Review by Booklist Review
Affecting illustrations and moving writing tell the true story of author Yang's experience with selective mutism that began when she was a young child. As a Hmong refugee, Kalia immigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was six. At home, they comfortably speak their native language; in public, Kalia observes her mom receiving demeaning treatment and impatience from others as she struggles to communicate in English. Kalia turns inward, feeling like she has a rock growing in her throat. She stops speaking at school, which no one notices at first. Confusion and misunderstanding eventually develop among her teachers and classmates. At the time, Kalia's family did not understand why she would not speak at school, and Kalia did not know either. Now, at age 43, in her author's note, Kalia reflects back and poignantly shares insight into her "revolution against [the] world," providing a powerful window into her lived experience. Digital painting using muted colors captures the somber tone of the story. Expressive facial features, use of scale, and sparse details evoke Kalia's feelings of loneliness and despair. A heartfelt story that teaches children about diversity and reflects difficulties with being different, understood, and accepted.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Based on personal history, per an author's note, Yang traces a Hmong-speaking child's experience of selective mutism. For the child narrator, "Recess is the hardest time of day," a period of loneliness in which they turn to the natural world: "I am relieved when I see a feather on the ground." At home, the child engages with family in Hmong, "a song, uninterrupted" that "flows and flows." But "I don't want to be like the many people who speak English"--including an impatient store cashier who "grew bigger and bigger" while "my mother and I grew smaller and smaller." At school, the child's silence goes unnoticed until a substitute teacher recognizes that "the only sound I'm able to make is a shaking cough." Lin's digital illustrations employ scale and perspective to smart effect; background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author's note and Hmong pronunciations conclude. Ages 5--10. (Mar.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Tenderly told in first person, Yang's lyrical autobiographical picture book depicts her childhood struggle with selective mutism. Her descriptions of how selective mutism presents at school are vivid and authentic, as when she relates the distressing experience of being called to speak during attendance: "Trying to get the air out of my mouth feels like I'm pushing my heart up into my throat." Readers learn that her discomfort with speaking stems from alienating experiences witnessing the impatience of native English speakers when her immigrant Hmong mother tries to communicate. In contrast, young Kalia is comfortable speaking Hmong with her family at home, where "everyone speaks normally to everyone else. It is a song, uninterrupted, and it flows and flows." Classmates, portrayed with various skin tones, are shown engaged in conversation or play while Kalia remains alone, immersed in examining natural objects such as a feather or pebble. Lin's earth tones and muted colors reflect Kalia's affinity with the natural world. Nods to Hmong culture are captured through Lin's illustrations of clothing, meals, and artwork adorning the household. The story ends with a hopeful encounter with a potential friend. In the author's note, Yang provides a pronunciation guide and translations and shares her journey to finding her voice through writing. Kristine TechavanichMarch/April 2024 p.118 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Author Yang recounts her experience with selective mutism as a child. Young Kalia's Hmong family moved to the United States as refugees. After a cashier treats her mother, who's still learning English, with disdain, Kalia feels like she has a rock growing in her throat every time she speaks in English ("I don't want to be like the many people who speak English," she thinks). Recess is particularly lonely, but she finds solace in the beauty of the natural world. Yang captures the profound isolation, embarrassment, and exhaustion involved in navigating life as an immigrant in a world that isn't always empathetic. True to the author's experiences, the protagonist's challenges are refreshingly unresolved by the conclusion of the story, despite the book ending on a hopeful note. Hmong words are used in the book, and English translations can be found in the glossary; incorporating them into the narrative would have made for a slightly better flow. Nevertheless, Yang's poetic prose sings in perfect unison with Lin's gorgeously textured illustrations, rendered in earthy tones. The result is a compelling and heartfelt story that's bound to resonate with anyone who's ever struggled to express themselves or be heard. The book is capped with beautiful endpapers that feature repeating symmetrical patterns, reminiscent of those found in traditional Hmong embroidery, each one revealing glimpses of the story inside. A powerful window into the perspective of a young immigrant. (author's note) (Picture book. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
