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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Between Two Names is a coming-of-age story by Aaron Wang. It's 2010 in China. Cheng Ma was preparing for his Gaokao tests when he received a full scholarship to attend the international program at a new school. From the very beginning, Cheng felt like an outsider, lacking the resources and confidence of his classmates. Like his classmates, however, Cheng was also given a new name at this school. He became Mark, and soon developed an affinity for Western rock music, movies, and TV series. His progress in spoken English was slow. But as "Mark," he made new friends after he joined the school's ping-pong club. Soon, he developed feelings for one of his friends named Howard. Meanwhile, his English teacher is deceitful, and Mark is determined to catch her in the act.
At its core, Between Two Names follows a teenager's journey of self-discovery after he unexpectedly finds himself in the midst of two very different cultures. Aaron Wang really puts you in the headspace of the protagonist, and you're privy to all his fears, self-doubt, and insecurities. From the first page onward, I found Mark likable and easy to sympathize with. I think young adults will find him very relatable. Wang also paces the narrative masterfully, letting the characters show different layers to their personalities. It adds depth and makes them feel very realistic. I liked how Mark slowly gained his self-confidence by hanging out with Howard and his friends from the ping-pong group. In my opinion, the difference in social values between Western culture and Eastern/Chinese culture was also beautifully illustrated. All in all, it's a very entertaining book about growing up. Highly recommended.
