Lin decides it would be good for her family to go as well. Melody and her family are going to spend a week at TAC camp, a camp for Taiwanese Americans, and Mrs.

Hoping to get the part of Dorothy, her enthusiasm is spoiled when her friend Becky tells her that she can't be Dorothy, because Dorothy's not Chinese.īy the end of the school year, Pacy has finally come up with an idea for her book project, and then school is over, and summer arrives. Pacy is also excited when the teacher announces that the class play will be The Wizard of Oz.

Later in the year, Melody and Pacy decide to participate in the Science Fair, which doesn't go exactly as planned. Pacy is excited at first, but soon realizes she can't think anything to write and illustrate that interests her. Then, at school, the students are given an assignment to write and illustrate a book of their own as part of a national contest. First, there is the family's trip to New Jersey to celebrate Pacy's new born cousin Albert's Red Egg party, in which eggs are dyed red and brought to the baby for luck, along with red envelopes full of money. The two girls become instant best friends.Īs the Year of the Dog goes by, Pacy experiences many things, some are traditionally Chinese, others very American. But, the day after celebrating the New Year, Pacy returns to school and discovers that there is a new Chinese girl named Melody, who is also Taiwanese American. So far, Pacy has been the only Chinese student at school, besides her sister. Will Pacy really be able to find herself in the Year of the Dog? But, to Americans, she is too Chinese, and to Chinese people, she is too American. She was born in the US, so she's also American, and at school she is called by her American name, Grace. She knows she's Chinese, but her parents are Taiwanese and she doesn't speak either language, but her mom and dad do. Pacy isn't sure what finding yourself means for her, though. In the Year of the Dog, Pacy learns, you are supposed to find your best friends, as well as yourself and what you want to do with your life. The Year of the Dog has arrived and the Lins - Pacy, her mom and dad, her older sister Lissy and younger sister Ki-Ki - are celebrating with all the traditional customs and foods. We were still reading and enjoying Grace Lin's book The Year of the Dog, her first Pacy Lin novel, on the last day of the New Year, but it is just too good not to write about - better late than never. The Lunar New Year lasts for 15 days, and technically, it ended on February 11th this year, with the first full moon and the traditional Lantern Festival.

The year of the dog by grace lin