When six-year-old Mei is sent from the familiar boundaries of homeschooling and Chinatown to attend an unfamiliar school in the city, she finds it hard to adapt to the new duplexity of her identity. Is she Chinese living in America, or is she an American with Chinese heritage? Nothing makes sense to her anymore, and only her beloved pet dog seems to understand her inner turmoil.
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Ridiculed at school for her Chinese traditions, and instructed at home to ignore the western notions, Mei begins to retreat into herself as she battles to work out her place in the world. And then she’s cast adrift when she loses her anchor in life, with only a strange, golden origami balloon to guide her way.
The Origami Balloon: Becoming Mei-Rose is Cheryl Moy’s debut novel. It is the story of how a shy, quiet little girl learns that she is enough just as she is. It follows Mei’s journey as she discovers how to embrace both aspects of her heritage, and in doing so, offers hope that one day she will be able to learn how to love herself.
