posted on 31 May 2023

The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly Mei by Christina Matula

The author of this unusual and engaging story describes it as ‘my love letter to Hong Kong’ which is where she lived for fourteen years. It is a refreshing change from the many school stories aimed at middle grade readers because it is generally very up-beat and positive. Many years ago, Jacqueline Wilson used to be criticised by some for portraying the effects of various traumas and challenging circumstances in a bid for social realism. Thankfully, attitudes have changed and that means that this genre is now very well represented in children’s books - but often at the expense of lighter subjects. In reality, family life for many children trundles along in a rather even and uneventful way - which is by no means a bad thing and it's good to see that celebrated too.  I know that the transition from primary to senior school or to a new school at any point in education can feel a bit daunting and that the hormonal surprises of the consequent teenage years can feel puzzling and occasionally devastating, but it is also a very exciting time and it's important to have books like this that acknowledge the fact. 

Holly-Mei is a feisty and sometimes outspoken mixed Taiwanese Canadian girl living with her family in Toronto, Canada. Her home life seems to be very happy with her younger sister and loving Ah-ma (maternal grandmother), university academic father who loves wildlife and cooking, and her very ambitious mother who has been busy carving out a successful career in business. We soon learn that Holly- Mei is a good and hard working all-rounder, loves playing field hockey and that both sisters enjoy preparing and eating a range of delicious Taiwanese and other food. Her school life has its ups and downs of course but she is settled there with people that she has known all her life.

When her mother announces an imminent promotion which means a move for the family to Hong Kong for two years, Holly-Mei and her sister are initially furious and uncooperative. With considerable coaxing, (particularly from Ah-ma who is staying behind in Toronto), they soon realise that their new life promises to be a thrilling adventure. They have some family living there, their new apartment is huge and luxurious and their brand- new private very multicultural school is right on the beach with fantastic facilities. 

Making new friends is always fraught with difficulty even though most people seem to be welcoming. There are so many new rules to understand and learn in Hong Kong which seems to be a very competitive environment where new comers are quickly assessed and judged if they are to adequately ‘fit in’. She soon realises the importance of being friend with Gemma, the most popular girl in her grade who is from a highly influential family. This girl is thoroughly spoilt by her parents and seems to have everything that anyone could possibly want. Holly-Mei has problems making sense of all this and really misses the wise advice of Ah-ma who warned her about her new life being about some initial bitterness before sweetness. Luckily, she makes other friends and learns to navigate her way very successfully into the strange new world. 

I felt very encouraged by her resilience, optimism and general charisma. It was also great to read about a group of young people who were enthusiastic and determined to work together on a class project because they were genuinely interested in the subject. I look forward to reading more about Holly-Mei and her friends as they grow and develop in future stories. 

The author is herself a child of immigrant parents and evidently loves introducing her readers to interesting information about the richness and variety of Taiwanese and other cultures:

‘Where heritage is part of the story, not the basis for it. I wanted readers to see mixed-race and Asian kids who are happy and confident in who they are.’

The evocative illustrations by Yao Xiao add to the atmosphere of the story, especially the picture of the happy group of friends celebrating together at the end. 

Strongly recommended.

Karen Argent

June 2023