Review by Booklist Review
Sophie and Katie are the very best of friends, and every year they work together to make the Chinese booth the best booth at their school's Rainbow Fair. This year, however, Katie is doing the school's first-ever LGBTQ+ booth, and, unfortunately, the rules dictate that each student can do only one booth. This leaves Sophie to create the Chinese booth on her own--that is, until her teacher overhears that Sophie's family is Hui, a Chinese Muslim people, and, and asks the 12-year-old to do a Muslim booth instead. Secretly, Sophie and Katie make a Chinese booth in addition to their fair assignments, inspiring other students to work on multiple booths to celebrate the different parts of their own identities. Although some of the narrative's conflict feels overwrought and other portions skew saccharine, the message of embracing one's identity shines brightly. With gentle themes of activism and identity, this book will appeal to fans of Once upon an Eid, edited by S. K. Ali and Aisha Saeed (2020), and Andrea Wang's The Many Meanings of Meilan (2021).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Seventh grader Sophie and her best friend Katie do almost everything together, including running the Chinese heritage booth at their middle school's Rainbow Fair, an annual cultural event. But the two start drifting apart when Katie, who's recently come out as bisexual, successfully petitions the school to include an LGBTQ+ booth at the annual event and starts spending time with new friends. Soon after, Sophie, who has inadvertently kept her Muslim identity private, is tasked with running the fair's Islamic cultural booth and researching a religion she doesn't practice: "Other than not eating pork, what does it mean that I'm Muslim?" The arrival of Anna, another Muslim student, further complicates things between the friends, potentially leading to a disastrous Rainbow Fair for all. As Anna's excitement for their booth and openness about her beliefs offer Sophie space to explore her identity, emotionally resonant conversations and organic character growth anchor the nuanced narrative. Ma (The Unbeatable Lily Hong) thoughtfully considers attempts at honoring multiple facets of identity as well as navigating feelings that can arise when old friends form new social bonds. The protagonists are Chinese; secondary characters are intersectionally diverse. Ages 8--12. Agent: Christa Heschke and Daniele Hunter, McIntosh and Otis. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--7--Intersectional identities, friendship, keeping secrets, and a big school fair will keep everyone busy in Ma's latest. Seventh grader Sophie is getting ready like everyone else for the Rainbow Fair, a yearly event in her middle school where students organize booths to talk about their identity and heritage. Her best friend Katie has petitioned and received approval for the first LGBTQIA+ booth ever. Sophie has worked the Chinese booth in the past. However, she has kept her Muslim religion a secret, even from her closest friend. After a mishap, she is "outed" to the class as Hui, or Chinese Muslim. Encouraged by her teacher, she agrees to run a Muslim booth alone, as no one else in her school shares her beliefs. Problem is, she hasn't discussed any of that with her parents, who do not actively practice Islam. And now that new girl and devout Muslim Anna has joined school, can Sophie successfully work at both booths, while keeping secrets from her family? This middle grade novel tackles the issue of intersectionality, even if in simple ways and readers will relate to Sophie and Katie. Some of the dialogue seems forced and unnatural, but the overall message is delivered: we all contain multitudes, and stereotypes are hurtful to everyone. This novel will find a reading base who can cheer for the nervous, anxious middle schooler who's still figuring out who she is. VERDICT A solid purchase for libraries seeking more diversity in Asian experiences as well as Muslim representation.--Carol Youssif
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A seventh grader's Chinese and Muslim identities take center stage as she navigates friendship tensions and self-acceptance. Sophie Hu grapples with the meaning of embracing her faith when her family members, who are Hui, follow only minimal Islamic practices: "Other than not eating pork, what does it mean that I'm Muslim?" She struggles when her bisexual best friend, Katie, forms new friendships in the school's LGBTQ+ club. Their bond is further tested during the Rainbow Fair, a major middle school cultural event. Katie's organizing an LGBTQ+ booth, and a teacher unexpectedly tasks Sophie with creating a Muslim one: "The only thing worse than being the school's only Muslim is being the school's inauthentic Muslim." The arrival of Turkish American transfer student Anna Demir, a fellow Muslim, helps Sophie see that there isn't just one way to embody one's faith, sparking a journey of self-discovery. Ultimately, Sophie embraces her layered heritage, opens conversations about her family's history (her parents were born in Taiwan), and helps others celebrate their authentic selves. Ma deftly examines the intersectionality of identity with nuance and authenticity. Sophie's growth--recognizing that her family's approach to Islam doesn't invalidate their faith--adds depth to the narrative. Meanwhile, her evolving friendship with Katie reflects the natural growing pains of middle school relationships. Ma offers a rich, relatable, and inclusive story that's perfect for young readers grappling with their own questions of belonging. Accessible and engaging, this novel shines as an exceptional tale of self-acceptance and understanding.(Fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
