Half and Half

by Lensey Namioka

Book Overview

FIONA CHENG IS half and half: Her father is Chinese and her mother is Scottish. Fiona looks more like her father than her mother, so people always expect her to be more interested in her Chinese half than her Scottish half. Lately even Fiona's confused about who she really is.

"A realistic, gentle and funny tale."--Detroit News & Free Press

"Readers will identify with Fiona's struggle to fit in."--Publishers Weekly

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440418909
• ISBN13: 9780440418900
• Release Date: November 2004
• Publisher: Yearling Books
• Length: 134 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

ashley's book review

I read a nutmeg book titled Half and Half by Lensey Namioka. It is a great book. They lived in Seattle, Washington. The main characters in this story were Fiona cheng, Ron (brother) Amanda (friend) mom and dad grandpa and grandmother MacMurray, Nainai (other grandmother). The main problem of the book is Fiona's dad is Chinese and her mother is Scottish. Fiona doesn't know which one to choose without hurting her parent's feelings. My favorite part of the book was when Fiona died her hair orange just to fit in with the other girls. This was my favorite part because when she got home no one got mad at her. My parents would get really mad at me. I really liked this book because it was very descriptive and you can learn about other people's culture. I would recommend it to other people because I think other people would like the book too.

Lindsay bookreview

Lindsay Sharp L.A. #3 I read a wonderful book titled Half and Half by Lensey Namioka. It is a fiction book set in the Seattle Washington. The main characters in this story were Fiona Cheng, Amanda, Ron, mother, father, Nainai, grandpa, and grandma Mac Murray. Fiona cheng and Ron are bother and sister. They both like to do very active activities like running, and Irish step dancing. There father likes to write write kids fairytales books about cowardly dragons. The main problem of the book occurs when she feels like she doesn't fit with her Irish family and she want to change her appearance because she looks more Asian and not Irish and she wants to sigh up for folk dancing at the recreation center. But when she gets the form and she has to pick a race will she pick Irish or Asian? My favorite part of the book was when Fiona wanted Amanda, and Melissa to die her head red because she will look more like a Irish step dancer more with red hair. This was my favorite part because it was really funny when Ron got home from school he was so surprised to see his little Asian sister with red hair. And so were the family too they couldn't be leave it im so surprised that' they didn't ground her. I really love this book because I think its talks about how other people are different and how difficult it is to be half and half! I would recommend it to my family, friends, and, my aunt sharal because they would love this book because my hole entire family is half African American and Indian.

Half and Half by Amanda

I read a great book called Half and Half by Lensey Namioka it is realistic fiction set in the present in Seattle Washington. The main characters in this book were Fiona Cheng, her brother Ron, her parents and her grand parents. Ron and Fiona are half Scottish and half Chinese. Their mother is Scottish and their father is Chinese. Fiona looks more Chinese and her brother Ron looks more Scottish. The grandfather on the Father's side died. The problem occurs when both grandparents from both sides come to visit at the same time. Her Chinese grandmother wants her to be more Chinese by making her a beautiful silk dress. But her Scottish Grandparents want her to do the Scottish Dance. She wants to do both, but which one will she pick? My favorite part of this book is When Fiona dies her hair red to look more Scottish. This was my favorite part because when she dies her hair, it comes out orange. I really liked this book because Fiona has to make a choice, or does she? I would recommend this book to anyone how likes suspense because this book is full of suspense.

Good Read

Half and Half is about Fiona who feels pressured to choose between her two ethnicitys; Chinese and Scottish. It was a short, touching story. I feel that it could have been taken a lot further, but it was good the way it was.

Half and Half

Fiona Cheng is a girl who is not sure who she really is. She is half Scottish and half Chinese. When Fiona signs up for a dance team something goes really bad. On the sign up sheet, the form asks what culture she is. Fiona does not know which one to check. When Fiona asks for help from her parents she gets no help. But when her grandparents from both sides come, it gets even worse. In a month, Fiona's city is holding an annual culture festival. Mr. Cheng (who is Chinese) is doing a book reading with his latest book and wants Fiona to come. Grandfather McMurry (grandfather on mother's side) is doing a dance and wants Fiona to come to it with him. Fiona manages to solve the problem and everything goes great. I recommend this book to girls between the ages of 8 and 10 and who are confused about themselves. Lensey Namioka even dedicates this book to people who are, of course, HALF AND HALF! -Hana Peoples