Lovely yet painful coming-of-age novel.

Side note, I wonder if this is where my love of sports fiction stems from?

I can't even remember this story...so it really wasn't very memorable when I read it.

My review: http://geekyreading.blogspot.com/2011/12/review-girl-overboard-by-justina-chen.html

It was a great book overall. The main character's charity work is touching. I just wish there was a little more elaboration on her relationship with her 'back door frined'

Who wouldn’t want to have everything, a huge house, a name that is well known, and billionaires for parents. Syrah Cheng that’s who. It may seem like Syrah has everything, but we all know that line about judging something by it’s cover.

Syrah wants nothing more than to be a pro snowboarder, but as soon as she tears her ACL that dreams goes down the drain. The almost boyfriend she thought she had was only using her, well he was only hoping to use her name. Her parents are never around and her step siblings hate her. Syrah thinks her life can’t possibly get any worse. Then Syrah meets Amanda, who has been diagnosed with leukemia, and she does what the Chengs are known for. She rises to the occasion and arranges a fund-raiser to make a difference. Along the way she discovers herself and the family she never knew she had.

Girl Overboard was a story of self discovery and personal growth. When I first started reading I have to admit that the poor-little-rich-girl routine really REALLY annoyed me, but after Syrah met Amanda and she realizes that things can be much worse, I rejoiced! Finally, I got to see the Syrah that I knew was in there! The girl that fights for the person she wants to be and wins the respect of her family. As well the story itself I also enjoyed the insight into a new culture. Overall, it was a good story. Personally, I didn’t get into the book until about chapter 20, but I still recommend it as a good read.

Perfect for its intended audience. A bit less resolution at the end then I normally like. Very likable protagonist.

it was hard to start; i almost put it down. the writing was really annoying me. there was no flow. verbs were drowning in excess adjectives everywhere. but then, either the author smoothed out or i got engrossed in the story and i finished. a couple of the characters were believable (gratefully, this includes the protagonist), but most were not. the plot itself was a good story about overcoming the obstacles in the route of life, and an encouragement to teens. given the technical difficulties, however, i just don’t see how it will reach to them.

I think this was a good book, not as great as Justina Chen Headley's first book "Nothing But the Truth and a Few White Lies" but still showed the values of being Chinese American. This story chronicles the life of Syrah, the youngest daughter of her billionaire father and his much younger second wife, which already causes family problems between her and her two older siblings, Wayne and Grace. Both following the footsteps of their father in the business world, Syrah feels neglected by those who don't acknowledge her true passion of snowboarding.

Not only does Syrah have family problems, but also has insecurities about her inner feelings for her best friend. The typical teenage drama surely follows this theme such as the jealous girl who tears two best friends apart. The people who are super rich and only like you because of your name and not your personality amongst other cliched ideas.

What made this book worth continuing was the importance of family and how you need to stand up for what you believe in no matter how many times you have been put down in life. Headley did a nice job incorporating the sentimental aspects such as Syrah's mother's struggles in life to get to where she currently is. Her stiff, rigged persona was softened and it brought her closer to her daughter for the first time. Grace's stuck-up and stuffy attitude was also cooled down as we realize her jealousy for Syrah's in-your-face attitude and determination. Luckily not every single character changed at the end then it would have been the ending of a typical soap opera.

Lies, insecurities and alot follow Syrah's life but at the end, it was still something worth reading for the most part.

I thought this book would be a typical young adult book but now I know I shouldn't have judged it by its cover. It turned out to be a great book about an Asian American snowboard girl who didn't belong or feel at all loves by her wealthy, successful family. The story was fleshed out enough that you truly felt for the character. Couldn't stop thinking about her even when I wasn't reading. And I liked the end. Not a stupid happy ending, but a satisfying, real ending.