Lisa Yee

Besides everything mentioned in other reviews -- deep and complex themes made accessible to middle school children, an engaging protagonist and her family, history of the Chinese emigrants to the USA, source material, *and* a cream-cheese wonton recipe -- the book also includes the author's family history and more information on Chinese-American history, with historical photographs of her own parents and maternal grandparents, of a Chinese railway worker, of a 1940s restaurant kitchen, and show more more. So much to unpack! I can't think of a more deserving Newbery Honor book, ever.

Well, Laurence Yep's Newbery Honor "Dragonwings" is also right up there although it's good in completely different ways, but due to alphabetization, the two books can conveniently sit together on my shelf. show less

Maizy Chen is an LA girl through and through -- but when her grandfather's failing health inspires a cross-country trip to Last Chance, Minnesota, she's not opposed to spending some time with the grandparents she's never really gotten to know. In Last Chance, she hears fascinating family stories and learns to play poker from her grandfather, eats delicious food at the family restaurant, and even makes some new friends. But life's not all rosy: she also experiences instances of racism and show more bullying directed at both her and her family. As her grandfather's health declines, Maizy is left with a mystery to solve...

This novel exhibits strong and engaging writing. I enjoyed the family stories interspersed with the present-day events -- both were equally interesting, which is not always the case with such split narratives! This book also made me super hungry for Chinese food, as there are many delicious descriptions of meals served up at the Golden Palace. The story feels familiar to me, as there are plenty of kids' books with a character transplanted from one place (usually the big city) to another (often a small town) for a summer, but Yee's writing and the timely issues she addresses make the book feel fresh. I also thought that both the struggles she faces and the way she goes about solving the mystery I mentioned above are realistic. I can see how this Newbery Honor book managed to stand out in the eyes of this year's committee. show less

First sentence: The pies were fake, but my grandparents didn't know that. Not at first, anyway. My mother had invited them to watch her work on a Tasty Flaky Pie Crust commercial.

Premise/plot: Maizy Chen and her mom go "home" to Last Chance, Minnesota, to visit her [maternal] grandparents, Opa and Oma. Opa [her grandfather] is in poor health. Though Oma isn't ready to say it out loud, he is dying. They've come to help out, mend fences, etc. This is the first time that Maizy is spending time show more with her grandparents. And she finds herself loving them and their "Lucky" stories. (Lucky is her second-great-grandfather, I believe. Her grandfather's grandfather.) He is the one who started Golden Palace in Last Chance. The restaurant has been in the family ever since.

Maizy Chen's Last Chance is a coming-of-age story focusing on family, friendship, and larger life lessons. For example, she's hearing about discrimination and prejudice in the Lucky stories of the past. AND ahe's learning first hand about discrimination and prejudice as she walks the streets in town. (Well, as she is encountering the townsfolk. Not everyone, of course, but there are a few rude people who are directly or indirectly hateful.) Race plays heavily in this NEWBERY honor book.

My thoughts: I loved so many things about this one. I liked Maizy getting to know--really, truly know--her grandparents. Particularly she bonds with her Opa. I love their scenes together. I love all the family scenes really. Though she doesn't always understand all the complexity--the tension--of her family relationships. She also starts making a few friends. I enjoyed her writing the fortunes for the family restaurant. I loved her interest in researching the paper sons.

There were times, however, I felt it was slightly info-dump-y. I loved so many things about this one. But there were places here and there where I wished it was a little less heavy. (Though the mystery in the middle was a plus.)

Overall, I liked this one. show less

Marley is a school outcast. He's bullied, teased and assaulted on a regular basis. His refuges are AV Club, Star Trek, and his parents' classic movie theater. The author nicely weaves his Star Trek passion with the decisions he makes to be a different person (mainly to attract his crush Emily) and become less of a target of the bullies. SPOILER: I thought it was a clever twist that Marley decides not to participate in track even though he has the talent. I thought, oh, here's the theme, find show more your strength that will transcend your loser status. But his decision is how Marley keeps true to himself. He can be confident with who and where he is instead of "crossing to the dark side" as his friend Ramen might say. show less