We invited Maisie Chan, the author of Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths, illustrated by Anh Cao published by Piccadilly Press to tell us about her new book!
Tell us about your book - who is it about and where is it set?
Thank you for asking me to write about my debut novel DANNY CHUNG DOES NOT DO MATHS.
Danny Chung is about an eleven-year-old, British born Chinese boy who loves to draw but his parents want him to be more academic. They compare him to the sullen but bright, Amelia Yee.
The main story is about how his grandmother comes from China and moves into his bedroom. He’s shocked and unhappy about this new event especially as she snores like a rhino and always seems to be around. Not only has he lost his privacy, but he’s got to look after her during the Easter holidays. Which let’s face it, is the worst!
The book has a British Chinese family as the main characters and also has another British Chinese parents who are more pushy – they are used as a contrast.
The book purposely questions that there is one kind of Chinese person, with one language, or one way of doing something.
Who is Danny? How does he see his identity?
Danny is in many ways very ‘British’ and wants to fit into the cool group at school. But he’s also very much in love with his culture and Chinese food. I wanted him to really love the food his family makes and also dim sum which is my favourite food. I tried really hard to portray nuanced characters.
And even though there is humour I didn’t want people to laugh AT my character’s for being ‘different instead I wanted to celebrate difference and not centre white narratives or the white gaze.
Therefore, the majority of the characters in my novel are East Asian or South Asian, and even though Mrs Cruikshanks helps Nai Nai – she’s not a white saviour. Nai Nai has agency and power herself.
This book is for everyone. Even though Danny is British Chinese, he’s a regular boy who is dealing with friendships and family discord at the same time.
How have teachers and parents reacted to this book?
One teacher said that she felt like she was reading about one of her own pupils. I didn’t want to do a trauma-filled immigration story. I wanted to do an uplifting story, which is funny but also touches on some bigger themes such as prejudice (‘foreigners taking our bingo seats’) and being yourself, being creative when others want you to be someone else.
How was the writing process - did you enjoy it?
Writing the book made me laugh out loud, which sounds a little strange but I think you can feel how much I enjoyed writing the story when you read it.
Why do you think this book is critical during these strange times we are in?
In a time where there is increased racial hatred towards East and Southeast Asians, a book like Danny Chung can really make a difference. The book can help promote empathy and the Chinese family is not seen as threatening, barbaric or ‘other’.
There also are very few books with East Asian boys in them as the main characters.
I’m proud of Danny Chung, as a book and as a character. He’s not a model minority stereotype, he learns to love himself and his family in ways he never thought possible. I think in these times it’s easy to dehumanise and fear ‘the other’ – it’s easy to point the finger and adhere blame to East Asians for the state of the world. It’s much harder to welcome and act in an empathetic way and I hope this book can help make that shift.
Thank you Maisie for telling us all about your new book!
コメント