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A Suitcase of Seaweed
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Wong, Janet S. 1996. A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED AND OTHER POEMS. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN: 0-689-80788-0.

A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED AND OTHER POEMS is a collection of poetry by Janet S. Wong that is split into three sections: Korean Poems, Chinese Poems, and American Poems.  Wong explains that her mother’s side of the family is from Korea, and her father’s side of the family is from China.  In the explanation for the American Poem section, Wong explains, “I am American.”  Wong tells about strangers asking her, “What are you?” or similar questions.  She says, “These kinds of people usually stare hard at my face, as if they are testing themselves on how well they can tell the difference between Chinese and Korean and Japanese.”  This is a powerful image, to be sure.  The sad thing is that most readers, especially adults, know exactly what look she is describing.

 

In the Korean Poems section, titles such as “Acupuncture”, “Beef Bone Soup”, and “Persimmons” can be found.  Especially poignant is “Hospitality,” in which Wong describes a visitor who offends her mother by not removing his shoes at the door.  He has had ample opportunity to see the clues, but apparently has either chosen to ignore the custom or been blind to it.  Wong knows her mother is “shocked” when “she offered him nothing to eat.”

 

In the Chinese Poems section, readers will find poems entitled “Shrimp”, “GongGong and Susie”, and “Poetry.”  “Grandmother’s Almond Cookies” is written in Grandmother’s voice.  Her English is not quite fluent, but her meanings are clear.  She shares how to make her cookies “no need cookbook, measuring cup.”  Her descriptions involve handfuls and pinches of ingredients and “When they done, they come alive.”  Readers can feel the squish of the dough and the grandmother’s love as they read these words.

 

In the American Poems section are “Face it”, “Which?”, and “Straight A’s” among others.  In the poem “Manners” Wong describes the conflicting sets of rules and regulations from her dual cultures.  “If you are Chinese” you can pick up your bowl “and push the rice into your mouth with your chopsticks.”  “If you are Korean” you must serve your father first even if your food “has gone cold.”  But, “If you are half and half, born in L.A. and hungry all the time, you might wonder if you aren’t better off sticking with a knife and fork.”  Wong brings humor to the subject in a way that hungry kids of all cultures can enjoy.

 

In this collection, Wong brings together her varied cultures and tells the story of one person.  Her parents’ cultures are part of her life, but she also has her own identity.  Readers from all backgrounds can empathize with this message.

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