FAREWELL CHINA, HELLO OZ

Title: May Tang:

A New Australian Author: Katrina Beikoff Publisher: Scholastic Australia ★★★★

THIS is a touching story about a Chinese family immigrating to Australia, from the eyes of an innocent young protagonist.

The style and setting is reminiscent of Mao’s Last Dancer, that book also focusing on the common issues of migrants who feel they are trapped between two cultures.

Katrina Beikoff’s work portrays May Tang wondering if she’ll be able to love Australia, the new country she has moved to, and the differences between her life here and in China.

She starts off thinking Australia is too hot and different but by the end begins to appreciate this country.

This is an excellent book for educating younger readers about some of the issues surrounding immigration in a thoughtful, heartfelt and enjoyable way.

It is the sort of book parents would approve of their children reading.

If you are a fan of Mao’s Last Dancer, then you’ll enjoy this.

It puts complex ideas into a form simple enough for younger readers to understand.

Foster Lane

The Southport School Year 10