Susan Tan

Deeply funny, but with great heart -- I love that Ember is pretty consistently confident about his ability to dominate everyone around him, but also suffers setbacks, makes friends, figures out how to play to those friends' strengths, and has a loving family in the background. The Chins clearly know how to pick an excellent pet.

Cilla Lee-Jenkins is NOT excited about the arrival of her new little sister, a.k.a. The Blob. She decides that she must become a bestselling author before the baby is born, to make sure no one forgets about her, and she writes what she knows: her own life story, including her first day of preschool, eating in Chinatown with her paternal grandparents, a fight with her best friend Colleen, how she made up a story about new student Ben, creative Halloween costumes, difficulty learning to read, show more and more. Cilla's book concludes with her little sister Gwendolyn's arrival and Cilla's own surprise birthday party - planned by both her grandmothers.

There is so much to love about this book. Cilla's voice is truly laugh-out-loud hilarious (her mom says she has been literal since the day she was born - Labor Day). She has a vivid imaginative world, shared with Colleen and Ben, a close relationship with her parents, and close - but separate - relationships with both sets of grandparents, her white ones and her Chinese-American ones. Fortunately, Cilla is planning a sequel!

Back matter includes a glossary, acknowledgments, writing tips, Q&A with Susan Tan, and an excerpt from the next Cilla book.

See also: Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look; Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Cilla on closets: "Why build a small room just for your clothes?" (12)

However, there is one drawback to preschool - other kids. (47)

...it turns out that when there's a best friend involved, trouble with words isn't all that big a deal. Because your best friend knows that there's more to you than the words you accidentally say, or don't say. And you know the same thing about her. (93)

Cilla on being asked "What are you?": I wonder why people need to know these things. I wonder why they're always so surprised to know the answers. And I wonder if I'm doing something wrong that makes them need to ask. (105)

Because even though I was with some of the people I love most and know best in the whole world, things didn't feel right....What were we going to talk about, and what if I was different around each of them? (194) show less

I love that this book tackles tough subjects with really excellent characters -- and that there is support waiting to help Mo and her family when they are ready to take it. Her uncle's quiet attention is a real stand-out in this book -- he listens, notices, offers space and music. I appreciate how there really isn't a resolution to her awful Stepdad's awful behavior. He's a terrible human being, who does terrible things, and that does not change or get better. Her mom's devastated depression show more is also just presented as a reality that Mo and Cece have to figure out how to negotiate. Hard times happen. Mo is anxious for good reasons. There's a great message here on endurance and resilience. Love the supernatural aspects of the book and how they are subjective. Love the librarian and her critical mind spotlighting racism. Love the friendship dynamics and blow-up and resolution. Just a lot of really good stuff with characters that make me want to keep reading. show less

Ember is a chihuahua who has been adopted from the animal shelter by the Chin family. He is no ordinary dog though, he has plans to take over the world! His plans for world domination run into some problems when he learns that his neighborhood is already ruled by a very mean squirrel who is named Masher. Through the story Ember must work together with other pets to solve the problems presented by a bully squirrel.