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Stephanie Chan, Ph.D.c., M.Ed., is a researcher, best-selling author, early childhood educator, and Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst. She published many children’s books and educational materials primarily in the areas of perspective-taking, problem-solving, developing and maintaining friendships, understanding emotions and feelings, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She also published scientific papers and presented at international conferences on various topics.
Stephanie lives in Vancouver, Canada, with her lovely family. She is the clinical director of a non-profit organization PlaySmart Child Development Society.
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Life can sometimes set up roadblocks that you cannot foresee. Bitter Melons by Stephanie Chan follows a young girl who has a hard time coping with the ups and downs of life after her father's untimely passing when she was thirteen years old. Having grown up in a loving home with two highly supportive parents, the young girl lived a sheltered life free of unexpected hurdles but her father had a heart attack just after she entered her teenage years. The girl grows up somewhat distant from her mother, who holds on to the belief that her daughter is the same princess she was when she was young, even after she had become an adult and was in control of her own life. Eventually, the girl realizes what she had lost and sets out to remedy the relationships with her loved ones.
Bitter Melons is a story that touches on the trauma and past baggage that sometimes prevents people from understanding their opportunities. With some striking illustrations, Stephanie Chan tells an emotional tale that teaches a valuable lesson about how people can miss out on a big part of their lives if they get stuck on the things they have lost. The young girl's mother always tried her best, but due to the girl's naivety, she never appreciated what her mother had sacrificed for her. It was only when she was older that she appreciated her mother's love for her and how she helped her to overcome adversity. A beautiful story for parents and children alike.
