Lily Xiao Speaks Out

Taiwanese American sixth grader Lily Xiao dreams of playing in a grunge band and being “amazing and brave and strong” instead of “shy and awkward.” So, she persuades her Mandarin-speaking cousin Vivian to join her in signing up for Camp Rock Out, a summer program during which she will learn to play an instrument and participate in an end-of-summer concert. Despite her performance anxiety, Lily is certain that camp will help teach her how to show her family that it’s okay to speak out against microaggressions and to fight for what they want. But when Vivian informs Lily that she may need summer tutoring, Lily fears attending camp alone and offers to help Vivian by asking for assistance from a teacher. In doing so, she learns that English as a Second Language isn’t offered at their school, a variable that impacts Vivian’s academics. Recruiting friends to form an ESL homework club, Lily and Vivian work together to boost Vivian’s grades in this sweet and charming friendship story by Chen (It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li!), who highlights personally informed experiences of growing up Asian American, the joys of music, and the benefits and challenges that come with advocacy via Lily’s high-spirited first-person POV. Ages 8–12. (May)