Kelly Yang can write no wrong in my eyes, Her Front Desk series went from strength to strength and dealt with sensitive subjects in a positive and reassuring way. Mia’s hope and positivity shone through Kelly’s writing.
This story is super relevant at the moment with just a couple of years having passed since the beginning of the Covid19 pandemic. In this, all to real story, we meet Knox and his family as they move from Hong Kong to the US, A global pandemic and cultural differences make this a new world to acclimatise to and it is not always easy.
Relatable characters, situations and emotions make this a brilliant story for children who have gone through similar experiences.
Another superb story from Kelly.

Kelly Yang writes so well, I have loved all that she has produced. This book is no exception, but is written from the viewpoint of Knox, the middle ADHD child of the family. Based on Kelly's own experience of moving her family from Hong Kong to California during the pandemic. There are many issues that are addressed in this moving and well written book: racism, belonging, family relationships, feeling left out and excluded and coping with ADHD. Kelly deals so well with them all. I highly recommend this if you've enjoyed her other books, or indeed if you are new to her work!

I love Kelly Yangs writing. I've read a few of her books before and they never fail to keep me invested and entertained.
This book was no exception. It was a perfect balance of heartwarming, emotional, honest and funny.
I love the way she pulls from her own experiences, lending a real depth to her characters and story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.

I read this book in a day. When we were in the middle of the first lockdown my children and I would talk about how one day there would be books written about what it was like during this time. This book shares this but also talks about the discrimination that Knox and his family experienced from the moment the pandemic, their journey back to the United States, and their new lives settling into a new country. As a parent I could feel how the mother felt, but this book also gave me the perspective of the children too. It was heartwarming how the siblings all pulled together, how they fought the racism they faced, and how they supported their mother through this huge life event.

The kindle version of this book is not opening on my kindle and therefore I am not able to access and read it. I would have loved to review this but unfortunately, I am not able to read it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

New From Here is another heartfelt and emotive tale from Kelly Yang. It has a similar style and feel to the Front Desk series. In this book, Kelly expertly captures the voice of her protagonist, ten year old Knox, who is forced to move from Hong Kong to the USA after the outbreak of coronavirus. The book perfectly outlines the struggles faced by immigrant children, as well as the eerie and uncertain feeling at the beginning of the pandemic. Reading the book two years after the virus began to spread is quite surreal as it encapsulates so much of the emotion of the time and, combined with the weight of experience, the inevitability and false hope make it quite a difficult read.

I think New From Here is an incredibly powerful book and I was not at all surprised to learn how it linked to Kelly and her family’s real life and experience. The authenticity of the character’s voice is evidently due to the semi-autobiographical nature of the story. I will certainly add this book to my classroom bookshelf. It is a great read for promoting and developing empathy. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.