I Hate English!

Based on the 1989 ALA Notable Children's Book by author Ellen Levine and illustrator Steve Bjorkman, I Hate English! explores the dilemma of Hong Kong native Mei Mei, who is struggling to assimilate in her new home in NYC. Although the preteen enjoys familiar places like Chinatown, she feels out of place in her new English-speaking environment: she thinks in Chinese, likes the fast strokes of Chinese writing—unlike the English letters “banging” against each other—and while she understands the language, she refuses to speak English. At the Chinatown learning center that Mei Mei and her friends attend, kindly teacher Nancy tries to capture the girl's interest with stories even as Mei Mei's fears of losing her cultural identity rise to the surface (“she didn't want English to have words she didn't know in Chinese”). A bit of reverse psychology provides a delightful twist to the ending of I Hate English!, which features Roald Dahl-style illustrations and also features a “Sharing My Story” conversation with the author. An insightful tale about fitting in while protecting one's sense of self, this is highly recommended. Aud: E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)