Fang
My Shelf
The rape of Nanking : the forgotten holocaust of World War II
by Iris Chang
951.042 /Chang
History
In December 1937, the Japanese army swept into the ancient city of Nanking. Within weeks, more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and soldiers were systematically raped, tortured, and murdered a death toll exceeding that of the atomic blasts of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. Using extensive interviews with survivors and newly discovered documents, Iris Chang has written the definitive history of this horrifying episode.
Everything, everything
by Nicola Yoon
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Yoon Nicola
Fiction
"The story of a teenage girl who's literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she's ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more"--

The novel is thought provoking to parents of young adults like me. It is not easy to see that line between being “adequately” protective and “over” protective. It is even harder to let go or forgive when tensions rise between loved ones. But there’s always hope with the backing of true love and empathy. -Fang
Without you, there is no us : my time with the sons of North Korea's elite
by Suki Kim
951.93 /Kim
Memoir
It is 2011, and all universities in North Korea have been shut down for an entire year, the students sent to construction fields-- except for the 270 students at the all-male Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), a walled compound where portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il look on impassively from the walls of every room. Suki Kim offers a moving and incalculably rare glimpse of life in the world's most unknowable country, and at the privileged young men she calls "soldiers and slaves."

With her personal experience and empathetic analysis, the author presented one of the few factual narratives about the elite descendants from North Korea’s ruling class, about how did they shape and carry that kind of collectivist culture from the dictatorship of Kim’s reign. -Fang
Bella figura : how to live, love, and eat the Italian way
by Kamin Mohammadi
914.5 /Mohammadi
Travel
"One woman's story of finding beauty, and herself--and a practical guide to living a better life, the Italian way"--

From a female perspective, the author took me to a fairly relaxed tour around Italy between the lines, which is a good alternative with all the pandemic limitations. I really like the way how she enjoyed herself with different lifestyles. -Fang
Piece by piece
by Susan Tan
jE Tan
Picture Books
A child who loves visiting museums with her grandmother is sad when Nainai returns to China, but her father takes her to see something special where signs of Nainai are in every corner. Includes facts about the Peabody Essex Museum's Yu Yu Tang exhibit.

I visited the Peabody Essex Museum together with my close family and my extended family. That was a wonderful memory as precious as Nainai’s blanket. Strongly recommend this beautiful picture book that is well mixed with separation and togetherness, feelings and facts. -Fang
Eyes that kiss in the corners
by Joanna Ho
jE Ho
"A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother's, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future. Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self love and empowerment. This powerful, poetic picture book will resonate with readers of all ages and is a celebration of diversity."--Provided by publisher.

The eyes that kiss in the corners deliver exotic stories and the same kind of true love from generation to generation. This beautiful book with its vibrant illustrations and lyrical prose is a gorgeous celebration of self-love and family heritage. You will definitely be fascinated by those mysterious stories hidden behind Amah's (the grandma's) eyes that kiss in the corners. -Fang
The rice in the pot goes round and round
by Wendy Wan Long Shang
jE Shang
Presents a song set to the tune of "The wheels on the bus," where a multigenerational family enjoys a culturally rich meal.

Sing along with this delicious picture book as your family gathers round during the hilarious holiday season! Food and songs, laughter and love, the forever theme of holidays all over the world! -Fang
Dumplings for Lili
by Melissa Iwai
jE Iwai
Lili loves to cook little dumplings called baos with her grandmother, but when cabbage is needed, Lili races up and down the stairs of her grandmother's apartment building to find the ingredient and help the other grandmothers borrow ingredients for different dumplings, from Jamaican meat patties and Italian ravioli to Lebanese fatayer and more.

Another joyful picture book about sharing food, friendship and world culture. Very interesting people, very inclusive neighborhood, and what’s more attractive, very delicious dumplings from different countries! I can’t wait to try them all! -Fang
A morning with grandpa
by Sylvia Liu
jE Liu
Curious and energetic Mei Mei attempts some tai chi forms as her grandfather demonstrates them, then tries to teach him basic yoga poses. Includes introductions to t'ai chi and yoga, as well as instructions for the exercises described in the text.

When yoga meets Taiji, when Meimei (the little sister) and Gonggong ( the grandpa) teach and learn from each other, it is fun, beautiful, and harmonious. -Fang
Like a dandelion
by Huy Voun Lee
jE Lee
"Like feathery seeds, a young girl and her mother take flight, putting down roots in an adopted country. Soon they blossom in their new home, strong and beautiful among hundreds of others just like them. . . A poetic tribute to the bravery of immigrants and refugees, inspired by the author's childhood experience of moving to the United States from Cambodia"--Provided by publisher.

What a beautiful metaphor! Like feathery dandelion seeds, numerous immigrants and refugees fly far away and plant their roots into the welcoming ground of America. No matter how hard the journey is, we always raise our faces to the sun. Then we blossom in our new home with a strong will, a brave mind, and gratitude. Please listen to our hearts in this touching and poetic book: Like a Dandelion. -Fang
Ellie makes a friend
by Mike Wu
jE Wu
Picture Books
"A panda has joined the animals, and she's a painter like Ellie! Is there room for two artists at the zoo?"--Page [2] of cover.

I love to read all about pandas! And this is one of the best! Both Ellie and Ping are so loving and smart when they find the beauty of friendship and new inspiration. -Fang
My Beijing : four stories of everyday wonder
by Nie Jun
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Jun
Graphic Novels
"Four short stories set in a hutong, or residential alleyway, of Beijing, China. Yu'er, her grandfather, and their eccentric neighbors experience the magic of everyday life."--

With captivate illustration and inspiring stories, Nie’s graphic novel shows and tells those “Everyday Wonder” about Beijing in the good old days. Passion, imagination and love will always go beyond any physical limitation and down through generations. -Fang
My Lists

About Me
Fang is the Early Literacy Assistant of the Children’s Services Department. While teaching and reading to young children, she also learns a lot when surrounded by the little ones and their brilliant imaginations!
Fang has lived with her husband and their two daughters in Iowa City since 2007. They love to get on the trails and explore more about Iowa with friends. And they always yearn for fun trips outside the state and the country whenever possible.
One of her favorite things to do is to play riddles, jokes and word puzzles with her children, like this one: I work in the building with most stories in town. Please come to see me at somewhere people usually sit by, but they will play it in a computer if you take off the “e” and replace with an “i” :)
Iris Chang will be remembered forever for her in-depth documentation of this horrifying episode during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Why couldn’t we forget the history? because “those who failed to learn from history are condemned to repeat it’. -Fang