Alina Chau

This is truly a “slice of life” story or an“iyashikei (primary aim is to heal the audience through scene depictions of the characters’ daily lives - Anilist).” There are not a lot of plot points, so I would consider this more character-driven. It’s overall very charming! The illustrations are just adorable and lovely. I enjoyed seeing a story set in Indonesia.

After an accident a few years back, Jordan, an avid basketball fan and athlete, has been in a wheelchair. Because of show more this, her role on the team has significantly decreased, and she feels her best sports day are behind her... Until she meets Marshmallow, a cartoonishly cute, white elephant. I love that Jordan is not defined solely by her disability. She loves sports, yummy food, and still has middle-school friend drama. The ending gets cheesy, but I found it fitting nonetheless.

3.5 show less

Jordan uses a wheelchair due to an accident. She's still the captain of her middle school basketball team, but isn't allowed to compete (due to rules her coach and team don't agree with, but don't protest). Her coach suggests she try water polo, and while the team doesn't exactly give her a warm welcome, Jordan works hard and some of her basketball skills transfer well. However, spending so much time at water polo practice means missing out on time with her basketball friends, who get upset show more at her. Fortunately, during a lonely time, Jordan has a new friend - a baby white elephant she found in the park and helped, along with her vet mom, and named Marshmallow. Marshmallow's true nature isn't revealed until the end of the story, and it's connected to the drought Indonesia has been experiencing.

Hand-painted watercolor art finished in Photoshop is appropriate lush, tropical, and graceful. A beautiful story in a unique (to American readers) setting, with a touch of magical realism and a cli-fi theme.

Back matter: Marshmallow's Mini Dictionary (glossary of Indonesian words), main characters' food recommendations, Mr. Al-Samarrai's Fun Facts About Indonesia, visual development paintings

Quotes

"I made a new friend today!!
And it's an elephant!"
"Oh...my! It's a white...elephant." (Jordan and her grandma, 32)

"You...can talk?"
"Actually, I'm not an elephant... I'm a rain cloud." (339) show less

I really can't imagine how this book could be improved. I love the illustrations which are delightfully cheery in the best tradition of children's literature, and authentic to both the culture and the time (I was amused by all the phones taking pictures of the festivities!). Many familiar Chinese customs surrounding the New Year are introduced and a brief explanation of their origin is given without implying that people still believe in the ancient stories: most don't even know them, and show more there were some that were new to me. It's a great way to introduce the Lunar New Year to children of any background. For our Chinese-Canadian family it was perfect. I'm going to have to get a second copy so we don't have to keep loaning it back and forth. show less

I wanted this to be written by someone with lived experience of paraplegia. However, I appreciate the gorgeous artwork, the immersive Indonesian setting, the wonderfully supportive teammates, the focus on sports, and the fantastical relationship between Marshmallow and Jordan. It's a lovely book.