Kelly Yang tackles tough topics and shows children they can take action and stand up for what’s right. Lina arrives from China after being separated for several years from her parents and younger sister. Things are not as grand as they described and the family is in dire straits with the moratorium on rent ending post-Covid. Her father works for an organic farmer who has promised to help them get a Green card. Her mom and sister run a bath bomb business from their home, but they are hopelessly behind with back rent owed. Lina struggles at school with bullies. Her school deals with censorship when an influential parent dislikes a book being read aloud by her teacher. I highly recommend purchasing this book when it’s published.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of Kelly Yang's newest stand alone novel. I truly loved Finally Seen. Lina's reality, having her family in two countries, and later reconnected, is one several of my own students have experienced, as have some now adults I know. Her feelings of being left behind, her struggles transitioning to a new school (and new country!), and her family's struggle with money are all well handled, and I'm so glad these kids and families have this book. I can't wait for it to make it's debut.

5 stars

I've yet to meet a Kelly Yang book I don't love, and this may be my favorite yet!

Lina, the m.c., has been living in China with her grandmother wondering and wondering when the day will come that she'll get to join her mother, father, and younger sister in Southern California. That day comes right at the start of the novel, and as Lina says a sad goodbye to her grandmother, she sets off on an uncertain but exciting and meaningful adventure: getting reacquainted with her immediate family, understanding why she was left behind, and getting a sense of what her future holds.

As usual, Yang manages to pack in SO much fantastic content while keeping the novel engaging and not didactic. There are wonderful characters including but not limited to Lina's family, a new friend at school, some new enemies at school, some new teachers and authority figures at school, and of course the folks tied to her dad's place of employment. These characters are all so intriguing, even when they play minor roles, and some are just as memorable as Lina (I'm looking at you, Mrs. Ortiz!). Along with the characters come THE ISSUES: concerns about money, challenges relating to immigration, struggles with "appropriate" content, friendship, family bonds, and guilt. The list goes on and on, and it never feels overwhelming or gratuitous. And while all of this is handled exceptionally, as one expects from Yang, for me, the integration of graphic novels, the discussion of book challenges, and the use of books as mirrors and sliding doors is the compound standout here.

I can't wait to recommend this to students and to generally interested parties. Of course, I was expecting something special from this author, but she still managed to exceed expectations with this one. Three cheers for Lina, her experiences, and her creator!