Customer Reviews
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 A great story about celebrating our differences, Jul 7, 2023
The Gold-Threaded Dress tells the story of Oy, a little Thai girl who has started at a new school in America. Oy faces many difficulties trying to fit in at school. To begin with, her teacher calls her Olivia, her American name, instead of Oy. In addition, a boy in her class, Frankie, keeps saying that she is Chinese and the many Mexican-American students at the school begin to call her Chinita (Spanish for little Chinese). The situation becomes worse when Liliandra, the most popular girl in class, sees a picture of Oy in a beautiful Thai dress and offers her membership into her exclusive club if she brings the dress to school for her to try on.
This book is appropriate for ages 8 and 9. Children in this age range will be able to relate to the issues the book deals with, such as peer pressure and wanting to fit in. They are also beginning to develop empathy for others, and will show concern for Oy's feelings. I would use this book as a read-aloud in a school setting as part of a discussion about cultural awareness and appreciating differences. I would also recommend this book for pleasure reading.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Good Book, A Rare One About A Thai Girl, Apr 14, 2023
I liked the book but was bothered by some inaccuracies such as misreading the Thai words and letters. Carolyn Marsden should have known what was written in Thai better. It's not too far off, but enough to indicate ignorance of the Thai language, which she tries to share. It's obvious she asked people to write the words and wasn't able to check for accuracy. Khun Mere is the girl's mother, better pronounced as Maa (like a in apple), and Sawadee is never used without Ka for girls or Krop for boys after it, it's very rude to use that word alone. These inaccuracies hurt the book in my eyes and I think better attention to Thailand would have erased the mistakes.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
dress, Dec 31, 2022
Oy is trying to fit in. One day, a picture of her in a special dress is seen by the other girls. She is invited to be in the "it" crowd only if she brings the dress for them to try on. This story is a charming story of a child reconciling her Thai heritage and being an American. It is predictable, but it is unique in that the other children are identified as having immigrant heritage as much as the main character, which seems to have the accuracy of Southern Californian situations. It is a brief glimpse into the Thai American experience. Children will find it easy to read. It offers an American perspective that is not often viewed.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
What a delight., Dec 27, 2022
Marsden's The Gold-Threaded Dress was a pleasant story. It was short, but entertaining. I loved reading about Oy and her family and culture. Since reading this story with my ten year old, I have found an interest in going to Thai grocery stores near where I live. My daughter has shown a great interest in learning as much about Thai culture as well.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Young Immigrants Featured Review, Dec 6, 2022
From Candlewick Press comes this engaging, easy-to-read story of fourth grader Oy, a Thai-American student new to a predominantly Mexican-American school, who struggles to fit in with the popular clique. The understated yet poignant description of the girls tearing apart Oy's precious family heirloom was especially moving. Readers will sympathize with Oy's desire to find a friend and enjoy the glimpses of wry humor, which is especially prized in Thai culture. The book weaves in other lovely details about Thai traditions like dance, cuisine, and cultural gatherings.
Oy's benevolent, wise parents calmly guide her through the dilemma and act as her advocates in the school. This doesn't always happen in immigrant families, especially when a principal's public reprimand is seen as bringing shame on the whole family. My parents, for example, would have hit the roof! However, Oy's unquestioning devotion to her parents is common among pre-adolescent immigrants, and the cool-headedness, or "jai-yen," of her parents is certainly a prized Thai trait. (My fourth-grade son, who loved living in Thailand, devoured this book in one day, even taking it to school in spite of the 'girly' cover).
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Based on 12 reviews.