de Joanna Ho
"A grieving teen fights Asian hate by finding her voice in this complex, timely story." —Kirkus (starred review)
""With a layered, sensitive voice, Ho's weighty novel delves into themes of racism, classism, loss, and healing."" —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Inspired by the recent rise in hate crimes against AAPI, Ho's story of inclusion, diversity, and social action rings true. Maybelline is a multifaceted narrator whose drive to right wrongs and stand up to injustice deserves applause. Ho illuminates both activism and mental health in marginalized communities, showing that even a bright, young achiever can experience depression without anyone knowing."—Booklist
""A powerful, hopeful YA debut. May's journey through personal and familial grief is poignant and questions of power and privilege are explored with nuance that will spark conversation among teen readers."" —School Library Journal
"This sensitive novel does an impressive balancing act, examining mental illness and its stigma among Asian Americans while weaving in themes of racism and grief. The overarching messages—listening with empathy, and seeking help—ring loud and clear." —Horn Book
Joanna Ho, New York Times bestselling author of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, has written an exquisite, heart-rending debut young adult novel that will inspire all to speak truth to power.
Maybelline Chen isn't the Chinese Taiwanese American daughter her mother expects her to be. May prefers hoodies over dresses and wants to become a writer. When asked, her mom can't come up with one specific reason for why she's proud of her only daughter. May's beloved brother, Danny, on the other hand, has just been admitted to Princeton. But Danny secretly struggles with depression, and when he dies by suicide, May's world is shattered.
In the aftermath, racist accusations are hurled against May's parents for putting too much "pressure" on him. May's father tells her to keep her head down. Instead, May challenges these ugly stereotypes through her writing. Yet the consequences of speaking out run much deeper than anyone could foresee. Who gets to tell our stories, and who gets silenced? It's up to May to take back the narrative.
Joanna Ho masterfully explores timely themes of mental health, racism, and classism.
A Bank Street Books Best Children's Book of the Year for ages 14 and older in Family/School/Community and noted for outstanding merit (2023)
""An ornately carved window into the core of shared humanity. Read and re-read. Then read it again."" —Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin
""Powerful and piercing, filled with truth, love, and a heroine who takes back the narrative."" —Abigail Hing Wen, New York Times bestselling author of Loveboat, Taipei
"A held-breath of a novel that finds courage amidst brokenness, and holds a candle to the dark." —Stacey Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl
"Ho confronts racism with care and nuance, capturing the complexities of grief and growth. A poignant call to action." —Randy Ribay, National Book Award finalist for Patron Saints of Nothing
"A grieving teen fights Asian hate by finding her voice in this complex, timely story." —Kirkus (starred review)
""With a layered, sensitive voice, Ho's weighty novel delves into themes of racism, classism, loss, and healing."" —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Inspired by the recent rise in hate crimes against AAPI, Ho's story of inclusion, diversity, and social action rings true. Maybelline is a multifaceted narrator whose drive to right wrongs and stand up to injustice deserves applause. Ho illuminates both activism and mental health in marginalized communities, showing that even a bright, young achiever can experience depression without anyone knowing."—Booklist
""A powerful, hopeful YA debut. May's journey through personal and familial grief is poignant and questions of power and privilege are explored with nuance that will spark conversation among teen readers."" —School Library Journal
"This sensitive novel does an impressive balancing act, examining mental illness and its stigma among Asian Americans while weaving in themes of racism and grief. The overarching messages—listening with empathy, and seeking help—ring loud and clear." —Horn Book
Joanna Ho, New York Times bestselling author of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, has written an exquisite, heart-rending debut young adult novel that will inspire all to speak truth to power.
Maybelline Chen isn't the Chinese Taiwanese American daughter her mother expects her to be. May prefers hoodies over dresses and wants to become a writer. When asked, her mom can't come up with one specific reason for why she's proud of her only daughter. May's beloved brother, Danny, on the other hand, has just been admitted to Princeton. But Danny secretly struggles with depression, and when he dies by suicide, May's world is shattered.
In the aftermath, racist accusations are hurled against May's parents for putting too much "pressure" on him. May's father tells her to keep her head down. Instead, May challenges these ugly stereotypes through her writing. Yet the consequences of speaking out run much deeper than anyone could foresee. Who gets to tell our stories, and who gets silenced? It's up to May to take back the narrative.
Joanna Ho masterfully explores timely themes of mental health, racism, and classism.
A Bank Street Books Best Children's Book of the Year for ages 14 and older in Family/School/Community and noted for outstanding merit (2023)
""An ornately carved window into the core of shared humanity. Read and re-read. Then read it again."" —Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin
""Powerful and piercing, filled with truth, love, and a heroine who takes back the narrative."" —Abigail Hing Wen, New York Times bestselling author of Loveboat, Taipei
"A held-breath of a novel that finds courage amidst brokenness, and holds a candle to the dark." —Stacey Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl
"Ho confronts racism with care and nuance, capturing the complexities of grief and growth. A poignant call to action." —Randy Ribay, National Book Award finalist for Patron Saints of Nothing
Critiques-
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Starred review from May 23, 2022
A grieving Chinese American teen combats the model minority myth and its harm in Ho’s (Eyes That Kiss in the Corners) potent YA debut. Unlike her accomplished older brother Danny, Maybelline Chen, who wants to be a writer, feels as if she falls short of her parents’ expectations. It’s a shock to the entire family when Princeton-bound Danny dies by suicide. Their pain intensifies when local white Silicon Valley mogul Nate McIntyre publicly denounces “tiger moms and dads,” accusing May’s parents of pressuring Danny about academics, and potentially driving him to take his own life. Appalled, May pens a poem in response that’s published in Sequoia Park’s local paper, provoking debate within her community. Surprisingly to May, Chinese American classmate Alvin Lo condemns her for seemingly speaking for their town’s Chinese population at large. When May’s burgeoning notoriety threatens her mother’s job, May and Haitian best friend Tiya Marie Duverne rally their classmates to take back their narratives. With a layered, sensitive voice, May confronts her parents’ silence surrounding Danny’s depression and their complacency around maintaining the status quo. Using complex characterizations and intense dialogue, Ho’s weighty novel delves into themes of racism, classism, loss, and healing. Ages 14–up. Agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary. -
Raechel Wong embodies the character of May Chen, a 16-year-old Chinese-American girl. After losing her smart, successful older brother to suicide, May and her family must endure racist stereotypes that accuse Asians of pushing their children too hard to succeed. Wong chooses not to create a unique voice for each character, but that choice in no way detracts from the effectiveness of her narration. Instead, her strength lies in expressing the emotions of the characters, which range from profound grief to bitter betrayal, from depthless anger to boundless determination. Listeners will be drawn in as Wong's voice shakes with outrage, quivers with despair, stutters with disbelief, and, ultimately, sings with triumph and pride. L.M.G. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
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January 1, 2023
Gr 9 Up-Maybelline Chen's beloved older brother Danny is dead. He went to a party and never returned. No one even knew he was depressed. And then a white, powerful businessman parent takes the mic during a school meeting and accuses Asian families of creating the competitive environment that's caused the recent uptick in student suicides-his racist remarks directly target the Chen family. Maybelline can't stay silent, publishing a scathing response in the local paper. Even as her parents fear backlash, Maybelline-and her closest friends-organize to "Take Back the Narrative." As if recognizing this is Maybelline's journey, Wong reads with consistent, crisp delivery rather than distinctively performing the extensive cast. When Maybelline finally opens Danny's left-behind shoebox, empathic Wong ensures hearts will shatter-perhaps even her own. VERDICT Ho's YA debut-in all formats-offers a timely antidote for anti-Asian racism plaguing too many communities nationwide.
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
