Through Wang's eyes, we are transported to the streets of New York City, where she grapples with poverty, discrimination, and the relentless pursuit of the American Dream. With raw honesty and resilience, Wang navigates the challenges of assimilation while clinging to the hope of a brighter future. A testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.

loved this book about qian julie wangs childhood, it was very informative and showed a real story of a migrant.

This is just a beautiful book.
The author tells the story of her childhood at times, it makes for difficult reading it makes you very grateful for what you have in your life

I had a few download issues with the book and by the time it was sorted, the file had unfortunately been achieved. Happy to re-review if it becomes available again.

A memoir that doesn't skimp on the details nor heart. Wang tells the story of how she pushed through all obstacles to be a good daughter and accepted as a citizen of the. country her family had to flee to in order to stay alive. Her honesty and resilience is astonishing

This is a very brave story. I have always felt grateful for the feeling of belonging that I have and this is doubly so having read about a family that did not belong for so long. It must be the plight of every illegal immigrant and probably every refugee to want but not find this sense of home. It describes the trials and tribulations of being an illegal immigrant in New York in the 1990s.

The descriptions of life in. China, the early years in New York and the achievements of the author are incredible. I feel as though I know something about all the characters, I like the ones the author likes and I don’t like the ones that she did not like.

New York is almost a character in the book and I do feel it is accurately represented.

Thank you for allowing me to read the book.

This is a sad and shocking story told by Qian Wang. It starts in her native home of China. Her father flees to America (translated in Chinese to beautiful country). Qian and her mother follow. Living as undocumented immigrant's in New York they have to hide from authorities, have no access to healthcare and even though highly educated her parents have to take low paid unskilled jobs. A really insightful look into the hidden people living like this. A story of hope too as they slowly rise above. Horrifying but moving and heartwarming all at once.

An incredibly powerful and insightful read, beautifully written, the narrative is written in a slightly different way than I am used to, as it is from the viewpoint of a small child. However, this really works and adds to the thought-provoking memoir.

This book takes a fairly unusual approach in that it is written from the viewpoint of quite a young child throughout. I felt this naive and childish style would grate on me, but as I progressed through the book I actually felt it worked perfectly and carried the reader into the world the child was inhabiting.
There are very clever inclusions of Chinese language and descriptions and explanations that keep the reader engaged and help to fully portray the differences and challenges being faced.
From travel, schooling, family difficulties, immigration, illegal status, growing up, illness and cross cultural discoveries there is really full coverage of all aspects of life and it certainly isn't hidden behind rose tinted spectacles, it is very honest and from the heart of the author.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

I loved this book. The story is very well written and inspiring. I loved finding out more about the Chinese culture and the immigrant life in the US. It was a different kind of memoir that I haven't read before.

Powerful, moving and thought provoking. A brilliant memoir, well written and I was hooked from the start.

A powerful account of arriving and living in the USA as an illegal alien.
Leaving high powered and respected professions to work the most menial jobs to survive. Told through a child's eyes and recollections.
From learning to speak English, going to school and cramped accommodations.
A triumph over diversity through parental dedication and determination for a better life.

Thrilled to have been granted this request! I’ve heard amazing things and can’t wait to get started!!

I was granted the request on publication & archive day, so don’t have time to read and review it all in this one day haha, but cannot wait to start and please find my full review on my bookstagram page ‘MonsieurMarple’

Beautiful Country.

As a huge fan of memoirs, this had been one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2021, and it did not disappoint.

We are given an insight into the youth of an undocumented immigrant child arriving from China into the unknown of New York City.

It’s heartbreaking and raw. Qian talks of the sweatshop jobs, constant hunger and ‘shopping’ the streets for hidden treasures. There’s hope when Qian finds some much needed sanctuary in books and her local library, which is something I’m sure many of us relate with, particularly if struggling to find our place.
“I lived and breathed books. Where else could I find such a steady supply of friends, comforts and worlds, all free for the taking!”

I rated this 4 stars, personally I would have liked the move to Canada and what happened after that to be explored more, when I finished the final chapter I was so eager to know more!

I would recommend this to anyone else who enjoys memoirs, thank you to Penguin UK via NetGalley for this e-ARC.

Such a powerful and inspiring memoir, would recommend it for anyone that needs some humbling. It will make any middle and upper class person be extra grateful for their upbringing and childhood, and realise how little has the situation changed for many families. Love love loved it!

Incredibly powerful, moving and emotional. Wang writes with such control and strength when recounting her most traumatic childhood memories, looking back on them as an adult makes them even more difficult to read about. Her writing style was lyrical and heartbreaking all at once, I found myself easily swept away in this childhood that wasn't mine yet somehow mirrored my own in bits and pieces, being a child and moving to a different country at a young age as well. I found myself moved beyond words by the end of it, I was left in stunned silence at the masterpiece I had just read. Absolutely a must read, I know it'll stay with me for a long time.

While I appreciate what Wang is writing about I fond the her 'voice' somewhat hard to get into. She's writing through the eyes of a child but she will then use terms or refer to concepts that no child would think of. I wish she'd just written this in a more straightforward way, instead of trying to recount her childhood through her child self.

I devoured this book. At times it was difficult to read but it felt so relevant and important to read. I struggled with some of the bits about her dad and would love to have known more.

Heartbreaking account of an undocumented family in New York. Harrowing at times but full of hope. Would recommend.

A beautiful book, simply written without and extra editing (or so It seems) to tell the story of one refugee family from China during the 1960s and beyond. It will possibly make you cry but it will certainly give you a greater understanding and compassion for those fleeing a difficult past, country or regime in which they can no longer flourish. How are we welcoming those in that position today? Are we any different now in the 21st Century? Lets hope we can all learn from this heartbreaking and yet hopeful story.