Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller

 

Yesterday, I finished reading Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller. This illustrated mystery novel is about Magnolia Wu, a ten-year-old Chinese American girl who pins lost socks to a bulletin board at her parents' laundromat in New York City, even though no one seems to notice the socks, nor Magnolia herself. After she befriends Iris Lam, a new girl from California, while celebrating her birthday during the summer, they decide to explore the city to solve the mystery of each missing sock based on Iris's plan. As they go to different places in the city, including Washington Square Park, the subway, a barbershop, a diner, a knitting shop, a plant store, a pizzeria, and a bookstore, and question the people they meet to determine the owner of each sock, they make discoveries about themselves and the world around them.

It was an absolute pleasure reading this book and I would almost describe it as cozy. Most of the story was cute and funny and I loved Magnolia and Iris's adventures to solve the sock mysteries. That's not to say there weren't serious moments in this story, making it feel more real. The two girls have to deal with anti-Asian American racism and get into an argument after Iris thinks Magnolia would rather be friends with another girl, Jessica. However, what I really liked was the eclectic mix of people they met. Some of the mysteries were easy for Magnolia and Iris to figure out, while others were more difficult. I particularly enjoyed their adventure to find the owner of the flamingo sock because Magnolia learned more about her mom and it showed a hidden depth to a character who wasn't always very nice to Magnolia. I also thought Magnolia's crush on Luis was adorable. By the end of the story, I was very satisfied and appreciated the growth of Magnolia's relationship with her mom and her friendship with Iris. Additionally, there is an author's note about her inspiration for writing Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All. Anyone who likes mysteries with low stakes or stories of friendship, family, and community should read this book.