New From Here by Kelly Yang is a heartwarming and relatable read, and very timely too, with the pandemic still fresh in our minds.
Kelly Yang, one of our favourite middle grade book authors, has a new book - New From Here - and my girls would like to recommend it 😊
When the coronavirus hits Hong Kong, Knox and his family decide to move to California, where they think they would be safer. But life in America isn't easy as anti-Asian racism flares when the virus spreads to the States and the family also has to struggle with being separated from dad who had to stay behind, their finances and Knox's ADHD diagnosis.
My 11-year-old says, "Knox's story felt familiar and relatable because the pandemic is still fresh in my mind. I felt angry and sad about the racism his family faced and how their family had to be separated because of the pandemic. But the story ultimately has a heartwarming ending."
Like how Front Desk was inspired by Yang's childhood when she immigrated to the US, New From Here was also inspired by the author's experience of moving from Hong Kong to the US with her 3 kids at the start of the pandemic. I haven't read this myself but both my girls said this is as good as Yang's Front Desk series, where she had also tackled racism very age-appropriately for young children. So, I'll take their word for it and place it high up on my TBR list!
I bought this book from Book Depository when it was just published in March as I couldn't find it in local bookshops. Heard from my IG community that it's now available at Kinokuniya! Awesome! 😊
Hope you are all enjoying the long weekend so far! 🤗
Disclaimer: My opinions and reviews here are strictly my and my family’s own.
©Vivian Teo. All content and photos are copyrighted to Vivian Teo unless otherwise specified.
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