08/01/2022
Every year, Mai Hirano and Zach Koyama, along with their respective Japanese American families, spend the summer together at the Koyamas’ vacation home in Mystic, Conn. But unexpected news causes the Koyamas to move suddenly to Tokyo, and a painful betrayal between Zach and Mai sours their friendship. The pair haven’t spoken in two years when the Koyamas return, and Mai is ready to exact revenge on her former best friend. Except Zach isn’t anything like she remembers; he speaks Japanese and dresses “like a K-pop idol,” and, worst of all, acts like their fallout never happened. Confused and hurt, Mai struggles to navigate this seemingly different person, and to decide whether she wants to maintain her distance or explore a new and uncharted dynamic. Chapters titled “Sweet” and “Sour” alternate between good and bad memories, juggling the tweens’ past and present as they forge ahead toward an uncertain future. Centering tumultuous adolescence and its effects on emotional health, Florence (Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai) effectively explores complex relationships between friends and family in this uplifting summer read. Ages 8–12. Agent: Tricia Lawrence, Erin Murphy Literary. (Sept.)
"A sweet taste of youthful summer and a reminder of how extreme friendship fails can be." – Booklist
"An endearing book exploring the ups and downs of friendship." – Kirkus Reviews
"This book gave me Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han vibes but for middle grade. Sweet and Sour is the perfect summer contemporary read." – Maleeha Siddiqui, author of Barakah Beats
"Looking for a sweet summer love story? Look no further than Debbi Michiko Florence's absolutely fabulous Sweet and Sour—it has all the feels of first crushes, long summers, and the joys of being BTS ARMY!" – Wendy Shang, award-winning author of The Great Wall of Lucy Wu and The Secret Battle of Evan Pao.
"Nobody does sweet friendships like Debbi Michiko Florence! Florence's books are the kind I hoard until the day my kids graduate from picture books, then I will bring these gems out and say, 'FINALLY, let me introduce you to the joy that is Debbi Michiko Florence.' Sweet and Sour, like her previous works, is full of joy while also tackling the complicated layers that come with friendship and growing up. I could not have enough of Mai and Zach!" – Jesse Q. Sutanto, National Bestselling author
2022-04-27
Mai Hirano, almost 13, seeks revenge on her ex–best friend.
The Hiranos have left California to spend every summer in Mystic, Connecticut, at the vacation home of the Koyamas: Holly, her mom’s best friend from college; Holly’s husband, Wes; and their son, Zach, Mai’s childhood best friend. But two summers ago, Zach ruined their friendship, then the Koyamas moved to Japan, and the two haven’t spoken since. Now the families are together in Connecticut again, but Mai is still angry and wants revenge. But Zach isn’t the same kid: He’s more confident, has learned Japanese, and even styles his hair a bit like a pop star. Even worse, he keeps acting like they’re still best friends. The more time she spends with him, the harder it gets to pretend and hide her new feelings of attraction. Mai must decide whether to forgive him or let him go completely, but first she needs to hear his side of the story. Florence writes a delightful tale about close friendship that delves into feelings both positive and negative. Flashback chapters labeled “Sweet” and “Sour” depict the pair’s good and bad memories, building up their backstories. Mai’s relationship with her parents addresses adults’ roles in supporting children’s emotional health, particularly with regard to difficult emotions. There are beautiful depictions of nature and wildlife as well as nods to Japanese culture, music, and language. Mai, Zach, and their families are Japanese American.
An endearing book exploring the ups and downs of friendship. (Fiction. 9-12)
Narrator Emily Ota establishes a youthful voice for Mai, who embarks on her family’s annual summer trip to Mystic, Connecticut, to visit her mom’s longtime friend, Holly, and her family. While Mai had been best friends with Holly’s son, Zach, over the years, she now seeks revenge for an incident that occurred during their last visit. Ota creates unique and authentic voices for each of the characters, bringing them to life as they learn from each other and grow over the summer. Listeners who enjoy realistic fiction and a hint of romance will feel a strong connection to Mai as she navigates relationships and considers forgiving her old friend in this coming-of-age story. M.D. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Narrator Emily Ota establishes a youthful voice for Mai, who embarks on her family’s annual summer trip to Mystic, Connecticut, to visit her mom’s longtime friend, Holly, and her family. While Mai had been best friends with Holly’s son, Zach, over the years, she now seeks revenge for an incident that occurred during their last visit. Ota creates unique and authentic voices for each of the characters, bringing them to life as they learn from each other and grow over the summer. Listeners who enjoy realistic fiction and a hint of romance will feel a strong connection to Mai as she navigates relationships and considers forgiving her old friend in this coming-of-age story. M.D. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
