Parachute Kids

Parachute Kids
Betty C. Tang
Scholastic, 2023
Grades 4-8
Graphic Novel

Feng-Li and her family travel from Taiwan to California for a vacation. They are greeted by friends and spend an exciting time traveling around and going to Disneyland. At the end of the vacation Feng-Li discovers that only Baba is returning home. The rest of the family will remain in the US and start school. When Ma's visa expires, she must also return to Taiwan, leaving the kids alone to navigate the new country. Teenage Sis is in charge and she takes care of all of the household chores, all while trying to succeed in school. Bro is slightly younger and having a hard time adjusting. He makes new shady friends and falls into some bad habits. Meanwhile, Feng-Li, who is now called "Ann", is struggling with English and fitting in. She is lonely and unhappy. Why is the only other Chinese-speaking girl in her class mean to her? What is going on with Bro and his secret life? Life goes from bad to worse as summer sets in and Ann is beyond bored. The financial situation of the small family changes for the worst and then a tragedy forces the kids to confess to their parents that life alone in America is as not smooth as they pretend.

I was not familiar with the term "Parachute Kids" (kids dropped into the US with parents still living in the home country) until I read this book. Inspired by the author/illustrator's actual experiences, readers will see the struggles of immigrating families who are desperate for a better life for their children. Some of the issues presented are intense, but Feng-Li/Ann remains child-like in her perceptions and the serious situations are balanced by humor. The kids find a way out of their problems, which is resourceful, and the story ends with a sense of hope and togetherness. The full-color illustrations will attract readers. I appreciate that Tang uses different color speech bubble/fonts to indicate if the characters are talking in English or Chinese. A author's note at the end of the volume will further educate readers about this experience and two photos of Tang during her youth are included. The story is set in the past (Feng-Li longs for a game boy and there are no cellphones), but feels like the present and young readers will relate to the characters. This story will find an audience, especially among fans of graphic memoirs and the uber-popular Front Desk series by Kelly Yang.