Maizy Chen's Last Chance - by Lisa Yee

About the Book

"Eleven-year-old Maizy Chen visits her estranged grandparents, who own and run a Chinese restaurant in Last Chance, Minnesota; as her visit lengthens, she makes unexpected discoveries about her family's history and herself"--

Book Synopsis

NEWBERY HONOR AWARD - NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST -
ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE WINNER - Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family's Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family.

Welcome to the Golden Palace!

Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota . . . until now. Her mom's plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and as Maizy spends more time in Last Chance (where she and her family are the only Asian Americans) and at the Golden Palace--the restaurant that's been in her family for generations--she makes some discoveries. For instance:

• You can tell a LOT about someone by the way they order food.

• And people can surprise you. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in disappointing ways.

• And the Golden Palace has secrets.

But the more Maizy discovers, the more questions she has. Like, why are her mom and her grandmother always fighting? Who are the people in the photographs on the office wall? And when she discovers that a beloved family treasure has gone missing--and someone has left a racist note--Maizy decides it's time to find the answers.

"Heartfelt, personal, and real--this book is a gift." --TAE KELLER, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Trap a Tiger

Review Quotes

Praise for MAIZY CHEN'S LAST CHANCE:

★ "Lisa Yee combines neglected U.S. history and multi-generational family legends... to create the delightful and enlightening Maizy Chen's Last Chance." --Shelf Awareness, starred review

★ "A moving, multilayered family narrative." --Booklist, starred review

★ "Captivating... and prompts readers to consider what it means to be American." --The Horn Book, starred review

★ "This fast-paced, humorous, heartwarming tale of family and history is likely to appeal to readers of all ages." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Heartfelt, personal, and real--this book is a gift." --Tae Keller, Newbery-winning author of When You Trap a Tiger

"Bursting with humor and heart." --Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author of Breakout

"I love this book. This is a big story and brings up much-needed discussion about the importance of community, history, and truth." --Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor-winning author of One Crazy Summer

About the Author

Lisa Yee is a Newbery Honoree and National Book Award finalist for Maizy Chen's Last Chance. She is also the author of over 21 books for young people, including the groundbreaking Millicent Min, Girl Genius; Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time; and the DC Super Hero Girls novel series. Lisa is a frequent contributor to NPR's Books We Love. A third-generation Chinese American, Lisa says, "I wrote Maizy Chen's Last Chance as a tribute to my grandparents and to all the immigrants who made the journey to America." Lisa divides her time between Western Massachusetts and Los Angeles.