I did always wonder what the COVID-19 pandemic would have been like from the very beginning, even when no one yet knew what it was in Wuhan, China. I only have my experience, watching the progression of the disease through the world before our own world shut down. Morning Sun in Wuhan by Ying Chang Compestine (Clarion Books, 2022), which is written by a native of Wuhan, is a middle-grade novel that shares such a perspective, that of a young girl swept up in the midst of her world’s shut-down.

Mei is a young middle schooler who loves to cook. In the past year since her mother died in an accident, she’s been struggling to find a place, and feeling alone except for the times she is cooking and when she is chatting and playing with her friends on her video gaming server. As the book begins, her father, a respiratory doctor in the local hospital, is even more busy than normal, and she rarely sees him. She focuses on cooking to pass her time. Throughout the book, chapters end with the recipes of the food she cooks, a nice touch that emphasizes the unique culture of Wuhan but also regularizes the daily routines in Mei’s own life.

We know that Mei’s father, at the hospital, is helping with the beginning stages of a major outbreak of the new virus, but Mei just wants to see him more frequently. Throughout the course of just a few days at the end of January 2020, Mei is quickly thrust into a government-imposed lockdown: school is canceled, stores and restaurants are ordered closed, and now her father is unable to get home at all. Not only that, but despite her father’s warnings, Mei is confused, because she is surrounded by people who think this is all an overreaction.

Does this sound familiar? It may, but Mei’s situation is a bit different than ours was in March 2020. Not only does the local government refuse to let people out of the city, but those who have tried to flee are unable to enter any other city or return to Wuhan. Further, no one is allowed to leave the apartment complexes at all, due to the government-appointed armed guards at the gates. When a person in Mei’s apartment building begins coughing, the guards barricade the door so no one can go in and out of the apartment. Ambulance sirens become a common sound. Now, a community leader takes the orders for the entire apartment’s groceries and distributes them to families, despite the fact that only a few basic foods are available each week.

A hopeful and confident tone continues throughout the book, even though Mei’s story sounds scary. In fact, her situation seems even more concerning than it was in the U.S.A. The Chinese government tells everyone that the disease is under control, but it is clear to Mei and the others that the situation is becoming more difficult, due to the increasing restrictions. Because this is just the beginning of the pandemic, there is very little understanding of the virus’s danger, and very few supplies for those quarantined. No one knows how to help the sick, and without masks, people use fruit peels and underpants as masks.

Throughout her story, Mei’s cooking helps her deal with her circumstance, and her fear is dissipated with the nutritious food she shares with her neighbors. Throughout the changing situation, Mei finally comes into her own: she finds her place. As she joins in as an energetic community helper, she and her gaming friends (who live elsewhere in the city) join a food delivery organization and Mei is able to use her cooking skills to provide food for her father at the hospital, for the elderly unable to cook, and even for her own neighbors, including a young girl likewise alone since her mother and father fled town to pick up her brother and are now unable to return.

The book ends after just a few weeks of this pandemic chaos, now that Mei has found a place and the virus is a little more understood. A hopeful epilogue shows the reopened city a year later, and the main characters reunited and at peace. The titular reference to “Morning Sun” refers to the comforting song her mother used to sing to Mei, a song that emphasizes the beauty of the world around her in the Wuhan region. Much as our quarantine at times felt like a community effort to support each other, the people of Wuhan likewise gathered together. Despite the restrictions and her desire to live a normal life as a kid, Mei was forced to face the realities of a difficult life. She came out stronger in the end. Her story provides a unique yet powerful example of such resilience.

I received a digital copy of the book for review consideration.

A well written account, through a teen’s eyes, on the evolution of the pandemic in Wuhan, China. This is a perfect way for children and young teens to learn about the spread of COVID and how communities dealt with it. I loved learning more about Mai’s experiences and how she helped her neighbors get through the pandemic. Bonus points for the recipes in the back; the descriptions of food had my mouth watering (which was a little odd in a book about an infectious disease but it is what it is).

Not going to lie– I love that this book included recipes! I want to try all of them. The game Mei plays, Chop Chop also sounds like a lot of fun. I’ve played a game called Plate Up before which sounds way less sophisticated than how Chop Chop is described to be. Still, I had to laugh when different things happen with Mei and her team members in the game, because it reminded me of things that happened during my own kitchen/cooking game play experience. Haha!

I also really loved the community aspect of the story. I remember reading about the city of Wuhan being shut down during the pandemic, but I didn’t really have a grid for what that was actually like. We get to see the growing fear and uncertainty through Mei’s eyes, but we also get to see the way that she joins other community members to help those in need by delivering food and caring for her neighbors.

MORNING SUN IN WUHAN isn’t a super long book. I think it took me less than two hours to read altogether. The pacing is pretty smooth, and I loved Mei and her friends. It was easy to invest in their stories and hurt along with them and cheer for their victories.

All in all, I think this is a great book for kids who are curious about what the pandemic has been like in other places or are looking for a story about a young chef or gamer. I think readers who enjoyed HONESTLY, ELLIOT by Gillian McDunn will love this one.

This was a very interesting look into the first days of the pandemic in China. It told an important story. I also loved the recipes mixed in. I think young readers will love that this is based on the true story of kids coming together to feed frontline workers.

If you're looking for something different, this may be your book. I was intrigued by the title and blurb for this book. I wanted to know what it was like in Wuhan as the corona virus was first discovered and spread. And I got what I came for, albeit through the eyes of the young protagonist. Her story is interspersed with recipes which gives the book a sort of forced feel; is it a cookbook or a story? It feels a little choppy to me and not quite succeeding entirely on either level. However, the recipes look enticing and the author herself is from Wuhan which gives it some authenticity. And, after all, this is a children's book, not particularly aimed at adults, though adults will be intrigued. I think it succeeds well as a children's book but would love to see a review from a child. It does feel like an honest depiction of Wuhan during COVID and for that, I am so glad that this book exists. People are people no matter where they live and it is important to never forget that.

I have purposely avoided many of the books that have come out lately about the early days of Covid as I knew that that wasn't a part of my life that I wanted to remember but this one was interesting to me as it took place in Wuhan.

I enjoyed the characters in this book a lot, though perhaps the lifestyle of the main character being left alone for weeks may be a bit out of reach for many kids. I liked the look into a world that truly had no idea what was coming, but seeing those who stepped up to help others.

I liked the recipes in the book, but I especially liked that they were interspersed throughout the story, rather than all at the end like I have seen in the past.

I quite enjoyed this book and a look at the start of the pandemic.

Drawing on her experience growing up in Wuhan, Ying Compestine has written a compelling story about the difficulties encountered during the early days of the Corona 19 pandemic. Ms. Compestine grew up during the Cultural Revolution. Her parents were both doctors; her father was considered "Bourgeois" and was put in prison twice. Her 13-year-old protagonist, Mei"s mother, a doctor, has died recently, and her father, the head of the Respiratory Unit at the major hospital spend all of his time at the hospital helping the suffering. He tells Mei that she must not go outside. Mei loves to cook and convinces her aunt to let her help at the food distribution center. She has several friends with whom she plays video games and urges them to join her by taking food to their own complexes. One of the starkest images in the book is seeing the soldiers boarding up buildings where someone is ill with Covid, making it impossible for anyone living in the building to go out unless they have special passes. Mei loves to cook as does Ms. Compestine so recipes are sprinkled through out the pages.

A look into the early days of COVID-19 of Wuhan through the eyes of thirteen year old, Mei. Beautiful story of resilience, family and friendship

This was a great read about the situation at Wuhan in early 2020. It was very interesting to hear about how life changed at the center of the pandemic. The main character was relatable with real emotions. Great middle grade read.

Well crafted language and a rounded characters that grow bring Wuhan at the onset of Covid-19 alive. This is a terrific discussion title for cultural competency and also a highly engaging read.
A pandemic book that didn't cause anxiety attacks in the reader? Yes!!

This review is formatted for Instagram, where it was first posted.

BOOK REVIEW! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to @clarionbooks and @netgalley for lending me a free prerelease copy in exchange for an honest review!

Morning Sun in Wuhan is about a 13 year old named Mei who loves to cook and lives in Wuhan, China. Her life changes dramatically when her father, a respiratory specialist at the nearby hospital, has her quarantine at home. This is a fictionalized account inspired by the real-life stories of people's experiences when the pandemic started, in the city where it started.

The author, @yingchangcompestine, is from Wuhan herself. Although I know little about China, from my perspective, she described her hometown beautifully. There's clearly so much love in the way she talks about how people live there, and as you read the passages about people turning against each other in such a terrifying time, you can feel her heartbreak as well.

Where this book shines the most is in describing the brave things people did during the first outbreak, highlighting the ways people helped those around them. And it is especially wonderful that we read through the eyes of a teenager, who finds ways to help others not because she feels she has much to offer but because she wants to make a difference. Mei will undoubtedly be an inspiration to a lot of young readers as they learn how they can be a part of the best of humanity even when they are afraid of what's happening around them.

This book is also a wonderful celebration of Chinese food culture in Wuhan. From Mei's cooking game to the volunteer kitchen, each dish is described in tantalizing detail and then presented in a recipe at the end of the chapter. In addition to her humanitarian efforts, Mei's determination to expand her skill set makes this book a great read for any young chef.
#morningsuninwuhan #yingchangcompestine #middlegradereads #middlegradebooks #middlegrade #wuhanchina #wuhan #pandemiclife #cookingbook #youngchef #volunteer #wuhancorona #covidbooks #covidbooksforkids #humanitarianwork #bookstagtammer #bookreview #netgalley #kidsbookreview #bookreviews #booksforkids #booksforchildren #middlegradefiction #basedonrealevents #booksfortweens #books #advancedreadercopy #comingnov2022 #chinese

Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the e-ARC to read and review. This one is a 3.5 stars for me! I think this was a wonderful opportunity to look back on the not-so-long-ago-at-all history of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, considering the substantial passage of time that's actually gone by from the perspective of readers in this book's age range. Even though adults can remember like it was yesterday, I think young readers will enjoy this as a bit of historical fiction - which is why this book reminded me a lot of the American Girl historical reads, or the Dear America diary series. It's a slice of life with a relatable character (here, 13-year-old Mei) living through a big global historical moment unfolding (here, a mystery illness) - some of that is going to be live-reacting to the big events, and some of it is normal everyday kid things, like wanting to play video games and eat yummy food. I kept feeling like the audience for this book may be younger than intended, though some of the bigger concepts like grief and family dynamics may be suited for tweens.

I will definitely be ordering this book for my library. This story is something that I think most kids will be interested in not just because of the timeliness, but because it's a perspective that has been overlooked. I've seen a decent amount of Covid-19 books set in the US and while I appreciate the stories, I found this one to be more compelling because it was a window into a new culture, not just a mirror of what we've experienced here.

Mei lives with her father, the director of the respiratory care center in Wuhan, China. She has been grieving her mother since she died a year earlier, her nearest companions are a neighbor who checks on her from time to time, playing an online computer game and cooking. Her father has been pretty busy with his work, which makes Mei's aunt very angry with him. The story begins just as Covid hits the town of Wuhan and follows Mei as she navigates life in her city after the virus emerges. It takes place across a year's time span (From January 2020 to February 2021) and then jumps ahead a year to February 2021 with the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

There are moments in time when events happen that are so clear, vivid recollections of where you were and what was happening around you. Often, we hope for the happy memories, but too often it's the sadder moments that come to mind. I think most people will forever recall the early onset of Covid and what the country was living through at the time. Morning Sun in Wuhan is the authors way of reflecting on events that occurred at the onset of the pandemic in Wuhan, taken from conversations with friends, family and photos and videos made in the city, which were then pieced together to the tell the story of a young girl who provides comfort for her neighbors by preparing meals in a volunteer cooking shelter (which was an actual news story that the author also drew inspiration from). It's a story of community and a testament to all the front-line workers who worked tirelessly to help feed, heal and provide aid during moments of distress. Included within the chapters are recipes for the meals that Mei prepares and an author's note explaining her reasons for writing the book. Overall, this is a very interesting story that accurately depicts the events as they unfolded at the epicenter for Covid and brings the perspective of the individuals present when the virus broke. Hopefully the story will help combat some of the negative perceptions that were being made about Wuhan at the time and will also help develop empathy for what the city and its people had to endure. Written by an author originally from Wuhan this is an especially valuable first-hand account. **A huge thank you to Spark Press for the E-ARC via NetGalley**

In January of 2020, Mei Wong is trying to navigate her life in Wuhan, China, after the recent death of her mother in a traffic accident. Both of her parents were busy doctors, so she also relies on her Aunt, who is the director of Yangtze Middle School, which Mei attends.Mei loves to cook, and plays a video game called Chop Chop, wherein the players have to practice their cooking skills in order to feed soldiers that are protecting society from zombie hordes. She plays this online with friends Ming and Hong. She shared a love of food with her late mother, and the two often went to a restaurant where Chef Ma worked, since her mother had saved his daughter when she was ill. When the news starts to buzz that there is a bad virus circulating, Mei's father gives her a mask and tells her to stay inside as much as possible. He stocks the kitchen with food, but doesn't come home for days. The neighbors in the building have a WeChat group that Mrs. Fong has put together, and are all taking care of each other. Food is a problem, especially after authorities put everyone in lockdown, and only those with volunteer passes can do shopping. Food is sent up in baskets, and the elderly and the very young who have ill adults are struggling with getting meals. Even upstairs neighbor, Juan, who is about Mei's age, subsists on shrimp crackers until she asks for Mei's help. Mei begs her aunt to be able to help out Chef Ma, whose restaurant has been closed but who is now working in the middle school kitche to provide food for hospitcal workers. Both she and Mei's father are reluctant at first, but eventually allow her to help cook. She's not used to the scale or speed of a professional kitchen, but learns a lot, and even helps to coordinate meals in her neighborhood. She still longs for her mother, but is glad that she is able to get out of the apartment and use her skills to help others. When Mei's father collapses at work, there is a fear that he is ill with COVID-19. How will this change Mei's life?
Strengths: In addition to the fantastic middle grade titles Revolution is Not a Dinner Party (2007) and Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier (2014), Compestine has also written a number of cookbooks and food themed picture books. It's not a surprise that there is so much food in this book, and the recipes look so enticing that I was half tempted to try some myself! There have been a few middle grade pandemic titles published, but it was absolutely fascinating to see a perspective from another country, and since Wuhan is Compestine's hometown, the details were great. The inclusion of video game details will make this appeal to readers who are interested in those, although I suspect this is not a real game.
Weaknesses: Mei's mother's death seemed a bit forced, but I understand the need to get the mother out of the picture so that Mei had to take care of herself a bit more. It did seem odd that Mei wasn't shown attending school virtually, but again, the story took a different direction. The book ended rather abruptly, but perhaps the E ARC cut off some of it.
What I really think: This was quite interesting, and will be a great historical document for students who, in a few short years, will not remember much about 2020. The cover is very appealing, and the appearance of a mask on Mei will be evocative for readers today. I would love to see some realistic fiction titles from this author about ordinary children and their daily life in China; books like Baitie's Crossing the Stream or Danticat's Behind the Mountains have proven to be popular in my library, since they offer a window into a life unlike the one that my students are living.

This is a great read for children, and many adults really, to get a new insight into not just a different culture, but a scary time we’ve all lived through. While we all feel differently about the pandemic, getting an early on account (of sorts) brings a new perspective. I think the author did a good job in keeping it a story and not a documentary.

Loved this firsthand tale of the very beginning of the Covid pandemic. Mei is a young girl who loves to cook, and she wants to help others when the city is shut down. Based on real people and events in Wuhan, it offers readers a whole new perspective on getting through the shutdown and how different it might be from their own experiences. Mei is an engaging character who is easy to connect with, especially as she soends her free time playing an interactive internet game with online friends. The recipes she makes sound delicious, and the included recipes and instructions mean that I can try them at home!

This book gave an excellent explanation of what Covid was like in China in 2020. It is good to compare what it was like in the United States vs in China. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to middle grade readers.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early digital copy of this book. This title is set to publish this November.

This is a fantastic contemporary read about a young teenage girl living in Wuhan when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Mei finds solace in cooking and computer games after her mother's death and dealing with her father working long hours at the hospital at the height of the pandemic. I really enjoyed the touch of including recipes throughout that are kid-friendly, this would be a great rec. for kiddos interested in that as well. I will say it took me awhile to get through this just because it was traumatic for myself to read.

This is a very sweet story of a young girl who is facing the realities of the pandemic as it begins in Wuhan. It takes place months before lockdown happened in North America and it shows the intense realities of peoples’ lives and how they were impacted when COVID first emerged.

This is meant for a younger reader and would be excellent in the classroom, especially to provide young readers a look into how another country responded to the virus.

The recipes sound amazing and I plan on cooking several of them in the future! Having food as a main theme in the story was awesome and the recipes make it so you can interact with the characters and story.