Outsider kids

Gr 5 Up--This companion to Parachute Kids begins on Halloween 1981 with Ann, the Taiwanese youngest sibling of three, trick-or-treating with her sixth grade friends, who are kind and patient with Ann's developing English-language skills. English text is in black inside white speech balloons; Chinese is in red on a yellow background. The Li siblings' relative peace and stability is broken by the arrival of their auntie and cousin Josephine, who attended a European school in Taiwan and has been accepted to music school in Los Angeles. Ann is excited to see her cousin again and practice music together, but Josephine is horrible to her, and it gets worse when Auntie returns to Taiwan. Readers will commiserate with oldest sister Jessie, who is left to manage everything, including studying for her SATs and working at a restaurant where she's being cheated out of wages due to her illegal status. The other siblings also have their own storylines with middle brother Jason finding a friendship-to-romance with Jessie's best friend's brother, Alex. Meanwhile, Ann misses her parents and keenly feels the fragility of her American life, and her lack of control over it, which is highlighted when Josephine betrays them. Throughout the book, these characters face real challenges and subsequently show real growth. Readers will cheer on the siblings as they band together to overcome every obstacle, proving they can make their American life work. VERDICT As powerful and triumphant as the first book, this eye-opening read belongs on all shelves.--Jenny Arch

Tang continues the saga of the Lin family begun in the graphic novel Parachute Kids (rev. 5/23). In 1981, the family left Taiwan in search of a better life, making their home in a Los Angeles suburb. When the parents returned to Taiwan to earn a living, the children -- Feng-Ling (Ann), Ke-Gang (Jason), and Jia-Xi (Jessie) -- were forced to fend for themselves and adapt to American culture. Here the three siblings face challenges including complicated relationships rife with drama and an overshadowing and persistent anxiety due to their undocumented immigration status. Sixth grader Ann auditions for a summer music youth band; high-schooler Jason develops a crush on classmate Alex; and Jessie stresses over getting into Harvard. Meanwhile, their spoiled cousin Ting-Ting (Josephine), a violin virtuosa, arrives from Taiwan and flaunts her cosmopolitan education, stylish fashion, linguistic fluency, and acceptance into the prestigious Music Institute of Los Angeles. However, Josephine must give up her place at M.I.L.A. and return to Taiwan when her parents decide to divorce; she takes out her disappointment on the Lins, creating a very tense situation for her cousins and necessitating a nerve-wracking overnight move. Vibrantly colored panels add occasional comic relief while exploring themes of family, friendship, belonging, queer sexuality, and the sense of loss that reflects true-to-life immigrant experiences. Overall, perseverance and the enduring triumph of the human spirit propel the Lin siblings on their journey to realizing the American dream. Jerry DearMay/June 2025 p.101 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Three siblings continue their immigrant journeys in 1980s California. In this sequel toParachute Kids (2023), sixth grader Feng-Ling (Ann), older brother Ke-Gāng (Jason), and oldest sister Jia-Xi (Jessie) share their first experiences of Halloween trick-or-treating, a Thanksgiving turkey dinner, and a Christian church service, allowing them to socialize even as they hide their status as undocumented minors whose parents back in Taiwan are still awaiting travel visas. Life gets even more complicated when a visit by two relatives introduces unwelcome dynamics and triggers plot twists and turns that force the siblings to reevaluate their actions, circumstances, and relationships. The central conflict sparking from Ann's falling-out with their 11-year-old cousin, Ting-Ting (Josephine)--a violin prodigy bound for an elite music school in Los Angeles who also speaks four languages--climaxes in a dangerous situation that the siblings must face as a team. The resourceful trio adapt to their latest challenge and resolve to "make it work." The closing dedication--"To all kids facing adversity"--boosts the can-do message. The brisk, well-crafted dialogue and attractive, comic-style drawings support the narrative flow, weaving in intercultural perspectives that are at once humorous and relatable while candidly addressing difficult issues, societal controversies, and sensitive interpersonal matters: teenage romance, bullying, racism, gender stereotypes, undocumented immigration, and exploitation of the vulnerable. Tugs at the heartstrings and will spark important, age-appropriate conversations on pertinent, broadly relevant topics. (author's note)(Graphic fiction. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.