A review by crystal_reading
Parachutes by Kelly Yang
5.0
Review Copy: Digital ARC via Edelweiss
As someone who has hosted quite a few high school students from other countries, I have often wondered when I would see a book focused on an international student. It's a unique kind of experience and it has changed over time. In the past, students would stay for a short time or a whole school year, but now, more and more students come for multiple years. They may or may not stay with the same family and some even stay at dorms.
This may provide a lot more freedom than they have known before. They are also quite vulnerable. This book gets into issues of class, family, and even #MeToo situations.
Parachutes is an enthralling story that was impossible to put down. Yang makes these characters live and breathe and readers will be invested in their storylines. There are two perspectives. Claire Wang is getting used to living in a new culture, but also without the supervision of her family. Her host sister Dani is shocked by how much Claire has been pampered and how much she takes for granted. It takes quite a bit of time before they can even begin to see each other with any kind of understanding.
Kelly Yang covers so many different issues within this one book and readers are likely to care deeply about these young people and what they are experiencing. Highly recommended.
As someone who has hosted quite a few high school students from other countries, I have often wondered when I would see a book focused on an international student. It's a unique kind of experience and it has changed over time. In the past, students would stay for a short time or a whole school year, but now, more and more students come for multiple years. They may or may not stay with the same family and some even stay at dorms.
This may provide a lot more freedom than they have known before. They are also quite vulnerable. This book gets into issues of class, family, and even #MeToo situations.
Parachutes is an enthralling story that was impossible to put down. Yang makes these characters live and breathe and readers will be invested in their storylines. There are two perspectives. Claire Wang is getting used to living in a new culture, but also without the supervision of her family. Her host sister Dani is shocked by how much Claire has been pampered and how much she takes for granted. It takes quite a bit of time before they can even begin to see each other with any kind of understanding.
Kelly Yang covers so many different issues within this one book and readers are likely to care deeply about these young people and what they are experiencing. Highly recommended.