I am sure that lots of you will already have read, and loved, Kelly’s ‘Front Desk’ series. If you’re wanting more of her poignant, prejudice-confronting, and heart-warming writing, you need to take a look at ‘Finally Seen.’ Luckily for you, I have an extract of the second chapter for you enjoy! (Scroll down)

“A gripping middle-grade novel about Lina, who leaves China to live with her parents and sister in the US, after five years apart. She’s been waiting for this moment but it’s not exactly like the postcards… As Lina reckons with the big change and feeling left out, she learns about family, friendship, and the power of belonging. And when her teacher starts facing challenges for her latest book selection, a book that deeply resonates with Lina, it will take all of Lina’s courage and resilience to get over her fear in order to choose a future where she’s finally seen.”

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Finally Seen Chapter 2 extract

I scamper after my escort, who kindly helps me with my carry-on suitcase. She’s a fast-walking Chinese lady named Miss Chen, with a walkietalkie and a giant stack of documents, leading me through immigration. The immigration officer takes one look at my passport and stamps it with his big rubber stamp. 

As we wait for my bags, Miss Chen chats with me in Mandarin.

“You excited? I hope your parents are here already, we got in an hour early.”

“I’m sure they’ll be here!” I say to her, rising to my tippy toes with excitement. I can hardly wait to walk out those double doors to see them.

I scan the conveyer belt for my luggage. Lao Lao made me bring over three full suitcases of stuff. One of them is an entire suitcase of sweaters she knitted for me and Millie – even though Mum kept telling her it’s warm in LA. 

“Did you go on a trip to visit your relatives?” Miss Chen asks. 

I open my mouth to say No, this IS the trip – but I nod instead. Probably easier. 

“You have any brothers or sisters?” she asks. 

“I have one sister,” I tell her. “She’s seven.” 

“Oh, that must be fun! You two love playing together?” 

I cross my fingers behind my back. Sure hope so! 

As I wait, I tell Miss Chen all the things I know about my family by heart, from reading their many letters. I tell her my dad is a scientist. A microbiologist, to be exact. My mother works at a big fancy salon. We live in a beautiful pale blue two-story house with a white fence in Los Ramos, California. A house that’s taken my parents some time to finally find. It’s just forty miles from Los Angeles. 

I talk of my family’s accomplishments, as if they’re mine.

“Wow,” she says. “Sounds like they’ve really achieved the American dream.” I smile. 

Every movie and TV show I watch is always talking about the American dream. I’m still not sure exactly what it means, but I think it means something like this: 

1. To be able to buy any kind of Frappuccino you want. 

2. To have a nice home and fill your bed with a lot of pillows, like you have a thousand heads. 3. To say I love you, all the time, to your family. And not be embarrassed. 

I like number three the most. I don’t remember when Mum and I stopped saying it on the phone. Maybe Mum didn’t want my little sister Millie to be jealous. Or she didn’t think I needed to hear it. 

But I did. 

The truth is, my time in the waiting city wasn’t just all dumplings and tea. It was hard, too. I’m not going to tell Mum now that I’m back because what’s the point? But I hope I hear Mum say I love you again. All the time. And not just because it’s the American thing to say.

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Kelly’s writing beautifully captures Lina’s yearning to be with her family, living the American Dream, and the stark contrast she finds when she arrives in Los Angeles. The emotional conflict she feels, the prejudice she encounters, and the confusion of learning new customs and social norms, are all sensitively explored in the pages of this wonderful book.

I truly hope that Lina’s experiences don’t still accurately represent those of people arriving in new countries to start new lives, but I fear they may. Hopefully readers of this book will be encouraged to challenge prejudice when they encounter it and begin to consider what it might be like to have to start your life all over again.

Recommended for readers aged 10+

Jo.

*Many thanks to Knights Of for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour*