About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels like an outsider after a move or struggles to bridge the gap between their home culture and a new school environment. Elaine Chow has just moved from San Francisco to a small town in Iowa, where she feels like the only one who is different. This gentle chapter book follows Elaine as she navigates the loneliness of being the new kid and finds her footing through an unexpected friendship and a shared science project involving frogs. It is an ideal choice for elementary students aged 7 to 10 who are learning how to balance their family heritage with the desire to fit in. Parents will appreciate the story's emphasis on finding common ground through curiosity and the way it validates the quiet bravery required to make a first friend in a strange new place.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book addresses cultural isolation and the feeling of being 'othered' in a direct but gentle way. Elaine experiences microaggressions related to her cultural background, such as when classmates make assumptions about her family's traditions. The book also depicts her feeling excluded from social activities because of her differences. The approach is secular and realistic. The resolution is hopeful, focusing on individual connection rather than a total systemic change in the town.
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