Bitter Melon

Bitter Melon
By Cara Chow
Egmont USA, 2011. 309 pgs. Young Adult

Chinese-American Frances is a high school senior whose mother has scrimped and saved to provide for her--and who insists that Frances will attend Berkley and become a doctor and return the care that she has given Frances. However, when Frances is accidentally enrolled in a speech class instead of calculus, she realizes she might not want the same things her mother does, but she doesn't know how to achieve her dreams without lying to her mother.

This coming-of-age story is a realistic portrayal of a girl struggling to fill the duties imposed upon her by her culture while simultaneously trying to be true to herself. Secondary plots (including a dash of romance) round this book out, giving most readers something to which they can relate.

AE