Later, Gator by Laurence Yep

Later, Gator      Laurence Yep

Later, Gator is the first book that I've ever read by Laurence Yep, but it definitely won't be the last.  I really enjoyed this book and laughed very hard several times while reading it.  Teddy is definitely a prankster, and although I couldn't relate personally to his plight since I myself am the youngest of two siblings, I relate to his point as seen through experiences of my own three children.  Still, even more than the plight of Teddy, reading this book helped me better understand the differences between the Chinese and the American cultures, which were referenced to several times in the book.

When reading this book and thinking about the allusions to the differences between the Chinese and American cultures, I remembered a short story I used to teach when I taught high school called "The Good Deed" by Pearl Buck.  This story discusses the Chinese belief that all women have the right to be married and should not be forced to find a husband on their own.  I remember how most of my students were astonished by this idea.  Usually, arranged marriages are viewed as a very bad thing, but when explained by Old Mrs. Pan in this story, several of my students--although not agreeing with the idea--were able to see the issue in a different light. 

This is very much like what I learned by reading Later, Gator.  At first, I didn't understand why on Earth these parents wouldn't show more affection to their children, but as the customs are better explained, I could understand this idea much better.  And, as a result, like my students who read The Good Deed, I, too, was able to see an issue with which I did not agree in a difference light.  I think this is a very important aspect of all literature, not just children's literature.  By teaching students that just because they may not agree with someone else about a given subject, they still can respect others' rights and opinions, and, therefore, build a better, more accepting society for everyone.

Before reading this book, I researched and reviewed several other books by Yep.  He is a writer of several Chinese-American stories and through his stories, children can have a better understanding of a different culture, a culture that they may not otherwise be exposed to if not for Yep's books.  Yep does a very good job in creating realistic characters and settings which very much bring the Chinese culture to life and help readers better appreciate a culture which is, in most aspects, very different than our own American culture.