You Are Here: Connecting Flight
Editor: Ellen Oh
Publisher: Allida
Twelve loosely linked narratives of Asian American teens, strangers to each other, unfold when all flights out of a Chicago airport are grounded during a thunderstorm.
Our Young Reviewer Says:
“The story’s plot is expertly crafted, skillfully weaving together individual experiences and intricate connections that support the overall narrative. The book engaged me as a reader, as I was drawn to the small details (like a red hair bow), that tied it all together. Most importantly, the thoughtful exploration of racism and discrimination in the United States was intertwined in a way that provoked contemplation.
The challenges of growing-up and creating identity are a big part of most middle grade books. In this iteration, the characters have their own interests, experiences, and talents but they all connect through their Asian roots. This includes the challenge of honoring cultural background and families while encountering inherent bias, ignorance, and racism. With the rise of racially charged hate crimes in the USA following the Covid-19 pandemic, You Are Here: Connecting Flights is a perfectly timed book for young readers to break that cycle.”
–Quade, age 14, Encinitas, CA.
Young people who are interested in reviewing are invited to do so as we welcome the individual perspective of our age appropriate readers. If you are interested in being a reviewer, contact youngreviewers@bankstreet.edu.
See our Monthly Picks Archive 2012–2018, and our Monthly Picks 2019–present.