About This Book
Reach for this book if your child is navigating the social hurdles of being an outsider or feeling like they do not fit in with their peers. Set in 1927, this story follows fifteen-year-old Joan Lee and her family as they move to a small town in West Virginia to open a laundry business. As the only Chinese American family in a prejudiced community, they must navigate isolation and hostility with dignity and grace. This novel beautifully balances the heavy realities of racism with moments of humor and warmth, primarily through the family's relationship with their kind landlord, Miss Lucy. It is an excellent choice for middle schoolers (ages 10-14) to explore themes of resilience, cultural identity, and the courage it takes to bridge differences. Parents will appreciate how it fosters empathy and provides a historical lens on the immigrant experience in America.
