My name is Mia, and my parents were hired by Mr. Yao to manage his motel. It seemed like a great deal, and my parents were desperate, but Mr. Yao is a penny-pinching, vile, bigoted miser. I know those are big words for a recent Chinese immigrant, but I love English and I've recently discovered Roget's thesaurus. I hate how unfairly Hank, one of our weeklies, has been treated by Mr. Yao and the police, and I want to help. While my parents believe in fate, I'm going to do something to get off our roller coaster life. I'm writing more letters and notes now, but I'm not sure if I'll write the most important one. It could change my family's lives, but I probably don't stand a chance. Then there's the $300 I need to do it.
This book told an intriguing story of immigrants trying to live the American Dream. Mia's family learned that reality often differs from perceptions. They felt like slaves, since their lack of options led to Mr. Yao taking advantage of them. The big issue underlying many of the problems was prejudice and bigotry. The main targets were black citizens and Chinese immigrants. Mia's parents secretly assisted struggling friends, while Mia had her own obstacles in school. She had great compassion for others and wasn't content to sit back and ignore injustices. That was refreshing to see, as she experienced her own hardships. The topic of writing was also refreshing, as electronics weren't part of the story. They weren't prevalent in the 1990's, and the characters couldn't afford them anyhow. Mia actually wrote with paper and pencil and used stamps to mail letters! While the results of some letters were unrealistic, the plot demonstrates the potential positive consequences of people taking action. Don't expect good things to happen if you don't do something first. Overall, the book is inspirational for people who feel like they don't have a chance to succeed, and I recommend you give it a shot.
My name is Tessa, and my life entering high school is getting complicated. Caleb and I have done things together for years, but he's now my boyfriend. He knows I'm a great cross-country runner, but he admits I also have the skills to play football. However, I don't think he wants me to play on the high school team next year. I really want to try out. I need to make up for my dropped touchdown pass in the flag football title game, plus my mom is against me playing football. She's running for mayor and wants to control my life, but she can't stop me now. Voters know about me. I wish everyone would stop worrying about me getting hurt, and I wish Caleb would be more supportive. This is something I need to do. I need a victory.
The summary above tells you all you need to know about the book. I never had a concern with girls wanting to play for our school football team, but it's been an issue in public schools for many years. Tessa's mom is a big problem, as her parents are often too busy to show interest in her. Tessa feels a little isolated, since no one is openly supportive. The conflict is a common one, as she wants to make her own choices, not necessarily the ones others want. Caleb's brother doesn't want to become part of the family business, and Caleb realizes he may be headed toward similar decisions. Dealing with parental expectations is hard. The book is told alternately through the eyes of Tessa and Caleb, so readers can understand the confusing thoughts going through their minds. Caleb has the additional problem of trying to figure out how to function with his first girlfriend. Again, this is a common experience for middle grade students. Overall, the story will be relatable to most readers, and you should give it a shot.
My name is Foster, and I knew Dax was no good. He's lazy, drinks too much, and scares me whenever he comes to see my mom. I don't blame Joe for wanting to bite him, but I'm afraid Dax will kill him someday. Then, Gary showed up. He was walking all the way to Texas, but he's been staying in our barn for a couple of weeks. He said he fought in Afghanistan, and Joe and I trust him. Dax doesn't. Gary's been helping to clean things up around here, since my mom wants to sell the farm and move away. I look forward to waking up every day to help him. Mom says he's keeping secrets about his past, and she's afraid I'm getting too close. I can't help it; I feel safe when he's around. Looking back now, I should have known that danger and pain were inevitable.
This book evoked some heavy emotions. Foster was still coping with the death of his father, as more about the incident was revealed later in the story. Dax introduced a level of danger to Foster, his mom, and his dog. While Gary brought a calming effect to Foster, his presence worsened the situation with Dax. These emotional journeys were the backbone of the plot. Foster lacked motivation to behave like a normal kid, and this left him isolated and alone. His one friend was his dog. With Gary's help, he slowly transformed and learned to deal with his issues. I'll admit there was sadness, so be prepared to be affected. I won't say everyone lived happily ever after, but they got on with their stories. Overall, I can recommend this book to readers looking for an emotional drama.
