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dpearson5257's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Every household should read stories like this! There is so much to learn about kindness and how to just treat people kindly and with respect! The amount of instances that I was able to relate to as a minority simply because I look different, just hurt my heart but I loved how each and every one of these stories uplifted the voices of these kids! So many beautiful take aways with this!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve experienced almost every one of these scenarios, both as the recipient of vitriol and ignorance and as the daughter being told to stay small and invisible. The last story had me sobbing. This book exactly demonstrates the emotional burdens we have carried as immigrants who identify as Americans but for whom space only exists when it’s convenient for others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting
bibliomich's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
You Are Here is a collection of short stories written by twelve Asian American authors (and edited by Ellen Oh) who each paint a unique picture of the Asian American experience over the course of a single day in Chicago O'Hare Airport.
What I loved:
- The different formats, tones, and experiences of the stories
- The way the book clearly demonstrates that there is no singular "Asian American experience", though many of the stories have overlapping themes
- The accessibility of the writing and content to middle grade readers, while still addressing some heavy topics
What I loved:
- The different formats, tones, and experiences of the stories
- The way the book clearly demonstrates that there is no singular "Asian American experience", though many of the stories have overlapping themes
- The accessibility of the writing and content to middle grade readers, while still addressing some heavy topics
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Racism
jebecky's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Racial slurs, and Hate crime
Moderate: Police brutality
bookishcb_21's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wow, this was such a great book! This novel includes 12 stories from the perspective of young Asian Americans, all located at an airport where their paths cross with each passing chapter. There are so many authors I’ve read books by (or have books written by them on my TBR list) that contributed to this story 💜 This book provides so many truths and challenges that are worth reading about, so if you have seen this book at your local bookstore or in the library, please pick it up! 📚
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
mshiiken's review
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was so lovely - I'm going to recommend it to everyone I know!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
library_kb's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is another great example of a middle grade anthology. I listened to this one via @Libro.fm's ALC program for educators. Each short story follows a middle schooler as they navigate O'Hare airport during a summer storm which causes flight delays. As tensions rise, they face their own individual conflicts but many of them also face microaggressions and outright racism. The stories reference each other in small details which are fun to make connections with. Recommend for upper elementary and middle school!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs
starklinqs's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Overall I really enjoyed this book - I had checked it out because I loved Ellen Oh’s book Spirit Hunters, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a diverse range of Asian American authors worked on it, not just her! These stories were short and great - I think the only one that didn’t really hit for me was AJ’s story, unfortunately. Some of these stories could feel a bit “90s PSA” but only faintly, and it’s obviously for a middle school demographic so I didn’t quite mind. However, AJ’s felt very blatant and forced, almost like the author was trying too hard to talk like a Gen Z kid. The other stories were great though, and I really appreciated how they interconnected! There’s definitely some characters in here who I would have loved to follow along with longer.
I also do wish that we could have seen the perspective of a South Asian character/author, however. I don’t fault the authors for this - I’m sure this is based on availability and they very much specifically mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, which is going to affect East and Southeast Asians, not South Asians. But I was hoping for a South Asian story as well, especially with this centering on Asian Americans in an airport. Not every Asian centered story needs to focus each and every single part of the diaspora, but I couldn’t help but feel there was a missed opportunity with this setting - though again, they probably wanted to focus on COVID and the reactions and racism uniquely faced by a part of Asian Americans, which is completely fair!
This was a great book and I think will be wonderful for its target demographic - and probably older; I certainly still enjoyed it and the authors did a great job.
Overall I really enjoyed this book - I had checked it out because I loved Ellen Oh’s book Spirit Hunters, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a diverse range of Asian American authors worked on it, not just her! These stories were short and great - I think the only one that didn’t really hit for me was AJ’s story, unfortunately. Some of these stories could feel a bit “90s PSA” but only faintly, and it’s obviously for a middle school demographic so I didn’t quite mind. However, AJ’s felt very blatant and forced, almost like the author was trying too hard to talk like a Gen Z kid. The other stories were great though, and I really appreciated how they interconnected! There’s definitely some characters in here who I would have loved to follow along with longer.
I also do wish that we could have seen the perspective of a South Asian character/author, however. I don’t fault the authors for this - I’m sure this is based on availability and they very much specifically mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, which is going to affect East and Southeast Asians, not South Asians. But I was hoping for a South Asian story as well, especially with this centering on Asian Americans in an airport. Not every Asian centered story needs to focus each and every single part of the diaspora, but I couldn’t help but feel there was a missed opportunity with this setting - though again, they probably wanted to focus on COVID and the reactions and racism uniquely faced by a part of Asian Americans, which is completely fair!
This was a great book and I think will be wonderful for its target demographic - and probably older; I certainly still enjoyed it and the authors did a great job.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
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