Wong, Janet. 1994. Good luck gold and other poems. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. ISBN: 0-689-50617-1.
Good Luck Gold is a collection of poetry written by Janet Wong. (Wong writes poetry and children books! My favorite is Grump!) There are forty-two poems in the collection. Many poems focus on what it is like to be Asian American�for example, the prejudices and stereotypes that you encounter. Other poems focus on family life.
There are many poems that deal with stereotypes and/or prejudice in Good Luck Gold. "Speak Up" is a poem where a Korean girl is picked on by her classmates and told to do something "Korean" so they can watch. Her classmates think that anything "Korean" would be strange�and thus something interesting to see. The point she makes is that she is American. She was born in America just like they were. Another poem is "Waiting At the Railroad Caf�". In that poem, a little girl and her father experience prejudice�the restaurant is refusing to serve them. "Math" is a poem dealing with the so-called positive stereotype of Asians being good at math.
"Asians are supposed to be good at math."
Mr. Chao can't figure me out.
"Asians are quiet. Asians like numbers."
Me, I like to shout.
"Noise" is yet another poem about classmates that tease. In this poem the girl promises that she won't let the taunts soak in; she promises herself that she won't let them hurt her. "Bombs Bursting In Air" is a poem is about prejudice encountered at a baseball game.
The book also includes poems about family life: parents, grandparents, birthdays, etc. "Home" is one example of a family poem:
This house
of ours, with its
chipped paint, torn screens and leaks
is still the best place I have known--
my home.
Others include "My Bird Day" "Family Style", "Losing Face," "Rich," "Grandmother's Cure", "Funeral," "Stroke," "Remembering When," and "Dad."
The poems are well written. They are authentic. In many poems you sense the struggle between cultures. For example, in "At A Chinese Feast" the persona is at first hesitant to try some of the foods�black grass gelatin, sweet bean soup, tapioca, mango pudding, etc.�but she ends up being "half glad they didn't have my ice cream pie" so she could try new foods.
I loved this collection of poems. I am very glad to own it; I think it would be a wonderful asset to any poetry collection.
Culture Five focuses on Asian American literature for children and young adults. Selected readings were as follows: