About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is resisting a new environment, feeling frustrated by a learning curve, or struggling to maintain their sense of self in a different culture. It is a vital resource for children navigating the transition of moving to a new country or simply feeling like an outsider in their own classroom. Mei Mei has recently moved from Hong Kong to New York and finds the English language to be an alien, intrusive force. The story beautifully captures her internal tug-of-war: the fear that adopting a new language means losing her connection to her home and her very identity. Through a patient teacher's intervention, Mei Mei discovers that she can hold onto her Chinese heritage while finding a new voice in English. It is a gentle, realistic look at the emotional weight of bilingualism and assimilation for children aged 6 to 9.
