Wong gives a riveting account of an early-1970s childhood that was molded by the cultures of her separated immigrant parents ... The subjects of Why Didn’t You Tell Me? are weighty, ranging from Wong’s (justifiable) rage at her mother’s narcissism to her crushing grief after the loss of a sibling. But she tells her story in vivid conversational prose that will make readers feel they’re listening to a master storyteller on a long car trip.
... the author traces the often maddening story of her quest for truth in a warmly immediate narrative voice ... The author’s masterful ability to bring characters to life is a key component of the lively narrative ... Though Wong’s relationship with her mother was somewhere between fraught and disastrous, and though Lupe died without correcting her most serious lie, the author does a commendable job of trying to understand who her mother was ... Snappy writing, unusual empathy, and an unexpectedly satisfying resolution send this memoir to the front of the pack.
... propulsive ... a suspenseful story about race, family, and identity ... Packing in raw emotion, sharp cultural commentary, and plenty of intrigue, this has all the makings of a book that’s destined for the big screen. This hits the mark.
