Maizy Chen’s Last Chance
Written by Lisa Yee
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota…until now. Her mom’s plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and as Maizy spends more time in Last Chance (where she and her family are the only Asian Americans) and at the Golden Palace—the restaurant that’s been in her family for generations—she makes some discoveries. For instance:
• You can tell a LOT about someone by the way they order food.
• And people can surprise you. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in disappointing ways.
• And the Golden Palace has secrets.
But the more Maizy discovers, the more questions she has. Like, why are her mom and her grandmother always fighting? Who are the people in the photographs on the office wall? And when she discovers that a beloved family treasure has gone missing—and someone has left a racist note—Maizy decides it’s time to find the answers.
Primary ISBN: 9781984830258
Publication Date: February 2022
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older
Community Represented: Chinese/Chinese American
Themes: Accolades & Awards: Starred Review, Accolades & Awards: Youth Media Awards, Discrimination: Racial, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Family Relationship: Parents, Format: Audiobook, IYNB Recommends: Community Rallying Against Hate
Setting: United States
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival
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