What Did I Learn

From reading this book, I learned what the ideal mental health emergency services should look like. However, from personal experience with these services, the book does not portray mental health emergency services accurately. I learned some skills to help address mental health issues with teenagers. I also learned several cultural differences and how Chinese culture is intertwined with the family’s willingness to access mental health services.

How was the activity relevant to my professional practice working with children and/or young adults?

I thought there were several aspects and scenes in the novel which would be useful in addressing mental health, racism, and other concerns with teenagers. Characterisation is also used to portray gender stereotypes and mental health. The novel would be useful to include in a teen book club or to study in class. It helps teens recognise their own feelings and thoughts and how to access help. It will be useful for a teacher-librarian to hold discussions with participants around mental health, feelings, culture, expectations, and stereotypes. The same could be done for a public librarian hosting a teen book club, with the added bonus of providing information about local mental health providers.

The book would be incredibly useful to read in areas that are culturally diverse; book clubs could also discuss the differences in how mental health is viewed in different cultures. Participants could identify with the racial and cultural stereotypes and experiences that are expressed in the novel. The library can provide a safe, neutral and trusting environment to discuss these topics openly, I hope in my future practice; I can help facilitate these discussions and help foster a trusting and neutral environment in doing so.

Gaps in Knowledge and How to Fill Them?

To implement the mental health discussions as mentioned before, I would research symptoms of several mental illnesses and find resources to provide to participants around mental health and where to access help. Chin has added some resources about mental health, like the Black Dog Institute, BeyondBlue, and Headspace, I would have to research these providers to be able to provide and familiarise participants with services. I believe the goal of such programs (and the book) would be to demystify and debunk stereotypes and stigma around mental health for teens. Perhaps a program could include visiting local mental health providers?

 

 

Activity:

Title: The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling

Author: Wai Chin

Publisher: A&U Children’s

Publishing Date: August 2019

ISBN: 9781760631581

• Shortlisted for Best Young Adult Literature, Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2020.
• Shortlisted in Reading’s Young Adult Book Prize 2020.
• Shortlisted Book of the Year for Older Children, ABIA Awards 2020.
• Longlisted Best Book for Older Readers, CBCA Awards 2020.
• Shortlisted Best Designed Young Adult Cover, Australian Book Design Awards 2020.
• Winner Best Young Adult Novel, Indie Book Awards 2020.

 

Protagonist Anna struggles with the extra responsibilities placed on her by her mother’s illness. Anna must raise her two younger siblings (Lily and Michael) while studying in year 11 and working at her father’s restaurant, where she meets Rory and develops strong feelings for him. Chin’s novel explores the importance of the family unit in Chinese culture, and their fight to ‘save face’ when impacted by mental illness. It also explores racism, teen cliques, first love, and all factors and stigmas associated with mental illness – including men’s mental health, school responses, and mental health days from work, as well as providing resources on where to access help.

 

The book explores the interchangeability of racism, Chinese family and work culture, and mental illness and its effect on the family unit and children/teens.  Anna’s mother struggles with mental illness which Anna has learned to navigate. Throughout the book, Anna searches for ‘signs’ indicating her mother’s health, which she associates with ‘good or bad days.’ Anna appears to feel anxiety when she cannot make sense of the signs in front of her, or they do not measure up with her mother’s behaviour. An example of this is when Anna and the family visit Ma after she is admitted to the hospital. Anna struggles to recognize the signs Ma is exhibiting and is confused as to the motives behind her mother’s behaviours during the visit (p. 330). Ma’s mental illness dominates the family, leaving the two eldest daughters, Anna and Lily to raise their younger brother by themselves. Baba’s work ethic puts a strain on the family dynamic, leaving the kids to fend for themselves and Ma. Baba also appears to have a warped view of mental illness saying that, ‘Ma just needs a hobby.’ Chin explores how these comments are not only inappropriate and inaccurate but also hurtful. Anna defends her mother during these conversations, saying …

 

It explores the knock-on effects of mental illnesses in families. Anna’s studies seem to be affected throughout the narrative. But what stood out to me was the lack of understanding (or curiousness) of Anna’s teachers as to why her grades were suffering. Chin has added Anna’s studies into the list of burdens that Anna has weighing her down throughout the book. But Chin does also give readers (and Anna) guidance on what to do or where to go for help when experiencing these feelings. Rory’s experiences with mental health allow him to give Anna practical advice on how and where she can get help. He also provides some insight for Anna that these feelings are common;

“I was like you, Anna,’ he goes on, ‘with all the stuff in my head, I thought I could handle it. I didn’t want to burden my parents; my sister had her own thing. So, I didn’t say anything I thought I could handle it. But I couldn’t.’ he takes a deep breath. ‘you need to talk to your father.’ (p. 251)

The book explores men’s mental health and the stereotypes associated with men expressing feelings. This is explored through Rory’s characterization and Baba’s response to Ma’s hospitalization. Anna admits to being surprised and not knowing what to do when she sees her father cry (p. 265). Ma’s hospitalisation is understandably a stressful event for the family, but it triggers a series of supportive dialogues and changes from the main characters, mainly Baba; who sells his restaurant to spend more time with his family during the crisis. The book also explores how mental health affects work. When Rory takes days off work for his mental health, staff mock his decisions. Anna finds herself defending Rory’s ‘mental health days’ off work, stating, “Mental health days are important (p.186).” Anna remembers school events where mental health days are discussed, naming companies like Beyondblue and Headspace. Chin has used this scene to provide readers with some mental health resources.