Praise for Outsider Kids:
★ "Brisk, well-crafted dialogue and attractive, comic-style drawings support the narrative flow, weaving in intercultural perspectives that are at once humorous and relatable, while candidly addressing difficult issues...Tugs at the heartstrings and will spark important, age-appropriate conversations on pertinent, broadly relevant topics." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "Throughout the book, these characters face real challenges and subsequently show real growth. Readers will cheer on the siblings as they band together to overcome every obstacle, proving they can make their American life work. As powerful and triumphant as the first book, this eye-opening read belongs on all shelves." -School Library Journal, starred review
★ “Perseverance and the enduring triumph of the human spirit propel the Lin siblings on their journey to realizing the American dream.” —Horn Book Magazine, starred review
"Full-color comic illustrations effectively aid in telling the story, and Tang exhibits particular skill in portraying the characters' many expressive emotions. Though Feng-Li and her family face serious problems, lighthearted scenes throughout add richness to the story and convey a more complete picture of their unique experience. . . While best read as a sequel, this accessible graphic novel still stands on its own and is an entertaining read on a topic readers may not know much about." -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, recommended
"Another truly superb graphic novel from Betty C. Tang! Fascinating, funny, and, at times, heart-wrenching. I adored this story about a family whose love for each other sees them through all the challenges life throws at them." -Christina Soontornvat, New York Times bestselling author of The Squad and The Tryout
"An incredible, refreshing, heartfelt companion to Parachute Kids that is not afraid to illustrate the hardships of many immigrant families. I could not put this book down!" -Joanna Cacao, New York Times bestselling illustrator of The Squad and The Tryout
Praise for Parachute Kids:
**A National Book Award Longlist Title in the Young People's Literature Category**
ALA APALA Honor Book
ABA Indie Bestsellers List
School Library Journal Best Book
NPR Best Book
Kirkus Reviews Best Book
The Horn Book Best Book
★ "The development of the characters and their relationships is convincing and balanced, and the siblings' respective experiences are relatable for anyone who has tried to fit in somewhere. This empathic story centers a less widely recognized community and thoughtfully presents a distinct facet of immigration. Emotionally moving and beautifully executed." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "At once common and unique, this is a compelling story of immigration and family bonds; highly recommended." — School Library Journal, starred review
★ "Tang's artwork clearly conveys the emotions of each scene, and readers will find this story hard to put down." — Booklist, starred review
★ "Tang weaves themes of family, racial stereotyping, cultural adaptation, sacrifice, peer pressure, sexuality, bullying, and survival into a poignant and triumphant story of perseverance and resilience, presenting a remarkably honest depiction of an Asian American immigrant experience." — The Horn Book, starred review
"Uplifting... Across crisp, boldly colored panels, the creator addresses heavy topics such as bullying, queer identity, and racism. Inspired by her own experience as a 'parachute kid,' defined in an author's note as children brought to live with friends or relatives in foreign countries, Tang balances humor and heart with the difficult realities of what parachute kids may face." — Publishers Weekly
"Tang's debut graphic novel effectively telegraphs the characters' fears and anxieties with focused perspectives and animated panels, underscoring the obstacles immigrants must face... The siblings' emotional journey and ultimate ability to appreciate and honor both Western and Taiwanese cultures with friends and family make an aspirational model for young people trying to make the best of relocating in unforeseen situations." — TheBulletin of the Center for Children's Books, recommended
★ 03/01/2025
Gr 5 Up—This companion to Parachute Kids begins on Halloween 1981 with Ann, the Taiwanese youngest sibling of three, trick-or-treating with her sixth grade friends, who are kind and patient with Ann's developing English-language skills. English text is in black inside white speech balloons; Chinese is in red on a yellow background. The Li siblings' relative peace and stability is broken by the arrival of their auntie and cousin Josephine, who attended a European school in Taiwan and has been accepted to music school in Los Angeles. Ann is excited to see her cousin again and practice music together, but Josephine is horrible to her, and it gets worse when Auntie returns to Taiwan. Readers will commiserate with oldest sister Jessie, who is left to manage everything, including studying for her SATs and working at a restaurant where she's being cheated out of wages due to her illegal status. The other siblings also have their own storylines with middle brother Jason finding a friendship-to-romance with Jessie's best friend's brother, Alex. Meanwhile, Ann misses her parents and keenly feels the fragility of her American life, and her lack of control over it, which is highlighted when Josephine betrays them. Throughout the book, these characters face real challenges and subsequently show real growth. Readers will cheer on the siblings as they band together to overcome every obstacle, proving they can make their American life work. VERDICT As powerful and triumphant as the first book, this eye-opening read belongs on all shelves.—Jenny Arch
★ 2025-02-01
Three siblings continue their immigrant journeys in 1980s California.
In this sequel toParachute Kids (2023), sixth grader Feng-Ling (Ann), older brother Ke-Gāng (Jason), and oldest sister Jia-Xi (Jessie) share their first experiences of Halloween trick-or-treating, a Thanksgiving turkey dinner, and a Christian church service, allowing them to socialize even as they hide their status as undocumented minors whose parents back in Taiwan are still awaiting travel visas. Life gets even more complicated when a visit by two relatives introduces unwelcome dynamics and triggers plot twists and turns that force the siblings to reevaluate their actions, circumstances, and relationships. The central conflict sparking from Ann’s falling-out with their 11-year-old cousin, Ting-Ting (Josephine)—a violin prodigy bound for an elite music school in Los Angeles who also speaks four languages—climaxes in a dangerous situation that the siblings must face as a team. The resourceful trio adapt to their latest challenge and resolve to “make it work.” The closing dedication—“To all kids facing adversity”—boosts the can-do message. The brisk, well-crafted dialogue and attractive, comic-style drawings support the narrative flow, weaving in intercultural perspectives that are at once humorous and relatable while candidly addressing difficult issues, societal controversies, and sensitive interpersonal matters: teenage romance, bullying, racism, gender stereotypes, undocumented immigration, and exploitation of the vulnerable.
Tugs at the heartstrings and will spark important, age-appropriate conversations on pertinent, broadly relevant topics. (author’s note)(Graphic fiction. 9-13)
