Chinese Heritage Tale Tour by Camille Picott Reviews and giveaway.

Chinese Heritage Tale Tour

by Camille Picott

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BLURB:

Raggedy Chan (novelette)

Emma Chan-McDougal receives a special gift from her Auntie Gracie: a rag doll named Raggedy Chan. But Raggedy Chan is no ordinary doll. She is a beautiful Chinese princess who lives in a jasper palace on the enchanted isle of Kunlun. The peace of her island home is threatened when Drought Fury steals Winged Dragon, bringer of rain. Without Winged Dragon, Kunlun will wither and die.

To save her stricken homeland, Raggedy Chan sets forth alone. Her quest leads her to America, where she meets people who distrust her because she’s different. Can Raggedy Chan adapt to the strange ways of this new land and rescue her beloved dragon?

In this modern fairy tale, Chinese-American author Camille Picott draws on her heritage to weave a story of magic, adventure, and sacrifice.

My Review:

I love when their are lessons learned. This book was cool because it was partially true. The author really did get her own raggedy Chan doll. The author does a great job of weaving the character's heritage and info about the fable. So not only do you learn a lesson with the fable, but you also learn about the author's culture. I really enjoyed the book and found myself giggling at some of the parts, especially when Paul Bunyan is introduced. 

This book also talked about being a loner and finally finding out who you are. There is nothing more important for a young adult to learn that they need to be themselves. 

I recommend this book for teens and adults alike. The Chinese lore is enough to keep adults interested, and the fable is great for the teens. They are evenly written, and neither one overpowers the other, and that makes for a really entertaining book. I also thought that it was awesome to have kids read about Chinese heritage, for a change.

I am giving this book a 3/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own!

Excerpt Raggedy Chan :

“What do you have in there?” Emma eyed the large canvas bag hanging from Auntie Gracie’s shoulder.

Auntie Gracie smiled. “I show you. Come sit on couch.”

Emma scrambled up, pulling the red-haired rag doll into her lap. Auntie Gracie sat beside her, picking up the doll.

“This your favorite toy?”

“It’s from Grandma McDougal,” Emma said. “She had a raggedy doll just like this one when she was a little girl.”

Auntie Gracie pursed her lips and placed the doll on the coffee table. She reached into the canvas bag and pulled out a new rag doll. The yarn pigtails hung long and black. She wore a bright red dress and a white smock. Her black eyes, stitched of thread, had a distinct almond shape.

“She for you.” Auntie Gracie plopped the new doll into Emma’s lap. “Her name Raggedy Chan.”

“Raggedy Chan?” Emma burst into giggles, hugging the doll to her chest. “Wasn’t that Mommy’s last name before she married Daddy?”

Auntie Gracie nodded. “You like her?”

“I love her.”

“I tell you about Raggedy Chan. She from China, like me. You like to hear how she come to America?”

“Oh, yes, please.” Emma snuggled up next to Auntie Gracie, pulling a throw blanket over her legs. “I love stories.” She cuddled Raggedy Chan. Her other raggedy doll lay facedown and forgotten on the coffee table.

Auntie Gracie arranged part of the blanket over her own legs. “One time, far away, there mountain kingdom called Kunlun . . "

Nine-Tail Fox (novella)

When fifth-grade Emma Chan-McDougal is ridiculed by her classmates for being part Chinese, she's devastated. To ease Emma's wounded self-esteem, her aunt, a Chinese immigrant, spins the mythical tale of a brave little Nine-Tail Fox named Ainu who lives in San Francisco.

In a parallel animal world that comes to life when humans slumber, Ainu Nine-Tail and her mother face off against Chih Yu, an ancient demon who feeds on hatred. As the last of their clan, the Nine-Tails are honor-bound by a family oath to defend the Chinese animals from the demon. When Chih Yu kills her mother and leads an angry mob against Chinatown, Ainu is left to complete the task alone. Raw with grief and only partially trained for battle, Ainu must reach deep inside herself to find the wisdom and courage to save her people.

Will the journey of Ainu Nine-Tail help Emma find the strength to confront the school bullies and win back her confidence?

In this modern Chinese fable, Chinese-American author Camille Picott draws on her heritage to weave a story of courage, truth, and adventure.

My Review:

I thought it was awesome that there was a parallel universe that was an animal world. I thought that this was very imaginative for teens to read about. Even though it is a different world and it has a science fiction feel to it the author did not make the book about robots or the over done genre of wizards and magic.

I always love books that talk about bullies, because I feel there is never enough bully awareness. I really enjoyed the ending, and enjoyed how the author talked about confidence and being strong.

I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Camille Picott is a fifth-generation Chinese American. She writes science fiction and fantasy books with Asian characters and/or Asian settings. Camille grew up reading speculative fiction stories largely devoid of Asian characters and culture. This, coupled with a passion for her heritage, is the reason she strives to bring some aspect of Eastern myth, legend, culture, and ethnicity to all of her writings.

Website: www.camillepicott.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camille.picott

Twitter: https://twitter.com/camillepicott or @camillepicott

You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/camillepicott

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/camillepicott

Giveaway:

Camille will be awarding an autographed Raggedy Chan bookmark to every commenter; a Chinese Heritage Tale illustration signed by the author and illustrator to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and a grand prize of a Limited Edition Raggedy Chan Doll to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (ALL ITEMS US ONLY) I reccommend going to every stop on the tour so you can comment each time and get as many entries as possible. You can find the tour stops here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/virtual-review-tour-chinese-heritage.html 

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