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xosarahirene's review
5.0
Wow. I believe every classroom library should have a copy of this book in representation of multilingual language learners. The combination of chapter book with comics format, showing the “alien” language from both speakers’ perspectives, and showing the perspective of a MLL student’s voice often not addressed in fiction makes this a powerful piece.
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
I received this title as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book made me cry. Which really isn't a good thing because I do a lot of reading while on the treadmill at the gym.
This is the story of Jingwen and his little brother, Yanghao, who have just moved with their widowed mother from China to Mars. Well, actually, it's Australia but it is close enough in Jingwen's mind. That is, until he realizes it's not everyone else who is an alien: he is.
Jingwen struggles with learning English and making friends at school, despite his mother's assurances that he would do well with both. While watching Yanghao one day while their mother is at work, the boys decide to make a cake. Not just any cake. A Pie in the Sky Cake, like the ones their father wanted to bake in his very own cake shop, part of his dreaming of moving to Australia. The only problem? Their mother doesn't want them to bake while she's gone. So they start baking in secret. Jingwen is determined to bake all of the Pie in the Sky Cakes. Because maybe then he can make his father's dream come true. Because maybe then he can stop feeling guilt over his father's death.
A brilliant tale of growing up, feeling like an outsider, and cake, Pie in the Sky is a beautifully written and illustrated book that readers of all ages and walks of life will love.
This book made me cry. Which really isn't a good thing because I do a lot of reading while on the treadmill at the gym.
This is the story of Jingwen and his little brother, Yanghao, who have just moved with their widowed mother from China to Mars. Well, actually, it's Australia but it is close enough in Jingwen's mind. That is, until he realizes it's not everyone else who is an alien: he is.
Jingwen struggles with learning English and making friends at school, despite his mother's assurances that he would do well with both. While watching Yanghao one day while their mother is at work, the boys decide to make a cake. Not just any cake. A Pie in the Sky Cake, like the ones their father wanted to bake in his very own cake shop, part of his dreaming of moving to Australia. The only problem? Their mother doesn't want them to bake while she's gone. So they start baking in secret. Jingwen is determined to bake all of the Pie in the Sky Cakes. Because maybe then he can make his father's dream come true. Because maybe then he can stop feeling guilt over his father's death.
A brilliant tale of growing up, feeling like an outsider, and cake, Pie in the Sky is a beautifully written and illustrated book that readers of all ages and walks of life will love.
awelsh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
If you ever had to move to a different town and begin at a new school when you were young, then you know how scary and upsetting it can be. Imagine moving to a different country, not speaking the language well, and trying to navigate a new school! This is the situation we find our main character, Jingwen, dealing with in Pie in the Sky. His family has moved to Australia and left his beloved grandparents at home. Jingwen has a limited grasp on English and feels like those around him are aliens speaking Martian. A lot gets lost in translation, school is torture for him, and he doesn’t even want to try to make friends because they won’t understand him. On top of these burdens, Jingwen carries a lot of pain with him due to his father’s death two years prior. So how does a twelve year old deal with all of this? He makes cakes! The illustrations lend a lot to the story, depicting aliens when Jingwen does not understand those around him, or when he himself feels like an outsider. The relationship Jingwen has with his younger brother is extremely relatable, as is his single mother trying to do the best for her children. The ways in which they sometimes don’t understand each other is heartbreaking and moving. Jingwen describes his grief and confusion as seashells in his pocket, which fluctuate in weight as the story progresses. This book was chosen as part of our Lunch with a Librarian program for fourth grade, and I recommend it to anyone who wants an engaging read that builds empathy and helps us walk a mile in another’s shoes.
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
Pie in the Sky is utterly heartwarming, but also humorous. The story follows Jingwen and his family as they immigrate to Australia. Jingwen feels like he's been transferred to another planet inhabited by aliens but soon starts to imagine that he might be the alien. Nothing in this new place is right, especially without his father, who died before they made the trip. The one solace that Jingwen finds is in baking his father's recipes. Jingwen's mother doesn't approve of him using the oven, so he and his little brother have to bake in secret. Soon, it becomes something of an obsession, a lifeline. Jingwen starts to believe that these recipes are the key to a successful life in this new world---like he needs to finish the recipes in order to fix the problems he's encountering. The story is heartbreaking in some parts, but the humor helps keep the book from feeling sad overall. The style is a seamless blend of chapter book and graphic novel, which is really fun to read. Sometimes the illustrations go along with the text, but at other times, the action takes place only in the art panels, like you would expect in a true graphic novel. The result makes for a unique read!
esshgee's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this story of two Chinese brothers moving to Australia and the challenges they face with learning English, navigating friendships and school, and missing friends and family. The illustrations definitely enhanced the story - especially those where Jingwen was struggling with the language - and I loved that my favourite story The Little Prince was a focal point
xsleepyshadows's review
Iowa choice for 2021
Started it and it's does really well balancing text/images...so when an image can say more it's in its place and vice versa. - I ran out of time to read this but i'd like to continue. Great kid's read so far!
Started it and it's does really well balancing text/images...so when an image can say more it's in its place and vice versa. - I ran out of time to read this but i'd like to continue. Great kid's read so far!
madhamster's review
5.0
A story that encompasses so much, but is not over full, just like life. Life is not a one issue thing, which this story bears out.
There is the struggle to settle in a new country, with another language. There is annoying little brother. There are bullies, who are not the stereotypical bully-boys, but just normal kids.
Then, there's the grief and guilt over his father's death two years earlier.
A powerhouse of a novel.
There is the struggle to settle in a new country, with another language. There is annoying little brother. There are bullies, who are not the stereotypical bully-boys, but just normal kids.
Then, there's the grief and guilt over his father's death two years earlier.
A powerhouse of a novel.
mbrandmaier's review
4.0
Jingwen is not adjusting well to his big move to Australia. He misses his grandparents and is having trouble learning English. If he can just bake all the cakes that he and his father used to bake together before the accident, everything will be ok again. The only problem is, he is not allowed to use the oven!
ghutter05's review
3.0
Liked it, but I'm afraid I didn't find it tugging at my heartstrings as much as I expected it to.