TOP STORY, by Kelly Yang, is one of those books that shows us why we need diverse books. I probably should say, this is one of those series that shows us why. And you don’t have to have read the four previous books to follow, TOP STORY stands on its own.
From the publisher: Scholastic Press (Sept 2023)
Mia Tang is at the top of her game!
She’s spending winter break with Mom, Lupe, Jason, and Hank in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Rich with history and hilarious aunties and uncles, it’s the place to find a great story―one she hopes to publish while attending journalism camp at the Tribune. But this trip has as many bumps as the hills of San Francisco . . .
1. Mia's camp is full of older kids, with famous relatives, fancy laptops, and major connections! Can she compete with just her pen and passion?
2. Lupe’s thinking about skipping ahead to college! Will Mia ever get a chance to just chill with her best friend?
3. Jason’s crushing hard on a new girl. For the first time ever, Mia is speechless…and jealous. Can she find the courage to tell Jason―gulp―that she has a crush on him?
Even for the best writers, it’s not always easy to find the right words. But if anyone can tell a top story, it’s Mia Tang!
It’s important to learn about other people, cultures, traditions, stories. It’s like traveling without leaving your home, which is what reading good books is all about!
There so many characters who all have their own stories and are intertwined so well. There are kids, adults, parents, aunties and a puppy. Even San Francisco is its own character too. It’s richly written with many full circle moments.
I think it’s too easy to forget the different struggles others go through. TOP STORY shines a light on that. It also emphasizes how we all need to be true to ourselves and chase our dreams with lots of hard work.
