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The Fifth Chinese Daughter is interesting and different from other novels in a couple different ways. It is actually an autobiography, but it wasnyt written or organized like most autobiographies that I have read and I found it more interesting. But it was like an autobiography in the sense that it didnyt have a continuous plot, it was simply the story of someoneys life. It was told like a story with vivid descriptions, but it was pieces of a bigger story, Jade Snow Wongys life. I also enjoyed the illustrations by Kathryn Uhl. They illustrated the story well and kept me interested. I liked this look at a different culture and now I hold a little more respect for anyone who was brought up in a traditional Chinese household. I enjoyed how well I feel I got to know Mrs. Wong, for examples sometimes when offered a decision I felt I knew which choice she would make and ended up correct. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting read because it is witting and keeps you wondering and learning. This book is a definite must for anyone interested in different cultures. This book is entertaining and will keep readers hooked for hours.


Book Review by Lauren Berry on Fifth Chinese Daughter   July 2, 2003
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I have just finished reading the novel Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong. The novel is the story of the author's life in Chinatown in San Francisco. It is about her journey to become an independent and respected member of the community. I thought that the novel had a a thorough use of voice. Because of the great use of voice, it helped me to understand what Jade Snow went through in her everyday struggle for independence and true respect from her father. I liked the strong voice because I could understand her and I started to respect her courage and determination. For example, in the book, Jade Snow pleads earnestly,"But Daddy, I want to be more than an average Chinese or American girl. If I saty here, I want to be more than average. If I go to China, I shall advance further with an American college degree." The way she really tells you everything makes you truly understand her. The detail in this book is also very impressive. For example, when she is cooking dinner for her friends there were three whole pages on what she put in each dish and hwo she cooked it. It put a great image in my mind. Though I felt the book was well-written, I also disliked some things. I think that the book would be much more intresting if there were more of a plot, or problem, in the middle that encouraged me to keep reading. I felt that at times it went on and on. But I know that if the author did change the book and made there be more of a problem, then it wouldn't be a story of the authors years in her youth. I think I just prefer books that have a problem and really put a lot of suspense in the book and encourage you not to stop reading, so that you can figure out what happens.
This novel didn't compare that much with any other novels that I had read. There was one novel though that reminded me of Jade Snow's experience in this novel. In Warriors Don't Cry, Melba Patillo sometimes felt like giving up because of the treatment she received because of her race. But she had a goal, and that was to be respected and to graduate high school at the white school. She was very determinded, just as Jade Snow was in Fifth Chinese Daughter. Jade Snow also wanted to graduate, (but from college, not high school) but had to work harder than most because she was a Chinese woman. Her race was what made this hard for her, just as in Warriors Don't Cry. Also, Melba Patillo was teased because of her race. Jade Snow was teased because of her race as well. Richard would call her "Chinky, Chinky, Chinaman." Other than the book Warriors Don't Cry, I have never read a novel like Fifth Chinese Daughter. It was much different than the books I am used to reading. But that is good because it expands my knowledge in the many types of literature that has been written.
I had mixed feelings and opinions about the novel Fifther Chinese Daughter. I would reccomend it to people who enjoy reading about other people's cultures. I would not reccomend this book to people who enjoy books with a mystery or some big obstacle that the charcter has to overcome. This book had an obstacle, but it was not the type of book that kept you interested and it was not the kind of book where you just cannot put it down. Fifth Chinese Daughter would appeal to some people, but for those who want suspense and a book that has you glued to your seat, I would not reccomend this book. There were many things that I liked about this book and some things that I disliked about this book. But in the end, I was glad I read it because I really enjoyed learning about Jade Snow's culture and life.