Want by Cindy Pon - OPTIONAL

Want by Cindy Pon, 323 pages. Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), 2017. $18.99 

Language: R (67 swears, 3 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In Taiwan, the mei class is suffering. The you class continues to live extravagantly in a dying world, disregarding the pain of the mei who struggle to afford food, clothing, and even clean air. Zhou and his mei friends are done being walked over. They are going to make a difference for the Taiwanese people—or die trying.

The story was fun to read, and it felt somewhat like Robin Hood meets Romeo and Juliet. I think the message of compassion for our fellow men and for our Earth comes across really well, especially as the characters wonder over views of mountains and oceans that I can take for granted every day. While, overall, Pon has written an entertaining story, I would have liked the ending better had the twist not felt so forced.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen