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Review: It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li by Nicole Chen

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , ,
It's Boba Time for Pearl Li by Nicole Chen

It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li
Nicole Chen
Quill Tree Books
Published February 28, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li

This middle grade contemporary follows a big-hearted Taiwanese American girl as she aims to gain her family’s acceptance and save her favorite boba tea shop by selling her handcrafted amigurumi dolls.

Pearl Li is ready to spend the summer before seventh grade hanging out with her two best friends, crocheting the cutest amigurumi dolls, and visiting her favorite tea shop, Boba Time. Its quirky owner, Auntie Cha, is the only adult Pearl can confide in about her art—if only her tech-obsessed family would understand her love of crafts!

After Pearl learns of Boba Time’s financial troubles, she decides to sell her amigurumi to raise money for the shop. But as she navigates the ups and downs of running a business, Pearl realizes that monetizing her passion is more complicated than she could’ve ever imagined. Can Pearl save Boba Time before it’s too late?

My Review

I feel like KidLit just keeps surprising me in delivering stories in which kids get to celebrate really cool hobbies. I don’t think I’ve ever read a middle grade book about someone who crochets before, so I totally enjoyed that aspect of Pearl’s story. One thing I loved were the descriptions of her creativity with her amigurumi designs and the way her friends and customers reacted to her creations.

Another thing that I treasure about this particular story is that it celebrated both girls who code (through Pearl’s older sister, Jade) and girls who craft, and found a way to connect the value of both in terms of both being creative pursuits. I liked that Pearl learns to view her art in a new way and to view her sister and mom’s coding in a new way, too.

The relationship between Pearl and Auntie Cha was also super special. I loved that it models mentorship and having great adults in your life outside the family, too. The story also keeps Pearl at its center as the active character making choices and learning without it becoming her mentor solving her problems. I thought the balance there was perfect.

I also enjoyed learning a bit about the art of amigurumi and about Boba tea as well. All in all, IT’S BOBA TIME FOR PEARL LI was a delight to read. I think readers who enjoy books like MORNING SUN IN WUHAN by Ying Chang Compestine will enjoy the celebrations of creativity and community in this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Pearl and her family are Taiwanese American.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of IT’S BOBA TIME FOR PEARL LI in exchange for my honest review.

Review: More Awesome Asian Americans by Phil Amara and Oliver Chin

Biography, Book Review and Content, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

More Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Citizens who Energized America
Phil Amara and Oliver Chin
Illustrated by Juan Calle
Immedium
Published December 20, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About More Awesome Asian Americans

The sequel to the popular Awesome Asian Americans! Learn about 20 more trailblazers who have enriched the USA across a spectrum of occupations and interests.

These profiles of talented individuals are dynamically illustrated in full color. These diverse men and women will inspire the next generation to pursue their passions and make a difference.

Immigrants continue to enrich America. Learn key chapters of U.S. history not covered in school, and the amazing deeds of these pioneers. Challenged by discrimination and bias, these stars pushed forward to impact society and motivated others to do likewise.

Kids and adults will enjoy discovering a rainbow of role models. Teachers and librarians will appreciate this useful, groundbreaking anthology. Artist Juan Calle’s 60 spectacular color illustrations invigorate these relevant and meaningful portraits.

My Review

I love the idea of this book. Some of the people featured were familiar faces and stories to me. For example, I grew up in a Star Trek family, so I was familiar with George Takei’s role in the show and some information about his life. Others were new to me. I particularly enjoyed reading about Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbot, who was an ethnobotanist who studied and categorized different types of seaweed. I also loved reading about Mira Nair, a filmmaker who made several movies that I’ve added to my watch list.

It seems like the people profiled in the book were all very well chosen. They represent diverse contributions, from athletes to scientists, humanitarians to politicians, artists to business leaders. The authors’ origins represent many different places in Asia, too.

The only thing I wished was done differently is the structure of the biographies themselves. I loved the content– they had a lot of great information in them. At times they were a little bit hard to follow, though. I think breaking them up into smaller chunks and using subheadings for things like early life, education, etc. would have helped me read more easily. A few biographies included facts about the industries the profiled person worked in or about things happening at that time historically. I think separating those things into a sidebar would have helped distinguish them from the biographical information.

On the whole, though, I think this is a great idea and the list of people represented are very well chosen. The illustrations are bright and engaging as well. If you liked THE PIRATE QUEENS by Leigh Lewis or GIRL WARRIORS by Rachel Sarah, you might want to check out this book for more great biographies.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Representation
The book presents the biographies of 20 Asian Americans from all different parts of Asia. It includes the biography of George Takei, who is gay. Also included is the biography of wheelchair racer Raymond Martin.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Mentions of marriages and divorces.

Spiritual Content
Some brief mentions of faith.

Violent Content
Mentions of war or invasion. Brief mentions of bombs killing or harming civilians.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of MORE AWESOME ASIAN AMERICANS in exchange for my honest review.


Review: Chirp by Kate Messner

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Clean Fiction, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , ,

Chirp
Kate Messner
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published February 4, 2020

Amazon |Book Depository | Goodreads

About Chirp

From acclaimed author Kate Messner comes the powerful story of a young girl with the courage to make her voice heard, set against the backdrop of a summertime mystery.

When Mia moves to Vermont the summer after seventh grade, she’s recovering from the broken arm she got falling off a balance beam. And packed away in the moving boxes under her clothes and gymnastics trophies is a secret she’d rather forget.

Mia’s change in scenery brings day camp, new friends, and time with her beloved grandmother. But Gram is convinced someone is trying to destroy her cricket farm. Is it sabotage or is Gram’s thinking impaired from the stroke she suffered months ago? Mia and her friends set out to investigate, but can they uncover the truth in time to save Gram’s farm? And will that discovery empower Mia to confront the secret she’s been hiding–and find the courage she never knew she had?

In a compelling story rich with friendship, science, and summer fun, a girl finds her voice while navigating the joys and challenges of growing up.

My Review

I got kind of nervous as I started to read this book. The way it talked about Mia having a secret, I assumed it had something to do with an adult having inappropriate contact with her, and I wasn’t sure how explicit or intense that would be. Since I’m pretty sensitive to the topic, I felt a little tense until I got to that part of the story. It didn’t include anything nightmarishly explicit. I don’t say that to downplay what Mia experienced at all, simply that as a reader, it didn’t end up being something I couldn’t handle reading.

Mia’s grandmother made me smile so much. She’s strong and brave and pretty committed to her course. I liked the relationship she has with Mia, and the way each encouraged the other. Mia’s friendships with Clover and Anna were great, too. I loved how they bonded over their shared passion for their Launch Camp projects and then over other experiences.

Solidarity Between Women

At one point in the book, after Mia has heard from several of the women in her life about experiences where they were harrassed or treated inappropriately by men, she wonders if this is something that all women experience. I felt like it’s such a reasonable question, and such a hard part about growing up, right? Because too many women do have those stories. I know I do.

While it’s heartbreaking watching someone realize something troubling about the world, I loved the way it becomes part of Mia’s healing, too. She’s not alone. She’s not wrong for feeling the way she did, even though at the time, she felt completely alone and ashamed for feeling uncomfortable.

I also loved that, even though I thought the topic was really well-addressed, the story wasn’t only about these things. Mia is never defined by that experience. She’s always many things– a girl with lots of interests and talents and relationships.

Plus I have to talk about the cricket farm. I know I say this every time I read a book with a protagonist with an unusual interest or talent, but I love that the author brought such a different family business to the story– not only a cricket farm, but crickets for a food source! I thought that was really fun.

Readers who are looking for a balance of light and heavy topics will enjoy CHIRP a lot, especially fans of BE LIGHT LIKE A BIRD by Monika Schröder or FLORA & ULYSSES by Kate DiCamillo.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Representation
Mia’s friend Anna is Indian. A couple other minor characters are also Asian.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Mia recalls situations in which a man made her uncomfortable and left her feeling icky.

Spiritual Content
A brief mention that Mia’s family has gone to church on Sunday.

Violent Content
A man verbally threatens a girl.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog. I received a free copy of CHIRP in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Cleo Edison Oliver, Playground Millionaire by Sundee T Frazier

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , ,

Cleo Edison Oliver, Playground Millionaire
Sundee T. Frazier
Scholastic, Inc.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About Cleo Edison Oliver, Playground Millionaire

Cleo wants to be just like her role model, Miss Fortune A. Davies, a famous businesswoman with a nightly TV show motivating young entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams. Cleo has lots of ideas to make money, from selling avocados off the tree in the back yard to her latest and greatest idea ever: a nearly painless tooth-pulling service. As Cleo’s business succeeds, she gets even more excited. Unfortunately, not everyone in her life is as thrilled as she is. Her best friend begins to withdraw, and Cleo has some owning up to do with members of her family after a few poor choices catch up with her. Cleo struggles to find the balance that even many adults find elusive: to balance passions with sensitivity to the important people in our lives. And her struggle happens in a lovable, believable way.

My Review

Though this is a pretty lighthearted story, it does deal with some heart issues. Cleo wrestles with some deep rejection stemming from her mother’s choice to place her for adoption as a baby. Cleo’s best friend struggles to accept her father’s new life with a new girlfriend, though her parents are only recently divorced. Cleo herself is an upbeat, passionate girl whose whole heart is in everything she does. It’s true that sometimes her passions carry her away, and her parents have to reel her in a bit. They do so with admirable wisdom, love and firmness. This is a great book for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit or who wrestles with issues surrounding adoption and foster family membership.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Cleo is Black and adopted.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Brief mention of church.

Violent Content
Cleo punches a girl after she says some really hurtful things. She’s disciplined for her behavior and has to apologize. She uses a nerf gun as part of a solution to remove loose teeth from consenting kids.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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