THE YEAR OF THE DOG

Young Pacy, who is known as Grace outside her Taiwanese-American family, is navigating the challenges of growing up "different" in an upstate New York community. Nancy Wu brings this memoir alive, giving the listener insight into an unfamiliar culture. She gives an American accent to Pacy and Chinese accents to her parents, illustrating how quickly the children of immigrants become assimilated into their new culture. As Pacy tells stories of her mother’s childhood experiences, which often parallel her own struggles, Wu’s authoritative voice introduces listeners to Chinese culture, also letting them see the commonalities among families of all cultures. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 07]