Outsider Kids by Betty C. Tang

 

Last week on Sunday, I read Outsider Kids by Betty C. Tang. The sequel to Parachute Kids, this historical fiction graphic novel is about the Lin siblings after they have spent seven months as undocumented immigrants and adjusted to their new lives in California. While Jia-Xi (Jesse) has a new job and Ke-Gāng (Jason) has a new crush, Feng-Li (Ann) is looking forward to her birthday and enjoys hanging out with her new friends and playing flute in band. Although they're still waiting for their parents to receive visa approval in Taiwan, they try to help each other out and avoid the attention of immigration authorities. When their stuck-up cousin Josephine, who is a violin prodigy, moves in with them, she gives them all a rough time, but Feng-Li is especially disappointed because she and Josephine used to be friends. As things become tumultuous once again, they wonder if they'll have to give up the lives they have built.

This sequel was fantastic. I enjoyed spending more time with the Lin siblings and seeing Feng-Li go trick-or-treating with her new friends at the beginning. It was also a lot of fun when the three siblings celebrated different American holidays for the first time. Because they're undocumented immigrants, I suspected that their stability wouldn't last, but I could have never predicted how chaotic their lives became after Josephine was left with them when her mom went back to Taiwan because of Wai Gong being deathly sick. Even though she is given some depth late in the book, Josephine was a complete brat and there are no excuses for how she treated Feng-Li. I definitely wanted her to be gone. It's just unfortunate how much damage she did in the time she lived with the Lin siblings. On the other hand, I really liked that Ke-Gāng had a positive romantic experience in this book. I just felt very bad for him by the end. I also had mad respect for Jia-Xi retaking the S.A.T. to raise her score so that she could improve her chances of going to Harvard. The ending is bittersweet, but there is going to be a third book, so I'm not too sad. I would recommend Outsider Kids to anyone who enjoyed the first book in the series.

Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang

 

On Friday, I finished reading Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang. This historical fiction graphic novel is about Feng-Li Lin, a ten-year-old girl from Taiwan who goes on a vacation with her family to Los Angeles, California in 1981. After enjoying the popular attractions in the area, Feng-Li learns that she and her two older siblings will be staying in California on their own while their parents return to Taiwan. Over the next few months, the three siblings face many challenges: starting a new school, learning a new language, and making new friends, all while managing a household. Although funny things happen sometimes, like accidentally eating dog food, Feng-Li feels lonely and stressed, especially when her brother and sister are constantly arguing. After all three siblings make some bad choices, Feng-Li has to find a way to keep her family together.

I enjoyed reading this graphic novel because I loved the colorful illustrations and the story itself truly moved me. I couldn't imagine my parents leaving me in another country on my own, even if it was for a better life. As Feng-Li struggled to adjust to her new life, I really felt for her, especially because her brother and sister rarely got along. I could tell it was really frustrating for Feng-Li and didn't help matters. As the tough times got worse over the course of the story, I began wondering if life would ever improve for Feng-Li and just wanted to give her a hug. Eventually, though, at the bleakest point in the story, Feng-Li has a clever idea and things gradually get better from there. At the end of the book, there is an author's note that explains Tang's inspiration and the history of parachute kids. I recommend Parachute Kids to anyone, especially those who have ever moved far from home.