Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang

 Imagine going on a vacation across the world, and then finding out you are never going home again. That's what happens to Feng-Li and her two older siblings. Their dream trip to America turns into a permanent situation, and the siblings are expected to learn English, attend school, and learn to navigate a new culture. But there's more--Feng-Li and her siblings are "parachute kids" who are dropped in the United States without their parents (mom and dad return to Taiwan, leaving their kids on their own in a rental house). Lots of hard things happen in this graphic novel, but also good things as the siblings navigate a new culture and try to escape the notice of the authorities. Middle schoolers are loving this book--there's lots to talk about and learn about and the highly engaging story keeps their attention. This is a must-buy for middle school libraries, and great news--the sequel, Outsider Kids, came out in April of 2025. 

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

 

Hanna is a 14-year-old girl who settles in a South Dakota town with her father. The year is 1880, and Hanna, who is half Chinese, knows that she will face prejudice in her new town. Hanna and her father, who is white, are still mourning the death of her mother, who was Chinese. Living in California wasn't quite as difficult, but now that they are in a prairie town (yes, almost exactly like the prairie town that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about), Hanna must struggle just to finish school. Hanna has a gift for designing clothing, and in addition to finishing school, she wants to open a dress shop in her father's store, and she yearns for a friend. Hanna's interactions with indigenous women she meets on the prairie are priceless, and while this books stands alone, it is certainly also a response to other books that have glorified the white pioneers and settlers. Recommended for all readers from third grade through adults. 

Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

The year is 1890 and the setting is Atlanta. Jo Kuan and her guardian, Old Gin, live in an underground railroad era secret chamber under the house of a prominent newspaper publishing family. They are Chinese-American immigrants and must work as servants to make a living. Teenage Jo works full-time as a maid, and begins writing a newspaper column under the name "Dear Sweetie," which helps increase newspaper circulation and gives her a platform to speak about women's rights as well as racial equality. No one would read the column if they knew it was written by a Chinese American girl, so she keeps her identity secret, even from the handsome young newspaper publisher. Jo gets involved with a criminal, enters a horse race, discovers some family secrets, and finds romance in this eye-opening historical fiction novel.