Heiress Apparently (Daughters of the Dynasty)

by Diana Ma

Overview

The epic first novel in a sweeping series following the romantic lives and intrigues of the fictionalized descendants of a Chinese empress—now in paperback!

Behind every great family lies a great secret.

There’s one rule in Gemma Huang’s family: Never, under any circumstances, set foot in Beijing. But when Gemma, an aspiring actress, lands her first break—a lead role in an update of M. Butterfly, which just so happens to be filming in the Chinese capital—Gemma heads to LAX without looking back. It’s an amazing opportunity for her burgeoning career, and she’ll get to work with her idol. Of course, there’s also the chance of discovering just exactly why she’s been forbidden from entering the city in the first place. When Gemma arrives in Beijing, she’s instantly mobbed by paparazzi at the airport. She quickly realizes she may as well be the twin of Alyssa Chua, one of the most notorious young socialites in Beijing. Thus kicks off a season of revelations and romance in which Gemma uncovers a legacy her parents have spent their lives protecting her from—one her mother would conceal at any cost.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419749971
Publisher:	Amulet Paperbacks
Publication date:	11/09/2021
Series:	Daughters of the Dynasty
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	467,285
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Diana Ma is a Chinese-American author who holds a BA in creative writing from the University of Washington and an MA in English with a creative writing focus from the University of Illinois, Chicago. She lives in a suburb of Seattle.

Editorial Reviews

"More than a cute rom-com, this novel highlights LGBTQ+ rights, contemporary attitudes held by Chinese citizens, Chinese history, Hollywood’s ethnic prejudices, and pride in culture and family. . . this is a fun start to a promising series."

Booklist

"Reminiscent of Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. Ma successfully creates vivid settings in Los Angeles and China as she uncovers important issues facing Asian Americans, including family expectations, identity, sacrifice, and honor."—School Library Journal

"More than a cute rom-com, this novel highlights LGBTQ+ rights, contemporary attitudes held by Chinese citizens, Chinese history, Hollywood’s ethnic prejudices, and pride in culture and family. . . this is a fun start to a promising series."—Booklist

From the Publisher

08/01/2020

Gr 9 Up—Gemma Huang, a Chinese-American teen from Illinois, is taking a gap year after high school to pursue her dream of acting. Though she has been accepted to UCLA, she trades her academic studies for grueling auditions while living in Los Angeles with other aspiring actresses. When she lands a major role in a new movie adaptation of M. Butterfly, Gemma is thrilled, until she learns that the filming will take place in Beijing. Defying her parents' lifelong ban on traveling to China, Gemma accepts the role and flies across the world. As she enters the luxurious circle of movie stars, Gemma encounters another unexpected jolt: meeting unknown relatives from her mother's family. The secrets her parents had hidden from her all of her life start to unravel, and Gemma is forced to confront her family's roots while struggling to remain loyal to her parents. This page-turning novel's lighthearted tone, mixed with a thorough exploration of serious topics and romantic relationships, is reminiscent of Jenny Han's To All The Boys I've Loved Before. Ma successfully creates vivid settings in Los Angeles and China as she uncovers important issues facing Asian Americans, including family expectations, identity, sacrifice, and honor. Although some of the plot twists may seem far-fetched, they work within the confines of the playful and humorous vibe of the narrative. VERDICT A worthy addition to all libraries, especially those seeking nuanced books with Asian American protagonists.—Karin Greenberg, Manhasset H.S., NY

School Library Journal

2020-10-12
Eighteen-year-old Gemma Huang lands her first major acting role—and in a film co-directed by her idol, veteran actress Eilene Deng, no less.

She hops on the plane to Beijing for filming with only a twinge of guilt for breaking her parents’ cardinal rule: never go to China, and especially not to Beijing. Gemma’s always wondered what’s kept her parents away from their homeland, but she only begins to understand the extent of their secrets when she’s nearly mobbed at the airport. Turns out Gemma looks identical to Alyssa Chua, a Chinese socialite and fashion influencer—and the cousin she never knew she had. According to Alyssa, Gemma’s mother was banished from their affluent family years ago after stealing a priceless Tang dynasty painting. This revelation stuns Gemma, who, in addition to family drama, also has to contend with a film script full of tired stereotypes and a White co-director skeptical of her talent. Light historical context around the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Square protests lends weight and realism to the plot, as does commentary about Asian American representation in Hollywood, mainly presented through Gemma’s conversations with Eilene and her struggles to demand a more nuanced treatment of her film character. Readers will also enjoy Gemma's will-they, won’t-they flirtation with handsome Eric Liu, whose family has had a decadeslong feud with the Chuas.

Soap-opera–worthy twists are grounded by ties to significant events in contemporary Chinese history in this meaningful debut. (author's note) (Fiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews