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A review by bibliomich
Finally Seen by Kelly Yang
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