Age Group: 9 - 12 Years, 12+ Years

Description:

After her beloved grandfather dies, a family quarrel forces Meilan Hu to leave Boston’s Chinatown. Her family moves to a small town in Ohio, where she is one of the only Chinese American students. At her new school, people call her “Melanie.” Meilan decides that her Chinese name has many meanings, like beauty, flower and orchid, and she chooses which one to be each day. She faces unfair treatment and feels lonely, but she uses the folktales her grandfather told her to find her courage. Slowly she learns to speak up, make friends and find where she belongs.