This Is Not My Home

by Vivienne Chang, Eugenia Yoh

Overview

A humorous and heartfelt reverse immigration story that will resonate across cultures and show us how a place can become home.

This is not my backyard barbecue.
This is not our car, these are not my fireflies.
This is not my farmer’s market and...
This is not my home.
 
When Lily’s mom announces their family must move back to Taiwan to take care of her elderly Ah Ma, Lily is devastated to leave behind her whole life for a place that is most definitely not her home. But Lily soon realizes, through the help of her family and friends, what home means to them. And perhaps someday—maybe not today, but someday—it might become her home too.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316377102
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	01/24/2023
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	779,796
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Eugenia Yoh and Vivienne Chang are students at Washington University in St. Louis. Eugenia studies Communication Design and spends her free time designing posters for clubs. Vivienne studies Economics and spends her free time creating events for clubs that need posters. They hope to continue telling stories that simplify seemingly universal ideas through humor. When they are not discussing their next book concept, they can be found at a lake, a library, or in the yogurt section of Whole Foods.

 

Editorial Reviews

11/14/2022

When her mother tells her that they’re moving to Taiwan, Lily immediately poses a barrage of concerns: “What about our backyard barbecues? Or our car? And the fireflies at Parsley Park? What about Jill?” Accompanying paneled illustrations show the pale-skinned, dot-eyed child gesturing wildly at each thing mentioned, and clutching friend Jill in a tight embrace. Though Mama explains that they need to care for Lily’s Ah Ma, the child remains dejected, and a warm welcome from Ah Ma doesn’t change her mood. Unfamiliarity abounds—“This is not my backyard barbecue. This is not our car, these are not my fireflies, and this is not Jill” accompanies humorous images of Lily rejecting Taiwanese cuisine and contending with a speeding scooter and a pit latrine. Growing loneliness at school is the final straw, but a heart-to-heart with Mama gives Lily perspective: “I know this is not your home. But this is mine.... These are my people.” Digitally sketched and colored spreads play with the panel format to spotlight the passing of time and bonds forged as Lily slowly transitions to a new home. Debut author-illustrator duo Chang and Yoh offer a take by turns moving and funny, capturing the heartfelt struggles that come with a significant change. Ages 4–8. Agent (for Chang and Yoh): Ellen Goff, HG Literary. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"Embraces “home” as a journey as well as a destination."—Kirkus

"Debut author-illustrator duo Chang and Yoh offer a take by turns moving and funny, capturing the heartfelt struggles that come with a significant change."—Publishers Weekly

*“Sympathetic and amusing…Kids processing their own culture shock due to a move may benefit from Lily’s paradigm shift in her approach to her mother’s home country.”—BCCB, starred review

"...a wonderful read-aloud about moving and family ties."—School Library Journal

"...a delightful twist on an age-old childhood dilemma."—Horn Book

*"Through spare text, thoughtful illustration, and masterful artistic design, this quiet and empathetic story captures an affecting journey of gradual healing and adjustment. It is rare for a book of so few words to pack such an emotional wallop. A truly exceptional debut."—Booklist, starred review

From the Publisher

12/01/2022

K-Gr 3—Lily, a fourth grader, is about to experience a universally stressful and anxiety producing event: moving. Her single mom tells her they are moving to Taiwan from their home in the United States to care for her grandmother. Panic ensues. Lily asks about her best friend, their car, their market, her school, their home. The move comes just the same. Suddenly, the illustrations show Lily's colorful clothes as shades of gray, clearly reflecting her mood. Nothing feels right. Lily repeats, "This is not my home." School life is the toughest. A little storm cloud appears above Lily's head. Gently, her mom tries to explain that Taiwan is her own home and that it could be theirs together. Lily's clothes start to regain a bit of color. In the following vertical panels, first one friend is made and then another. The passage of time and some shared experiences add more color to Lily's appearance. The honest and relatable prose is seamlessly integrated with the lively, colorful world swirling around Lily. Around a happy multigenerational family dinner table, Lily says "This is my home." VERDICT Yoh and Chang are in lockstep, creating a wonderful read-aloud about moving and family ties. Recommended for all collections, and especially those looking for more about Asian cultures and books about moving.—Elisabeth LeBris

School Library Journal

2022-10-12
A young Taiwanese American girl navigates between one home and another.

Lily is energetic and imaginative and loves to play chase. When Mama announces their move to Taiwan to take care of Ah Ma, Lily’s grandmother, the girl’s world comes crashing down as she begins to process all that she will miss: the fireflies at Parsley Park, her friend Jill. And when they arrive, things are wildly different—the welcome banquet with relatives is nothing like her backyard barbecue, the motor scooter is a far cry from her car, and so on. With humor and empathy, the simple storyline and vivid illustrations convey Lily’s challenges at her new school and her struggles with jet lag, the Chinese language, and socializing. A pivotal moment with Mama opens Lily’s heart; on a page filled with white space, parent and child hug and then Lily moves toward the edge of the page, ready to give her new home a chance. The artwork shows Lily’s perspective broadening as she finds her way and regains her stride, eventually feeling at home in her current environment. The endpapers complement each other, portraying a sunny, palm tree–lined suburban neighborhood in the United States at the front and, on the back, a moonlit street scene in Taiwan. Given the time differences between the two countries, this juxtaposition not only reflects simultaneous realities in different locales, but also underscores the duality of existence familiar to individuals whose identities are rooted in diverse geographies and languages. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Embraces “home” as a journey as well as a destination. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews