Tofu Quilt

Author: Ching Yeung Russell

Tofu Quilt

Growing up in Hong Kong in the 1960s, Yeung Ying is tired of hearing how important boys are. After all, she can write letters and recite poems as well as—even better than—her boy cousins.

Luckily, Yeung Ying’s mother thinks “girls and boys are just the same.” Despite protests from her husband’s family, Ma uses what little money the family has to send her daughter to private school. There Yeung Ying begins to fall in love with books and writing. Combining this new passion with the colorful experiences of her daily life, Yeung Ying discovers that even girls can dare to dream.

Country of Origin: China

Published by: Lee & Low Books

Year of publication: 2010

Ching Yeung Russell's website

Book Review on Tofu Quilt by Papertiger.org

Book Awards:

  • 2010 Oprah's Book Club Kids' Reading List - Oprah's Book Club/ALA

  • 2010 ALA Notable Children's Book (American Library Association)

  • 2010 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) from the International Reading Association

  • 2010 Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts by the National Council of Teachers of English

  • 2010 Honorable Mention in Youth Literature by the Asian/Pacific American Library Association. (APALA)

  • 2010 Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year lists (In the 9-to-12 year old/Coming of Age category.) Noted as "Outstanding Merit"

  • Tofu Quilt was named one of the Best Children's Chapter Books of 2009 (one of 6) on www.barnesandnoblereview.com by reviewer Liz Rosenberg, an author of more than 25 books and a monthly reviewer for the Boston Globe.

  • Cleveland Public Library's Celebrate with Books Program - Tofu Quilt was named as one of its picks for children and teens for 2009.

Other books by this author:

    • Moon Festival (2002)

    • Child Bride (1999)

    • Lichee Tree (1997)

    • Frist Apple (1996)

    • Water Ghost (1995)

    • A day on a shrimp boat (1993)