by Rebecca Lim (Allen & Unwin)

Tiger Daughter is that rare book that ticks all the boxes – you’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you may even shed a tear or two!

Wen and her friend Henry are both children of Chinese immigrants. They dream of a future where they can do whatever they want. Be whoever they want. A plan is devised: pass the entrance exam to the prestigious school far away to change their lives for the better. But tragedy strikes Henry just weeks before the exam.

Determined to not let her friend miss the biggest opportunity of his life, Wen needs to be brave and break some cultural rules she’s abided by her whole life, which unintentionally creates a domino effect as the community around her rallies to carry a boy through a moment of darkness. Packed with memorable characters that you can’t help but cheer on, Tiger Daughter is a tale of empathy, friendship, culture and hope.

I’d recommend this book to readers aged 11 – 14.