regina think she was, telling me how or how not to be Chinese?
Lucy Wu is all set to have the best year of her life. Her older sister, Regina, is going off to college. Not only will Lucy get out of the shadow the Perfect Chinese Daughter, but she will also get their shared bedroom all to herself. She's looking forward to starting sixth grade and being among the oldest kids in the school, playing basketball, and having a big joint-birthday Halloween bash with her best friend, Madison.
And t...more
Lucy Wu is all set to have the best year of her life. Her older sister, Regina, is going off to college. Not only will Lucy get out of the shadow the Perfect Chinese Daughter, but she will also get their shared bedroom all to herself. She's looking forward to starting sixth grade and being among the oldest kids in the school, playing basketball, and having a big joint-birthday Halloween bash with her best friend, Madison.
And t...more
This book is so good on many levels. Unlike a lot of the MG stuff I've read in the last year or so, I think that this will actually appeal to the target audience. The characters are warm and believable and the sixth-grade narrator's voice is the most authentic I've come across in ... maybe ever. I bought it all, though I saw it all coming. Well, most of it.
There's a mean girl, and though I mostly don't like books with mean girls, this one felt way more real. I keep coming back to that, the realn...more
There's a mean girl, and though I mostly don't like books with mean girls, this one felt way more real. I keep coming back to that, the realn...more
Relatable and realistic, this is a fresh, funny debut from an author I'm definitely going to be watching.
The style and realistic protagonist reminded me of the Judy Blume books I so loved when I was a kid (think Blubber or Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, not Forever...). I think it would make a great readalike to Millicent Min, Girl Genius and Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time, both by Lisa Yee and I'd also try it on fans of Andrew Clements' realistic fiction.
More on the blog: http://www.abbytheli...more
The style and realistic protagonist reminded me of the Judy Blume books I so loved when I was a kid (think Blubber or Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, not Forever...). I think it would make a great readalike to Millicent Min, Girl Genius and Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time, both by Lisa Yee and I'd also try it on fans of Andrew Clements' realistic fiction.
More on the blog: http://www.abbytheli...more
The Great Wall Of Lucy Wu
By: Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Realistic Fiction
312 Pages
Have you ever felt like the world revolves around someone? Doesn't it feel SO annoying? And, have you ever felt like nothing ever goes your way? Well, welcome to Lucy Wu's world! Lucy is like any other typical sixth grader. Someone that is just trying to survive middle school. Lucy feels that this year is going to be amazing, because her sister, Regina is finally going off to college, and now Lucy can have her own room....more
By: Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Realistic Fiction
312 Pages
Have you ever felt like the world revolves around someone? Doesn't it feel SO annoying? And, have you ever felt like nothing ever goes your way? Well, welcome to Lucy Wu's world! Lucy is like any other typical sixth grader. Someone that is just trying to survive middle school. Lucy feels that this year is going to be amazing, because her sister, Regina is finally going off to college, and now Lucy can have her own room....more
5 stars because this is SUCH a great example of a wonderful middle grades book. I found myself empathizing with Lucy on so many levels, taken back to my 6th grade self over and over (even though I'm not Chinese!). I also saw myself in Lucy's mom--my mom/teacher side came out as I was reading and happily marched along with my 6th grade snarky self. Nice.
Kids will enjoy this book. Enough said.
Oh, but there's more--how about a great intro to Chinese culture, but not an in-your-face-because-you-need...more
Kids will enjoy this book. Enough said.
Oh, but there's more--how about a great intro to Chinese culture, but not an in-your-face-because-you-need...more
Lucy Wu is a 6th grader, prepared to have the best year of her life—as a 6th grader she’s going to “rule the school,” basketball season is going to start again and her “perfect” sister is leaving for college so she will have her room all to herself! Then her parents announce her grandmother’s sister, Yi Po, is coming to stay for a few months and she will share Lucy’s room, her parents decide she must go to Chinese school instead of play basketball and a malicious 6th grade bully makes Lucy her n...more
In this excellent realistic fiction novel, Lucy is going to have the best year ever in the 6th grade, but things get off to a rocky start. A great-aunt is going to come from China and live in her room, she has to go to Chinese school, and she has to deal with the evil Sloane who is challenging her to be captain of the 6th grade basketball team. Luckily, she has a great friend, a crush that just might work out, and a good sense of humor to get her through it all.
Strengths: After I finished readin...more
Strengths: After I finished readin...more
(3.5 stars) The publisher of this book needs to do a massive pitch to all media outlets immediately, if they haven't done so already. For one big reason: Linsanity.
Sixth-grader Lucy Wu is about to have the best year ever. Things are starting out great--her goody-two-shoes sister Regina is FINALLY going away for college (Lucy can't wait to get the whole room to herself!), she and her best friend are going to rule the school, and she's finally going to be named captain of the basketball team. But...more
Sixth-grader Lucy Wu is about to have the best year ever. Things are starting out great--her goody-two-shoes sister Regina is FINALLY going away for college (Lucy can't wait to get the whole room to herself!), she and her best friend are going to rule the school, and she's finally going to be named captain of the basketball team. But...more
Lucy is going to have the perfect summer. Big sister is off to college and she thinks she will get the bedroom to herself. Right? Wrong!
Great-aunt Yi Po is coming for the summer. Basketball season starts and Lucy can’t wait to play with the team. Right? Wrong! She has to go to Chinese school on Saturday.
The sixth graders are going to play the teachers in a pick up basketball game and Lucy wants to try out for captain. Right? Wrong! Not if the bully Sloane Connors has her way. She’s scaring every...more
Great-aunt Yi Po is coming for the summer. Basketball season starts and Lucy can’t wait to play with the team. Right? Wrong! She has to go to Chinese school on Saturday.
The sixth graders are going to play the teachers in a pick up basketball game and Lucy wants to try out for captain. Right? Wrong! Not if the bully Sloane Connors has her way. She’s scaring every...more
This book was a really good read on the heals of Anya's War by Andrea Alban. While Anya's War was set in 1939, The Great Wall of Lucy Wu is set in the 21rst century. Lucy, who is just entering the sixth grade and is ready to rule the school and the basketball court with her pro free throws, is disappointed (understatement) to find out that she's going to have to share her room with her great-aunt. (Who, incidentally, lived through the time illustrated in Anya's War.)
Lucy's spells out the reasons...more
Lucy's spells out the reasons...more
Big sister Regina is gorgeous and speaks perfect Chinese. Big brother Kenny is a math genius. And 6th-grader Lucy is great at basketball - but that doesn't impress her family.
Still, Lucy was expecting to have a great year, what with Regina going off to college and leaving Lucy with a room all to herself. But then - not only does Lucy's old, long-lost, and non-English-speaking Great Aunt Yi Po move in to Lucy's bedroom, but Lucy is forced to take Chinese lessons. Plus she has Mean Girl troubles i...more
Still, Lucy was expecting to have a great year, what with Regina going off to college and leaving Lucy with a room all to herself. But then - not only does Lucy's old, long-lost, and non-English-speaking Great Aunt Yi Po move in to Lucy's bedroom, but Lucy is forced to take Chinese lessons. Plus she has Mean Girl troubles i...more
Jun 02, 2011
Phoebe
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Cheryl, Deborah, Valerie
Shelves:
juv,
realistic-fiction
Lucy lives for basketball, and she is sure that the upcoming year (6th grade) is going to be perfect. Her older sister is finally leaving for college which means Lucy will get a whole bedroom to herself. Then the bomb drops: her great aunt Yi Po is coming to visit, and she'll share Lucy's room. Lucy hates the very idea of Yi Po, long-lost sister of beloved grandmother Po Po (who passed away two years earlier) and when her parents say she has to go to Chinese school on Saturday mornings, and give...more
Lucy is sure this is going to be the best year ever. Her older sister is going off to college, so she FINALLY gets her own room, and she's going to be in 6th grade, so she and her friends will rule the school! But when her dad returns from a business trip in China and announces he has found her grandmother's long lost sister, Yi-Po, it starts looking to Lucy like maybe this year won't be as great as she had hoped. Yi-Po is coming to visit, and she's going to share Lucy's room. Not only that, her...more
Lucy Wu's sixth grade year is going to be the best. She'll finally have her own room, as her bossy older sister leaves for college. She and her friends will rule the elementary school and the basketball court. But nothing goes as planned. Yi Po, a distant relative, arrives from China and takes over part of Lucy's room. Her parents push her into Chinese school and away from basketball. And, to make matters worse, she draws the attention of the school bully. To illustrate her frustration, Lucy bui...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Reviewed for My Comfy Chair - Safe, friendly Kid-lit reviews
It is seldom that I read a book where the voice of the main character is so crystal clear and perfect that I completely forget there must be an author involved. Lucy is a short, Chinese girl who loves basketball. She looks forward to a perfect 6th grade year, finally out from under the shadow of her beautiful older sister who is off to college. Lucy has a room of her own for the first time, and looks forward to decorating it the way she...more
It is seldom that I read a book where the voice of the main character is so crystal clear and perfect that I completely forget there must be an author involved. Lucy is a short, Chinese girl who loves basketball. She looks forward to a perfect 6th grade year, finally out from under the shadow of her beautiful older sister who is off to college. Lucy has a room of her own for the first time, and looks forward to decorating it the way she...more
After Cal's parents get divorced, his mother gets full custody of Cal, Doran and Rachel. Cal a senior in high school is the oldest. The four move back to the Utah reservation Cal's mother grew up on. They move in with Raymond their grandfather. Cal is half native American. Though he has never been exposed to that part of his heritage. When Mona was a teenager, her sister Jackie died under mysterious causes. Cal is detemined to find out what really happened.
When they get to the reservation, Cal d...more
When they get to the reservation, Cal d...more
Lucy Wu is about to have the best school year ever, her sister is off to college meaning she'll have her own room, she'll be in sixth grade, they may have a dance this year, and she and her best friend, Madison, have their lives all planned out - and it all centers around their greatest passion, basketball. Yes, even though she's a short Chinese girl, Lucy dreams of one day playing for Pat Summitt and the Lady Volunteers of University of Tennessee.
Things suddenly change, though, when she finds...more
Things suddenly change, though, when she finds...more
BAYA draft review
Lucy Wu's sixth grade year is going to be the best. She'll finally have her own room, as her bossy older sister leaves for college. She and her friends will rule the elementary school and the basketball court. But nothing goes as planned. Yi Po, a distant relative, arrives from China and takes over part of Lucy's room. Her parents push her into Chinese school and away from basketball. And, to make matters worse, she draws the attention of the school bully. To illustrate her frus...more
Lucy Wu's sixth grade year is going to be the best. She'll finally have her own room, as her bossy older sister leaves for college. She and her friends will rule the elementary school and the basketball court. But nothing goes as planned. Yi Po, a distant relative, arrives from China and takes over part of Lucy's room. Her parents push her into Chinese school and away from basketball. And, to make matters worse, she draws the attention of the school bully. To illustrate her frus...more
Originally posted here.
It is rare for me to pick up a book anymore that I have no preconceived notions about. It is hard not to develop some about almost any book when I read so many blogs. I was very excited when I saw The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang on the new arrivals shelf at my library. I had seen it mentioned in a couple of comments at Heavy Medal but knew nothing else about it. Just the title. It was a lovely experience going into the story not knowing what to expect. I...more
It is rare for me to pick up a book anymore that I have no preconceived notions about. It is hard not to develop some about almost any book when I read so many blogs. I was very excited when I saw The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang on the new arrivals shelf at my library. I had seen it mentioned in a couple of comments at Heavy Medal but knew nothing else about it. Just the title. It was a lovely experience going into the story not knowing what to expect. I...more
1 like · like · see review
I got such a kick out of this. It's a very straight-forward plot -- Lucy Wu's plans for a great start to her 6th grade year are disrupted by the unexpected arrival of her great-aunt from China, who is going to share her bedroom. And you can predict just about everything that happens - but yet it is so satisfying when it does! I feel like I can hardly spoil anything, what else is going to happen when a girl who is disinterested in her Chinese heritage gets to know an elderly relative from China?...more
The Great Wall of Lucy Wu was a touching and witty story as Lucy deals with major changes in her life because of her Chinese heritage. It's not always easy to be short and want to play basketball, not many people will support you but shouldn't your family? Apparently not in Lucy's case but a new arrival may just change that. And by new arrival I don't mean a baby, I mean a grandma's long lost sister, Yi Po, who doesn't speak chinese. The bookcase in the room Lucy and Yi Po share isn't the only b...more
Lucy Wu, like many sixth grade girls often feels stuck in the middle. She's stuck between being a child and teenager, between being Chinese and American, and between being herself or sacrificing her interests to be accepted by popular girls at school. As if she didn't have enough problems, now she is being forced to share her bedroom with her great aunt, Yi-Po, who is visiting from China. Though a bit slow at the start, The Great Wall of Lucy Wu is an engaging story that many tween girls will be...more
A terrific book! It actually moved me to tears. Hooray! I really enjoyed it. No wonder it won the SCBWI Work-In-Progress grant!
I'm no longer a child, but I do have a decent imagination, so I can identify with young Lucy Wu because of the general "trials & tribulations" of being a child in a family. The additional revelations of her family history come as they do to every child as s/he is growing up and is finding his/her place in the world.
A tiny bit of me is wondering if I connected to the...more
I'm no longer a child, but I do have a decent imagination, so I can identify with young Lucy Wu because of the general "trials & tribulations" of being a child in a family. The additional revelations of her family history come as they do to every child as s/he is growing up and is finding his/her place in the world.
A tiny bit of me is wondering if I connected to the...more
The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang was a juvenile fiction darling in 2011, and I think it still is in 2012. The local Library finally managed a copy and while I was eager to read it, to see what all the fuss was about, I was also skeptical. Why I am this contrary? Many speculate. Good news is that this little darling of a book is worth all the fuss.
[publisher's comments]
This is Wendy Wan-Long Shang’s debut in children’s books, and while we tend to make room in our expectations for...more
[publisher's comments]
This is Wendy Wan-Long Shang’s debut in children’s books, and while we tend to make room in our expectations for...more
As a child I was an insatiable reader. I started reading very early and I have read nonstop ever since. Reading was an education, a comfort and an escape. In fact I passionately devoured so many classics from the British Isles that when I finally landed in Wales at the age of 16 it felt more like a homecoming than an adventure abroad! However, in all the thousands of pages I consumed in my youth and the millions of virtual miles travelled, I never once encountered a child like myself – one who w...more
Lucy Wu is all set to have her best year ever. She's going to rule the school as a sixth-grader, she's getting her own room because her big sister is going to college, and of course she'll be playing basketball.
Her parents have other ideas, though. Her grandma's sister comes to visit from China for several months and sleeps—you guessed it—in Lucy's room. Her parents decide she should go to Chinese school instead of playing basketball, and a bullying girl at school starts to make life uncomfortab...more
Her parents have other ideas, though. Her grandma's sister comes to visit from China for several months and sleeps—you guessed it—in Lucy's room. Her parents decide she should go to Chinese school instead of playing basketball, and a bullying girl at school starts to make life uncomfortab...more
Lucy is sure her 6th grade year will be her best ever. Then she finds out that her great aunt, Yi Po, will be coming from China to live with Lucy's family for a few months -- and will share Lucy's room! To top it off, the school bully has targeted her, and her parents say she must give up basketball to go to Chinese School on Saturday. Lucy's plans to be on the school basketball team are quickly disappearing, and her disappointment spills over into annoyance with her new roommate, who only speak...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
What a delight! This book is perfect for the older elementary age group, a group that kind of falls through the cracks as everything is for "tweens." Lucy and her family are totally assimilated Chinese Americans, but Lucy's parents want her to go to Chinese school, when she would rather play basketball. No stereotypes here at all, but real live people, even the secondary characters.
Can I also say that Lucy and her friend Madison are such well drawn characters that when their birthdays are mentio...more
Can I also say that Lucy and her friend Madison are such well drawn characters that when their birthdays are mentio...more
1 like · like · see review
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My parents, who grew up in China, had no favorite books from their childhood to share with me, which left me to my own devices in the library. When I mentioned this to a friend, she was a bit stunned, and I understood this reaction. I certainly never felt deprived as a child, but as a parent, it's hard to imagine not having that link.
My own book is about finding the stories we discover about our f...more
More about Wendy Wan-Long Shang...
My own book is about finding the stories we discover about our f...more
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May 21, 2012 01:07pm