Johnny Delivers by Wayne Ng
Reviewed by Laura Patterson
Being the firstborn child is never easy; there is a level of expectation which gets thrown upon us, and we tend to take our role in the family very seriously. While this role can be stressful all on its own, imagine being the firstborn child from an immigrant family trying to honour and protect your household while, at the same time, trying to fit into a culture which is very different from your own. Johnny Delivers by Wayne Ng gives an exciting, emotional, and sometimes hilarious account of what it means to grow up “different” while trying to fit in, make good choices and hold a family together.
“This coming-of-age story really has it all – a hero, a villain, a sidekick, and a moral battle to be fought.”
Johnny Wong is just like every other eighteen-year-old kid with big dreams and a burning desire to get away from home but, unlike other kids his age, he has big responsibilities. Being the firstborn son of a Chinese immigrant family in the 1970s Toronto means working hard and helping with the family business. While he delivers Chinese food, he dreams of all the things he could become, but also of all the reasons why he can never leave his chaotic family. When Johnny’s mother gets herself into trouble, Johnny takes it upon himself to fix the problem before his family loses all they have worked hard for. With the help of his stoner friend Barry and the spirit of Bruce Lee by his side, Johnny hatches a plan to earn extra money to get his family out of trouble. As Johnny dives into a world of crime, he learns a lot about himself and unearths family secrets that had been hidden for decades. With time running out and major decisions to be made, Johnny realizes that people are not always what they seem and that our true heroes are usually right under our noses.
One of my favourite characters in this story was Bruce Lee, who plays a recurring role as Johnny’s imaginary friend. This was a genius move by Ng because Bruce Lee, a name we all know, was a Chinese man who was able to leave home, become famous, and be accepted worldwide, making Lee the perfect role model for a young Chinese boy. Lee’s energy, wisdom, and humour were perfectly placed throughout the story to guide Johnny through the ups and downs of adolescence. As Johnny matures throughout the story, Bruce’s role changes and Johnny discovers that Bruce is just a regular guy with his own set of problems. This realization allows Johnny to see that all heroes are flawed, regardless of how perfect they may appear.
While all the characters in Johnny Delivers were amazing, it was the history lesson I received while reading this story that has truly affected me. I knew very little about 1970s Toronto and the influx of Chinese immigrants during that time. The racism, discrimination, and exclusion the Chinese lived through is heartbreaking but learning of how they held their culture together is incredibly powerful. I can picture the Aunties and Uncles spending afternoons at the associations, playing mahjong, and telling stories to keep their culture alive. Johnny Delivers gives us a glimpse into what the immigrant experience was like in Canada during that time in our history.
Every page of Johnny Delivers was full of excitement. This coming-of-age story really has it all – a hero, a villain, a sidekick, and a moral battle to be fought. I was often on the edge of my seat while reading because poor Johnny was always trying to do the right thing, but life kept throwing him curveballs. With memorable characters, an intense plot, and a history lesson all rolled into one, Johnny Delivers is a must-read and a story you will not soon forget.
About the Author
Wayne Ng was born in downtown Toronto to Chinese immigrants who fed him a steady diet of bitter melons and kung fu movies. Ng works as a school social worker in Ottawa but lives to write, travel, eat and play, preferably all at the same time. He is an award-winning author and traveller who continues to push his boundaries from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Author of The Family Code, Letters From Johnny, and Finding The Way: A Novel of Lao Tzu. Connect with him at waynengwrites.com
Book Details
Publisher : Guernica Editions (Oct. 31 2024)
Language : English
Paperback : 200 pages
ISBN-10 : 1771838906
ISBN-13 : 978-1771838900