Name: The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling
ISBN: 9781760631581

Wai Chim

A novel about growing up in a migrant Asian family with a mother who is suffering from a mental illness, from the highly commended author of Freedom Swimmer. Anna Chiu has her hands pretty full looking after her brother and sister and helping out at her dad's restaurant, all while her mum stays in bed. Dad's new delivery boy, Rory, is a welcome distraction and even though she knows that things aren't right at home, she's starting to feel like she could just be a normal teen. But when Mum finally gets out of bed, things go from bad to worse. And as Mum's condition worsens, Anna and her family question everything they understand about themselves and each other. A nourishing tale about the crevices of culture, mental wellness and family.

The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling

This is not, in fact, a book about dumplings. 

This book got me in an uncomfortably vulnerable place, particularly the last third. Anna and her family are in an incredibly difficult situation, and it's angry and frustrating but also not entirely anyone's fault. It's a stark, powerful, real story about love, mental illness and family, particularly in Asian/Chinese cultures--a complicated sort of love and family where everyone is just trying their best and expressing love in the ways they know how. 

Trigger warnings for depression, references to suicide, psychosis, emotional abuse

Harley Rae

DNF at 50%. The MC had insane mood swings - drove me absolutely nuts.

Nadine 

Well written story weaving in the devastating impact of mental health issues on a teen & her siblings. Set in Australia’s chinese community the taboos of opening up about the issues and the silence and avoidance by the father while the children struggle is real and recognizable. 

Thanks to Libro.fm for the arc.

Tania Kalsi

I know, everyone has put a really high rating and I have an unpopular opinion: Nothing really happened in this book. Just this girl who met this somewhat cute guy at her workplace and they meet up everyday to just chat. And also the girl's mum who is obsessed with her studying. This book is simply about a typical teenage girl's everyday life. Also, I don't think the title has anything to do with the book. I got bored from the first half of the book.

Kate

This book features so many important discussions when it comes to its exploration of mental illness in relation to Asian culture, the Chinese immigrant experience in Australia, academic pressure, living with a parent with mental illness, parental expectations, complex family relationships and more. 

Whilst the writing style itself and some of the ways mental illness was represented led me to giving it a (solid and positive) three stars, I appreciate the importance and necessity of this book and have no doubt this will be an incredibly important and powerful read for many readers.

TW: depression, discussion of suicide and suicide attempt, ableism, ableist slurs, parental emotional & physical abuse, racism.

Josefina

SHORT-LISTED: 2020 Prime Minister's Literary Award, Young Adult Fiction Anna Chiu has her hands pretty full looking after her brother and sister and helping out at her dad's restaurant, all while her mum stays in bed. Dad's new delivery boy, Rory, is a welcome distraction and even though she knows that things aren't right at home, she's starting to feel like she could just be a normal teen. But when Mum finally gets out of bed, things go from bad to worse. And as Mum's condition worsens, Anna and her family question everything they understand about themselves and each other. This nourishing tale about the crevices of culture, mental wellness and family was the winner of the Indie Book Awards. 'A book with a huge heartbeat and so much love infused in every page.' Alice Pung, author of Laurinda 'Deeply immersive storytelling, with sophistication and unfailing empathy. I adored this book.' Leanne Hall, author of Iris and the Tiger 'A heartwarming tale of family, food, and first love that will make you cry both happy and sad tears.' Justine Labalestier, author of My Sister Rosa

anna

Fátima

Courtney 

Bec Taylor

Nafisa Anvar

Livia

An authentic novel about growing up in a migrant Asian family with a mother who is suffering from a debilitating mental illness. Anna Chiu has her hands full. When she's not looking after her brother and sister or helping out at her father's restaurant, she's taking care of her mother, whose debilitating mental illness keeps her in bed most days. Her father's new delivery boy, Rory, is a welcome distraction and even though she knows that things aren't right at home, she's starting to feel like she could be a normal teen. But when her mother finally gets out of bed, things go from bad to worse. And as her mother's condition worsens, Anna and her family question everything they understand about themselves and each other. The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling is a heart-wrenching, true-to-life exploration through the often neglected crevices of culture, mental illness, and family. Its strong themes are balanced by a beautiful romance making it a feel-good, yet important read.