The Year of the Rat
Ratings1
Average rating3
15
Ratings1
Average rating3
In this sequel to Year of the Dog, Pacy has another big year in store for her. The Year of the Dog was a very lucky year: she met her best friend Melody and discovered her true talents. However, the Year of the Rat brings big changes: Pacy must deal with Melody moving to California, find the courage to forge on with her dream of becoming a writer and illustrator, and learn to face some of her own flaws. Pacy encounters prejudice, struggles with acceptance, and must find the beauty in change.Based on the author's childhood adventures, Year of the Rat, features the whimsical black and white illustrations and the hilarious and touching anecdotes that helped Year of the Dog earn rave reviews and satisfied readers.
Featured Series
2 primary booksPacy is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2005 with contributions by Grace Lin.
Reviews with the most likes.
I liked the sequel a little better than the first one probably because there is a bit more conflict surrounding Grace/Pacy's life to which I think a lot of kids could relate. The range of that conflict stretches from “not quite fitting in and missing best friends” to “casual racism I suddenly realize I've been actively practicing as well as receiving.” Lin delivers important messages in a clear, concise, and not at all patronizing way. She takes difficult concepts like Taiwanese school systems several decades in past, foot binding, and the political differences between Taiwan and China, and makes them if not understandable at least visible to younger readers. I'm thinking I might do this series as a read aloud in the next school year.
