The Counterfeit Family Tree of Vee Crawford-Wong

This “first-rate,” hysterically funny debut novel “that belongs on every multicultural reading list” ( Kirkus Reviews ) is one of Kirkus ’s Best Books of 2013. When Vee Crawford-Wong’s history teacher assigns an essay on his family history, Vee knows he’s in trouble. His parents—Chinese-born dad and Texas-bred Mom—are mysteriously and stubbornly close-lipped about his heritage. So, Vee makes up an essay about the grandfather he never knew. The deception begins to spiral out of control when Vee and his best friend, Madison, forge a letter from his relatives in China, asking his father to bring Vee for a visit. Astonishingly, Vee’s father agrees. But halfway around the world is a long way to go to find what Vee has been searching for the whole time—who he really is. A hysterically funny debut novel about discovering where you come from?even if you have to lie to get there. When Vee Crawford-Wong?s history teacher assigns an essay on his family history, Vee knows he?s in trouble. His parents?Chinese-born dad and Texas-bred Mom?are mysteriously and stubbornly close-lipped about his ancestors. So, he makes it all up and turns in the assignment. And then everything falls apart. After a fistfight, getting cut from the basketball team, offending his best friend, and watching his grades plummet, one thing becomes abundantly clear to Vee: No one understands him! If only he knew where he came from? So Vee does what anyone in his situation would do: He forges a letter from his grandparents in China, asking his father to bring their grandson to visit. Astonishingly, Vee?s father agrees. But in the land of his ancestors, Vee learns that the answers he seeks are closer to home then he could have ever imagined Vee's history assignment is to create a family tree, but he doesn't know anything about his family beyond his parents' generation.