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sakisreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I LOVED ‘Front Desk’, so when I saw ‘Finally Seen’ at the library I knew I had to read it 🥰
Lina is delightful. All of the characters (even Jessica) have humanity and that makes me smile 🥹
FUCK BOOK BANNING THOUGH 😂
4 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨
Lina is delightful. All of the characters (even Jessica) have humanity and that makes me smile 🥹
4 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Grief
aprilyang1's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book spoke to me on multiple levels—as a teacher, an advocate for diverse children’s literature, and as the daughter of immigrants. It was truly everything my heart needed. Honestly, I picked it up for an extra credit book club, but it ended up being so much more.
Finally Seen discusses the importance of diversity, inclusion, and acceptance while also shedding light on the damaging effects of book bans and censorship on children. On top of that, through Lina's journey from China to America, it also tackles the challenges of assimilation and immigrantion. I especially loved Lina's resilience navigating her life despite so many ongoing struggles. Each character contributed some sort of added layer to the overall story and I appreciate the complexity Kelly Yang managed to intertwine through these stories despite this being a shorter middle grade book. I think each layer of the story showed that we might have a lot going on, but we are strong and capable enough to continue on and conquer these large challenges.
As someone completing their Masters in Elementary Education, with a focus on literacy and English language learners, I appreciated how Kelly Yang subtly referenced educational concepts like Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors. It added authenticity not only to Lina's experiences but also to the educational aspect of the book. There a million and ten other reasons I admire what Kelly Yang did with this story, but I don’t want this to be 30 pages long!!
So, to wrap it up, I encourage everyone to read this because it truly is a story with a message that resonates regardless of age and experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death of parent
bibliomich's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is not the first Kelly Yang book that I've ever read. (I listened to Top Story shortly after it was released last September.) However, Finally Seen is the book that makes me truly understand why Kelly Yang is considered a master of her craft and one of the best contemporary middle grade authors today.
There are some middle grade books that I read and immediately know my students will love, but they don't necessarily appeal to me. On the other hand, there are others that I absolutely love, but for whatever reason the stories don't resonate with my students. While this book very much kept its young adolescent audience in mind, it was also a story that I found myself truly engrossed in and wanting to know what happened next.
What I loved:
- *Sigh* All of it.
- The representation of an Asian student who has immigrated to America, including her challenges and triumphs.
- Lina's relationships--with her parents, her sister, her friends, her grandmother--and the way these relationships evolve over the course of the book.
- The portrayal of teachers as important role models who can truly make a difference in a student's life.
- The pace of the book. It moves quickly while also spending enough time on the aspects of the story that feel like they matter the most.
I'm currently reading the sequel, Finally Heard, and I am loving seeing what happens next with Lina, her friends, and her family.
There are some middle grade books that I read and immediately know my students will love, but they don't necessarily appeal to me. On the other hand, there are others that I absolutely love, but for whatever reason the stories don't resonate with my students. While this book very much kept its young adolescent audience in mind, it was also a story that I found myself truly engrossed in and wanting to know what happened next.
What I loved:
- *Sigh* All of it.
- The representation of an Asian student who has immigrated to America, including her challenges and triumphs.
- Lina's relationships--with her parents, her sister, her friends, her grandmother--and the way these relationships evolve over the course of the book.
- The portrayal of teachers as important role models who can truly make a difference in a student's life.
- The pace of the book. It moves quickly while also spending enough time on the aspects of the story that feel like they matter the most.
I'm currently reading the sequel, Finally Heard, and I am loving seeing what happens next with Lina, her friends, and her family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
ems_rxlibrary's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is incredible!
I loved how Lina was able to see herself in books and learn to express herself through her art. The friends she made totally warmed my heart and I loved the school board meeting when people got up to defend the sweet book that her classmate’s mom found divisive.
I also loved how the author used her own experience coming to the US as the story for a side character (who was one of my favorite characters). So many important lessons in this book ❤️
I loved how Lina was able to see herself in books and learn to express herself through her art. The friends she made totally warmed my heart and I loved the school board meeting when people got up to defend the sweet book that her classmate’s mom found divisive.
I also loved how the author used her own experience coming to the US as the story for a side character (who was one of my favorite characters). So many important lessons in this book ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Miscarriage
kimmarieb's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
tinytrashqueen's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Xenophobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Miscarriage
ofpagesandparagraphs's review
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Racism
lettuce_read's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Racism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Miscarriage
imstephtacular's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Xenophobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A+ Realistic middle grade fiction with a timely message about the importance of diverse books, the misguided intents of book banning (based on a true event), and the power of graphic novels. Lina is a middle schooler trying to find her feet in a new life as an immigrant, daughter, big sister, long-distance granddaughter, friend, English learner, artist, bath bomb designer, graphic novel enthusiast, and voice against selfishly ill-informed xenophobic censorship. It's … a lot. But she handles it with courage, some excellent help, and humor in a story that's relatable, revelatory, and entertaining.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Death and Miscarriage