Watercress, Written by Andrea Wang and Illustrated by Jason Chin


From the Publisher:

"Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl’s parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. Grabbing an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail covered watercress as they can.

At first, she’s embarras
sed. Why can’t her family get food from the grocery store? But when her mother shares a story of her family’s time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.

Andrea Wang tells a moving autobiographical story of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, illustrated by award winning author and artist Jason Chin, working in an entirely new style, inspired by Chinese painting techniques. An author’s note in the back shares Andrea’s childhood experience with her parents."

Text Features: 

  • Figurative Language ("mom's eyes are as sharp as the tip of a dragon's claw", "two voices heavy with memories", "I take a bite of the watercress and it bites me back", "It is delicate and slightly bitter, like Mom's memories of home")
  • Flashback ("...and a longing for China" with sepia illustration)
  • Author's Note (great for exploring the author's inspiration for writing this book and her hopes for what it will offer young readers)
  • Artist's Note (great for exploring the deliberate choices in colors, brushstrokes and images the artist used to complement the author's story)
Critical Literacy Suggestions:

Read & Discuss: 

  • Early in the story, why does the protagonist duck her head and hope the passing car doesn't contain anyone she knows? 
  • How does the protagonist change in the story? What causes her to change? 
  • Why is watercress important to the family in this story? 
  • What does the story help you to understand about immigration? 
  • What does the story help you to understand about Chinese culture and being Chinese American? 
  • At the end of the book, in the author's note, Andrea Wang writes: "This story is both an apology and a love letter to my parents. It's also an encouragement to all children who feel different and to families with difficult pasts–share your memories. Tell your stories. They are essential." What do you think Andrea means? 
  • Does your family have any traditions that other people might think are different? Share a story about something that is important to your family and why. 
  • The illustrator, Jason Chin, writes in his artist's note that he deliberately chose certain colors, brushstrokes and images to depict a sense of memory. Can you see any examples of this?    

Write & Act: 

  • Write about a time when you have felt different or like you didn't fit in. (How did you feel? Why do you think you felt that way? Was there something or someone that could have helped you feel more comfortable about feeling different?) 
  • When you meet someone who seems different to you in some way, take the time to learn more about them. 
  • If you see someone who might feel uncomfortable because they are different in some way, think about how you might be able to help them feel more comfortable. 

Learn More:

  

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