My Thoughts: 

I enjoyed this insightful look into the life of a Chinese American teen and her relationships with friends and family set in the 1950s. The slow-burn romance between Lily and Kath is believable and sweet. The book realistically explores a teen discovering their own sexuality and independence and the ways that choosing to be true to oneself can bring both joy and hardships. It also makes clear the prejudice and injustices faced by Chinese Americans and LGBTQIA+ communities. Both of these groups still face discrimination today and this book will help teenage readers draw connections between history and modern times so that they can reflect on the progress and inertia experienced by minority groups in America.

Programming Ideas: 

This book would be a great choice for a program exploring identity and how we see ourselves versus how others see us. One programming idea would be to print silhouettes or line drawings of people and have participants describe their true selves on one side and how they think others perceive them on the opposite side. Another option would be to use the same concept but to explore what a teen would like their life to look like versus what is expected of them by their family or community. This could be passive, as a print out, or active with discussions about the topic. 

This book also presents opportunities to talk about social justice, discrimination, and issues currently faced by both the AAPI and LGBTQIA+ communities. Students might also be interested in learning more about traditional and modern Chinese customs, celebrations, and foods. There are multiple avenues in which that learning could be facilitated, through book recommendations, videos, or printed take-home materials.