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A review by latad_books
The Secret of the Jade Bangle by Linda Trinh
4.0
After their grandmother Nội passed away, she gave an item to each child: a jade bangle to nine-year old Annie, pearl earrings to middle sister Liz, and a painted fan to youngest Jacob. This book is Annie's story.
Annie is thrilled to be learning from a respected ballet teacher, but things turn sour when the teacher repeatedly singles Annie out, making statements about Annie's background that leave the girl uncomfortable. Annie questions whether what she is feeling is real because her best friend Sophie does not perceive the statements in the same way. Annie takes comfort in her grandmother's words and cooking lessons when her grandmother's ghost connects with the girl through the jade bangle, and eventually, Annie talks to her parents about her distressing ballet teacher.
While aimed at kids and using a gentle approach, author Linda Trinh skillfully navigated a difficult to deal with aspect of subtle racism in her story of the Nguyen siblings.
Annie is thrilled to be learning from a respected ballet teacher, but things turn sour when the teacher repeatedly singles Annie out, making statements about Annie's background that leave the girl uncomfortable. Annie questions whether what she is feeling is real because her best friend Sophie does not perceive the statements in the same way. Annie takes comfort in her grandmother's words and cooking lessons when her grandmother's ghost connects with the girl through the jade bangle, and eventually, Annie talks to her parents about her distressing ballet teacher.
While aimed at kids and using a gentle approach, author Linda Trinh skillfully navigated a difficult to deal with aspect of subtle racism in her story of the Nguyen siblings.