HI guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're celebrating the VERY recent BOOK BIRTHDAY of the latest title from author Kelly Yang out now via Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers! It's a timely title that I was quite surprised to find out was inspired by her family's REAL LIFE struggle to find their way in this crazy, pandemic world...where the virus isn't the only thing we still need to overcome. Ladies and gents, let's get between the pages of today's book of choice...
by
Kelly Yang
9781534488304
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: 03/01/22
About the book...
When the coronavirus hits Hong Kong, ten-year-old Knox Wei-Evans’s mom makes the last-minute decision to move him and his siblings back to California, where they think they will be safe. Suddenly, Knox has two days to prepare for an international move—and for leaving his dad, who has to stay for work.
At his new school in California, Knox struggles with being the new kid. His classmates think that because he’s from Asia, he must have brought over the virus. At home, Mom just got fired and is panicking over the loss of health insurance, and Dad doesn’t even know when he’ll see them again, since the flights have been cancelled. And everyone struggles with Knox’s blurting-things-out problem.
As racism skyrockets during COVID-19, Knox tries to stand up to hate, while finding his place in his new country. Can you belong if you’re feared; can you protect if you’re new? And how do you keep a family together when you’re oceans apart? Sometimes when the world is spinning out of control, the best way to get through it is to embrace our own lovable uniqueness.
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It's funny. Who would have thought that this many years later, we'd still be worried about a little old virus? I mean, it started SO FAR AWAY from where most of you reading this are, and I bet you've all got your own stories about having to quarantine in place, or toilet paper shortages, or deep seated fears that you never knew you even had coming to the surface like a nervous laugh at a funereal. Sorry to get a bit morbidly graphic there, but it's the truth...and the truth isn't always pretty, but it should be kind.
I was shocked to find out that this story was inspired by the author's real life experience of trying to outrun the virus and keep her family safe. I mean, you realize as an adult that things like this happened, and working in what was/is considered an essential field, I got to see a lot of things unfold that I never thought I'd see, nor wish to again...but baring witness, even somewhat fictionally, to the outright hatred they faced, while struggling so hard to simply make it was a tough role. I wanted to reach into the story and set the wrongs to right...or as Knox so eloquently put it, be the echo in their time of need. That's something we all need to learn. No matter our background or heritage, we all matter, and no one deserves to face down bullies on their own. The author makes a great point...love IS the vaccine to hatred. The old "can't we all just get along" line has a ring of truth. If we invite love into our hearts and approach others the way we would want to be approached, the kindness we show and the smiles we share can go a long way in opening doors that were previously closed.
Whether fictional or factual, this is one family you'd definitely want to call you own. They have ups and downs, including a garage sale gone awry and a BIG health scare, but despite it all, or perhaps in spite of it all, they love each other and would go to the ends of the earth to make sure they were together. So open your minds, and your hearts to a story that we need during times that, while considerably brighter than before, are still ever changing, unknown, and littered with prejudices of the past that need to be buried with it. It doesn't do any good to hide it, but learn from it...and you're GOLD.
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About the author...
Kelly Yang is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Front Desk, winner of the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature, Three Keys, Room to Dream, and Parachutes. Visit her at KellyYang.com
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Special thanks to Antonella at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC for review. (THANKS!) For more information about this title, the author, her other works, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so stop by your local brick and mortar or favorite online store today!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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