AMERICAN PANDA

At the age of 17, Mei, a first-generation Taiwanese-American, struggles with starting college and longs to follow her own path instead of the one planned by her strict, demanding parents. Emily Woo Zeller's narration of Mei's story is as diverse as its characters, giving voice to the culture clash between Mei's family's beliefs and the world around her. Zeller's soft, introverted-sounding voice for Mei contrasts well with the brash voices of the non-Asian young women--but the frequent volume changes between the speakers are disconcerting. Nonetheless, Zeller captures Mei's anxiety over familial expectations and her disgust at germs and all things medical, as well as the humor she often uses to cover up her insecurities. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2018]