The Secret Life of Maeve Lee Kwong (Children of the Wind) - Softcover

Murray, Kirsty

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1865087378 ISBN 13: 9781865087375

Publisher: Allen & Unwin, 2008

Synopsis

Maeve's safe world is torn apart when her mother dies in a car crash. Adopted by her strict Chinese grandparents and forced to leave Australia, she fights to hold onto the things she loves most—her two best friends, her dancing, and her baby brother Ned. Secretly she pins her hopes on her Irish father, who doesn't even know she exists. From Sydney to Hong Kong to Ireland, Maeve searches for a path to follow and a place to belong. Written with humor and sensitivity, Maeve’s journey of self-discovery among her distinct heritage and different cultures is beautifully rendered.

About this title

About the Author:

Kirsty Murray is the author of Becoming Billy Dare, Bridie's Fire, Market Blues, A Prayer for Blue Delaney, Walking Home with Marie Claire, and the award-winning Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 5–8—Being half-Chinese and half-Irish never bothered Maeve Lee Kwong much. A lot of Australians have mixed heritages, and she considers herself fully Aussie. Then her mother dies in a car accident, and Maeve no longer knows who she is, or where she belongs. Should she continue to live with her stepdad, who never really adopted her, and half brother, whom she adores? With her Chinese grandparents, whom she hardly knows? Should she attend her private school as a boarding student, and hang out with her friends? Or should she try to find her birth father, who doesn't even know she exists? In a believable way, Murray allows Maeve to try all of these scenarios in her quest for identity and a place to call home, including meeting her artist father in Dublin. This book has a lot going for it, including short and highly varied scenes that propel the story forward at a brisk pace. With settings in Australia, Hong Kong, and Ireland, the descriptions are lush and appealing. Readers will relate to 13-year-old Maeve's pursuit of typical teen interests such as dance, drama, shopping, travel, and a first kiss. They will also be inspired by her courage in the face of tragedy, and be moved by the story's many wise and tender moments. An excellent purchase for all libraries.—Catherine Ensley, Latah County Free Library District, Moscow, ID
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Allen & Unwin
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1865087378
• ISBN 13: 9781865087375
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 252