The Year of the Dog

The Year of the Dog is about a Taiwanese American girl named Pacy Lin who starts the Lunar New Year wanting to learn more about herself and find her place. She lives in an area where there aren't many Asian people. Her neighborhood is very white, and she talks about her pain being different, but also talks about the good things about her Asian identity. Her mom tells her that the Year of the Dog is considered lucky and beneficial for personal growth. Throughout the year, Pacy tries new things, such as writing contests, thinking about her future, and learning more about her Asian culture.

I liked this book because it resonates with me, as I was actually born in the year of the dog. The book was overall very interesting and connected to me well, as I live in an Asian household and was once also in a white neighborhood. I like Pacy's character development because she was very outgoing and liked to try new things out, even though she wasn't perfect, and it was rough not fitting in. The book was very engaging, but also conveyed some profound messages about embracing one's true self and the benefits of being different and unique. One message I liked was that it’s okay to fail and feel different as long as you get back up, keep trying, and be yourself.