Lily Xiao Speaks Out - by Nicole Chen (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Lily Xiao can't wait to go to Camp Rock Out this summer, where she'll finally be able to shed her 'class robot' good girl reputation and start her journey to becoming the next Eddie Vedder! And she can't wait to do it with her best friend and cousin Vivian, who's just moved from Taiwan to Lily's California hometown. But as the two cousins work their way through seventh grade, Vivian struggles more and more with her schoolwork, which is all taught in English. If Vivian can't get her grades up, her parents won't let her go to rock camp. Determined to help, Lily embarks on a mission to push their school to provide more support for English-as-a-Second-Language learners like Vivian"--

Book Synopsis

From the author of It's Boba Time for Pearl Li! comes an empowering, heartfelt middle grade novel about a grunge-loving Taiwanese American tween who must use her voice to fight for ESL support at her school.

Lily Xiao can't wait to go to Camp Rock Out this summer, where she'll finally be able to shed her "class robot" good girl reputation and start her journey to becoming the next Eddie Vedder! And she can't wait to do it with her best friend and cousin, Vivian, who's just moved from Taiwan to Lily's California hometown.

But as the two cousins work their way through seventh grade, Vivian struggles more and more with her schoolwork, which is all taught in English. If Vivian can't get her grades up, her parents won't let her go to rock camp.

Determined to help, Lily embarks on a mission to push their school to provide more support for English-as-a-Second-Language learners like Vivian. But her first-generation immigrant family is nervous about Lily challenging the status quo. We should be grateful to be here, they always say.

With Camp Rock Out on the line, Lily will need to decide how far she'll push against her family's wishes in order to stand up and speak out.

Review Quotes

As Lily breaks through the model-minority 'robot' reputation she's been boxed into, her inspiring quest highlights youth activism and immigrant experiences in a nostalgic nineties setting. -- Booklist

A story of coming into one's own and advocating for change; recommended for all middle school collections. -- School Library Journal

This sweet and charming friendship story by Chen highlights personally informed experiences of growing up Asian American, the joys of music, and the benefits and challenges that come with advocacy via Lily's high-spirited first-person POV. -- Publishers Weekly