Book review: 'Danny Chung Sums it Up'

Danny Chung lives with is parents in England. He has a best friend and he loves drawing comics in his spare time aaaand also when he should be doing his homework. But his entire world is turned upside down when his Chinese grandmother comes to live with him in, Danny Chung Sums It Up.

Image from Amazon

Nai Nai, Danny's grandmother, is clearly obsessed with him. But the feeings aren't mutual. Danny is upset that he has to share his room with her and that his parents have assigned him to watch over her. He only knows a few words in her language, so communicating is problematic.

But as Danny and his grandmother explore the city together, Danny slowly grows to love and respect his her, even to the point of going to lengths to help her enjoy her new life. It's too bad that some of his help involves disobeying his parents.

As I read Danny Chung, I kept wondering why he never opened up to his parents and explained to them things, like how much Nai Nai enjoyed Bingo and how bowling had really turned out. It's clear that Danny's parents have a strong family identity and want the best for both their son and mother; also, they never really give Danny cause to mistrust them. So why is Danny so closed off?

The illustrations in this book are quite eye-catching and can be very fun for young readers. They go along with both the storyline and Danny's character.

While this book teaches the value of family, it also showcases the Chinese culture, something that is very interesting to read about. None of the characters are perfect and each seems to be struggling with something. Fortunately, Danny's family grows closer together and appreciates each other more by the close of this book.

Danny Chung Sums It Up is a clean book with no profanity and zero romance.

Book Breakdown:

234 pages

Geared toward ages: 10 and older

Educational factor: very low

Moral content: While Danny doesn't totally respect his parents, he grows to understand the value of family and being honest