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hellsfire's review against another edition
3.0
I'm conflicted on Crossing. Part of me liked it, but part me had a bit too many problems with it.
For example, I related with the whole race and not fitting in thing. But it seemed out of place here. Xing was one of two non-white people in the school yet the story took place today, not in the 20th century; it wasn't at a rich, white school; or it wasn't in the South. That just seemed weird to me that there weren't any of those things so why weren't there other people of color?
I understood the fact that they came here from China, but don't people generally move to where there are others of their own kind or where their family is? Or wouldn't they at least move to the Bay Area, since it's a lot closer than New York?
My other problem was that it ended how you thought it would ended. Fukuda did an excellent job at setting up things, but he might have done it too well. There were no surprises for me. Then when it got to the ending, it just ended. I wanted to know a little more. That's not to say the ending was bad, but without spoiling it, some things might not have made sense to an observer.
I also didn't understand the title. Where was Xing crossing to?
While the murder aspect was kind of shaky because of the ending, I think Fukuda did a fine job in this coming of age story. I think it's especially perfect for those that don't really understand or had to deal with racism or for those feel like an outcast.
For example, I related with the whole race and not fitting in thing. But it seemed out of place here. Xing was one of two non-white people in the school yet the story took place today, not in the 20th century; it wasn't at a rich, white school; or it wasn't in the South. That just seemed weird to me that there weren't any of those things so why weren't there other people of color?
I understood the fact that they came here from China, but don't people generally move to where there are others of their own kind or where their family is? Or wouldn't they at least move to the Bay Area, since it's a lot closer than New York?
My other problem was that it ended how you thought it would ended. Fukuda did an excellent job at setting up things, but he might have done it too well. There were no surprises for me. Then when it got to the ending, it just ended. I wanted to know a little more. That's not to say the ending was bad, but without spoiling it, some things might not have made sense to an observer.
I also didn't understand the title. Where was Xing crossing to?
While the murder aspect was kind of shaky because of the ending, I think Fukuda did a fine job in this coming of age story. I think it's especially perfect for those that don't really understand or had to deal with racism or for those feel like an outcast.
jmsv45's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the saddest books I have read in a while. I could not believe how much this book made me cry. It was not at all like I had expected. Seriously, I am absolutely amazed and heartbroken. I read it all in one day. I just could not put it down.
So the main character here is Xing, or as he likes to be called, Kris. It's 2008 and he's one of two Chinese people in an all white school. Yikes. Recently my history teacher was telling us that he believes Asians have been more bullied in America than Hispanics. After reading this, I'd have to agree.
The ending was utterly heartbreaking and I honestly could not believe it.
One of the cool things about this book was it's title. I loved how it actually made a lot of sense as you kept on reading. It had a lot of different meanings. I like things like that.
The other thing was the way it was written. I felt like I could really connect to Kris as a charter. He's a bit of a loner and he's in love with Naomi, although this was rather subtle in my opinion. Kris was the main POV in first person, but there were a few scenes in third person. It really intensified the mystery. This book was just one big ol' mystery.
I was really impressed.
If you love mysteries, realistic fiction, or books that make you cry... This is just great.
real rating: 4.5 stars
So the main character here is Xing, or as he likes to be called, Kris. It's 2008 and he's one of two Chinese people in an all white school. Yikes. Recently my history teacher was telling us that he believes Asians have been more bullied in America than Hispanics. After reading this, I'd have to agree.
The ending was utterly heartbreaking and I honestly could not believe it.
One of the cool things about this book was it's title. I loved how it actually made a lot of sense as you kept on reading. It had a lot of different meanings. I like things like that.
The other thing was the way it was written. I felt like I could really connect to Kris as a charter. He's a bit of a loner and he's in love with Naomi, although this was rather subtle in my opinion. Kris was the main POV in first person, but there were a few scenes in third person. It really intensified the mystery. This book was just one big ol' mystery.
I was really impressed.
If you love mysteries, realistic fiction, or books that make you cry... This is just great.
real rating: 4.5 stars
gremlin_snacks's review against another edition
4.0
i was sort of torn about this book. i thought the writing was a little awkward. i have a decent vocabulary, but even i found myself looking up a few words. it seemed the entire book was peppered with some five-dollar words that were just thrown in for no reason. they didn't fit with the way the rest of the book was written. at one point i wondered if the book had been translated. the reason i give it four stars is because i didn't want to put it down because i wanted to know how it would end. i like books that pull you in immediately and don't let go.
as for the whole i'm chinese therefore everyone automatically hates me thing, as much as i understand what it's like to not be white and face racists and assholes, i really think in any situation you can't punish people as a whole. it really seemed that the narrator was just intent on thinking his life would never get better and i really think the route he took at the end was pretty idiotic because he just dug himself into a deeper hole.
even with the awkward word choices, i still think the writer is decent and will only improve down the line.
as for the whole i'm chinese therefore everyone automatically hates me thing, as much as i understand what it's like to not be white and face racists and assholes, i really think in any situation you can't punish people as a whole. it really seemed that the narrator was just intent on thinking his life would never get better and i really think the route he took at the end was pretty idiotic because he just dug himself into a deeper hole.
even with the awkward word choices, i still think the writer is decent and will only improve down the line.
kaitrosereads's review against another edition
4.0
Crossing is an amazing debut novel. It blew me away. I didn't have a clue what to expect when I started it and that turned out to be a good thing. It would have surpassed anything I might have expected from it.
The most brilliant thing about Crossing was the writing. Even if the story had sucked, which it didn't, the writing would have made up for it. I can't do it justice. It was just beautiful.
Xing was not exactly an easy character to like or understand but after a while I did. He was a loner and he didn't do much to try and fix that but in his town it was kind of impossible. Everyone was so prejudiced and cruel to him. It was further than most high schoolers take bullying but I think everyone can relate to Xing. And with everything that is going on with bullying in high schools today I think everyone needs to read Crossing. It couldn't have been released at a better time.
Overall, Crossing is a great story. It kept me reading until the very last page and the ending threw me for a loop. There was nothing about this book that I was expecting and I love it!
The most brilliant thing about Crossing was the writing. Even if the story had sucked, which it didn't, the writing would have made up for it. I can't do it justice. It was just beautiful.
Xing was not exactly an easy character to like or understand but after a while I did. He was a loner and he didn't do much to try and fix that but in his town it was kind of impossible. Everyone was so prejudiced and cruel to him. It was further than most high schoolers take bullying but I think everyone can relate to Xing. And with everything that is going on with bullying in high schools today I think everyone needs to read Crossing. It couldn't have been released at a better time.
Overall, Crossing is a great story. It kept me reading until the very last page and the ending threw me for a loop. There was nothing about this book that I was expecting and I love it!
keelygorski's review against another edition
4.0
Short book, with a sad ending... It is very suspensful and keeps you on your toes. I liked it.
lmohhhh's review against another edition
2.0
Where to start?
I was not grabbed by this book, story development was not really there.
Of course the underlining points of racism and fitting in were huge, but really you can't just jam them into a book with poor story development.
I felt that there were characters who came in and seemed like they would mean something later on in the book but they just were nothing and went no where.
I was disappointed. But I finished it and the outcome or believed outcome was sad.
I was not grabbed by this book, story development was not really there.
Of course the underlining points of racism and fitting in were huge, but really you can't just jam them into a book with poor story development.
I felt that there were characters who came in and seemed like they would mean something later on in the book but they just were nothing and went no where.
I was disappointed. But I finished it and the outcome or believed outcome was sad.
dannb's review against another edition
1.0
A ridiculous number of adjectives, disjointed, flat, inconsistent.
vsarna's review against another edition
3.0
A fast pace thriller in a small town heavily inflicted by racism. My thing was it was so fast paced that none of the characters got to be fleshed out in any way but I see where the author was going with the racist ideology of a non white person being automatically assumed guilty.
rachelcabbit's review against another edition
4.0
Crossing is a very well written YA mystery about a teenage Chinese immigrant who feels at odds with society and stifled by racist expectations. He is consumed with jealousy and longing for the only other Asian student, a girl called Naomi Lee, and feels he is invisible to everyone unless they want to blame him.
When students at his high school go missing, Xing (also goes by Kris) becomes the lead in the school musical and then the lead suspect - but is he just the victim of racist stereotyping?
A great plot which grips the reader and a fabulous use of the unreliable narrator. Do we believe Kris?
Personally, I don't but it is anyone's guess. What a great read!
When students at his high school go missing, Xing (also goes by Kris) becomes the lead in the school musical and then the lead suspect - but is he just the victim of racist stereotyping?
A great plot which grips the reader and a fabulous use of the unreliable narrator. Do we believe Kris?
Personally, I don't but it is anyone's guess. What a great read!