YESSSSS OUTRUN THE MOON! So glad to hear you're participating, Jeann!

Nice review Jeann! I've heard about this a few times and have been curious, so it's good to hear your detailed thoughts. This sounds fairly creepy/dramatic so I'd better prepare myself before reading! xD

Nice reviews Jeann! I read Mao's Last Dancer back in primary school and have forgotten so much, it's really nice reading your thoughtful review now!

Cloudwish - really nice reading your thoughts on how relatable you found it -- same here!

***spoiler warning*** Mmm I see where you're coming from with the romance, I was pretty suspicious of it as well at first HAHA but it grew on me a lot on reread and after I'd read Jane Eyre :) I think I was partially affected by the fact that I'd read Wildlife by Fiona Wood, which is about Sibylla, Lou, Holly and Michael - who I loved! - so really wanted Van Uoc to be with Michael at first xD The author said that you can interpret it as there being either a wish or not with both options being equally valid. I personally think there was a wish, which grew into something real.

Thanks for sharing this Jeann ^_^ I've mostly grew up in more of a diverse area but unsurprisingly, can also relate to aspects you've described here. I used to honestly think, maybe not 'idealistically', but genuinely believed we were on a forward trajectory with multiculturalism and that we were and would be making progress. This year has been frightening in that regard.
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“She’d always been comforted by how many words there...