"Lily was not understanding.
Not while packing.
Not on the airplane.
Now even when she saw Ah Ma.
"Welcome, home!" Ah Ma said.
This is not my home."
Lily and her mama live in a happy home, where games of chase are a common occurrence. So, when Mama says she has news, Lily won't listen until she can catch her mother and hold her down. Mama's announcement is met with astonishment and ANGER.
Being told they are moving to Taiwan is a huge shock. Lily has numerous reasons for her reticence: backyard barbecues, their car, fireflies in the park, her BEST friend Jill. So many reasons there are not to move. Mama has only one for going. They need to care for Ah Ma.
Lily refuses to understand, at home and in Taiwan. Taiwan is NOT her home. Meals there are not like backyard barbecues. Jill is nowhere to be found. And, she doesn't like the farmer's market. School is worse. No one speaks her language. She is missing so much. Mama tries to explain that everything in Taiwan is her home. Perhaps together, they can make it ours! It takes time, and understanding, and friendship, and new experiences. Change comes. And with it, acceptance.
Digital illustrations by Vivienne Chang are filled with bright colors and contextual details that help readers empathize with the young girl whose world is turned upside down. They allow the child to express her worries as the inevitable happens, and provide a direct contrast from one setting to the other. Be sure to check out both front and back endpapers. Artwork also helps readers see the change in Lily's perspective as time passes and she makes the adjustment from old home to new home.
Lily's story has humor and heartbreak, and much love.
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