AUDIOBOOK
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Can one spoiled cousin upend three kids' hard-won happiness and even their safety? Find out in this hilarious, hair-raising, high stakes companion to the bestselling Parachute Kids!
WITH FAMILY LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
After seven months on their own as undocumented immigrants, the Lin siblings have settled into their new lives in California. Jia-Xi (Jesse) has a new job, Ke-Gang (Jason) has a new crush, and Feng-Li (Ann) is excited to celebrate her eleventh birthday with her new friends. Their parents still await visa approval in Taiwan, so the trio is trying to take better care of one another and stay under the radar of immigration authorities. But when their stuck-up cousin Josephine-a violin prodigy-arrives with her privilege and demands, suddenly their world is in turnaround. Will they have to give up their home, their friends, and the stability they worked so hard to achieve?
Praise for Parachute Kids:
**A National Book Award Longlist Title in the Young People's Literature Category**
ALA APALA Honor Book
ABA Indie Bestsellers List
School Library Journal Best Book
NPR Best Book
Kirkus Reviews Best Book
The Horn Book Best Book
★ "The development of the characters and their relationships is convincing and balanced, and the siblings' respective experiences are relatable for anyone who has tried to fit in somewhere. This empathic story centers a less widely recognized community and thoughtfully presents a distinct facet of immigration. Emotionally moving and beautifully executed." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "At once common and unique, this is a compelling story of immigration and family bonds; highly recommended." -- School Library Journal, starred review
★ "Tang's artwork clearly conveys the emotions of each scene, and readers will find this story hard to put down." -- Booklist, starred review
★ "Tang weaves themes of family, racial stereotyping, cultural adaptation, sacrifice, peer pressure, sexuality, bullying, and survival into a poignant and triumphant story of perseverance and resilience, presenting a remarkably honest depiction of an Asian American immigrant experience." -- The Horn Book, starred review
"Uplifting...Across crisp, boldly colored panels, the creator addresses heavy topics such as bullying, queer identity, and racism. Inspired by her own experience as a "parachute kid," defined in an author's note as children brought to live with friends or relatives in foreign countries, Tang balances humor and heart with the difficult realities of what parachute kids may face." -- Publishers Weekly
"Tang's debut graphic novel effectively telegraphs the characters' fears and anxieties with focused perspectives and animated panels, underscoring the obstacles immigrants must face. . . . The siblings' emotional journey and ultimate ability to appreciate and honor both Western and Taiwanese cultures with friends and family make an aspirational model for young people trying to make the best of relocating in unforeseen situations." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, recommended Betty C. Tang is the creator of the graphic novel Parachute Kids, a 2023 National Book Award Longlist selection and an instant Indie bestseller. She has also illustrated the New York Times bestselling Jacky Ha-Ha series of graphic novels by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. Before becoming a fulltime graphic novelist, Betty worked for various Hollywood animation studios, including Disney TV and DreamWorks Animation, and codirected an animated feature called Where's the Dragon? Betty is a fourth-degree black belt in aikido. She immigrated to California as a parachute kid when she was ten and currently lives in Los Angeles. Learn more at bettyctang.com.
WITH FAMILY LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
After seven months on their own as undocumented immigrants, the Lin siblings have settled into their new lives in California. Jia-Xi (Jesse) has a new job, Ke-Gang (Jason) has a new crush, and Feng-Li (Ann) is excited to celebrate her eleventh birthday with her new friends. Their parents still await visa approval in Taiwan, so the trio is trying to take better care of one another and stay under the radar of immigration authorities. But when their stuck-up cousin Josephine-a violin prodigy-arrives with her privilege and demands, suddenly their world is in turnaround. Will they have to give up their home, their friends, and the stability they worked so hard to achieve?
Praise for Parachute Kids:
**A National Book Award Longlist Title in the Young People's Literature Category**
ALA APALA Honor Book
ABA Indie Bestsellers List
School Library Journal Best Book
NPR Best Book
Kirkus Reviews Best Book
The Horn Book Best Book
★ "The development of the characters and their relationships is convincing and balanced, and the siblings' respective experiences are relatable for anyone who has tried to fit in somewhere. This empathic story centers a less widely recognized community and thoughtfully presents a distinct facet of immigration. Emotionally moving and beautifully executed." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "At once common and unique, this is a compelling story of immigration and family bonds; highly recommended." -- School Library Journal, starred review
★ "Tang's artwork clearly conveys the emotions of each scene, and readers will find this story hard to put down." -- Booklist, starred review
★ "Tang weaves themes of family, racial stereotyping, cultural adaptation, sacrifice, peer pressure, sexuality, bullying, and survival into a poignant and triumphant story of perseverance and resilience, presenting a remarkably honest depiction of an Asian American immigrant experience." -- The Horn Book, starred review
"Uplifting...Across crisp, boldly colored panels, the creator addresses heavy topics such as bullying, queer identity, and racism. Inspired by her own experience as a "parachute kid," defined in an author's note as children brought to live with friends or relatives in foreign countries, Tang balances humor and heart with the difficult realities of what parachute kids may face." -- Publishers Weekly
"Tang's debut graphic novel effectively telegraphs the characters' fears and anxieties with focused perspectives and animated panels, underscoring the obstacles immigrants must face. . . . The siblings' emotional journey and ultimate ability to appreciate and honor both Western and Taiwanese cultures with friends and family make an aspirational model for young people trying to make the best of relocating in unforeseen situations." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, recommended Betty C. Tang is the creator of the graphic novel Parachute Kids, a 2023 National Book Award Longlist selection and an instant Indie bestseller. She has also illustrated the New York Times bestselling Jacky Ha-Ha series of graphic novels by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. Before becoming a fulltime graphic novelist, Betty worked for various Hollywood animation studios, including Disney TV and DreamWorks Animation, and codirected an animated feature called Where's the Dragon? Betty is a fourth-degree black belt in aikido. She immigrated to California as a parachute kid when she was ten and currently lives in Los Angeles. Learn more at bettyctang.com.