A review by deschatjes
Parachutes by Kelly Yang

4.0

Wow. This book packs quite a few punches. Even more so when you read the author's note at the end - in fact start with the author's note.
I have experience with "Parachutes" in Singapore, and their lives may appear free and untethered by parental issues, but the truth is anything but. There's that thing about what happens to young elephants when the adults have been killed for their tusks, and that's what happens here.
My students and I loved Front Desk, and this first foray into YA shows the versatility of Kelly Yang to authentically write across age groups and not be put into a pigeon-hole.

The worst part of this novel is just how true it rings. We all know people (or are people) who have experienced the self-same issues - with coaches, teachers, adults; with hot and cold relationships that turn sour. Where you're damned if you do and damned if you don't bring things out into the light. And where money can paper over the cracks of all kinds of evil.

Review based on draft copy provided by Edelweiss.