"Engaging and empowering"--STARRED review, Nonstop Reader
A charming early chapter book series that explores Vietnamese culture
and identity through the eyes of the Nguyen siblings, with elements of
the supernatural, spirituality, and social justice woven in.
I, Anne Nguyen, believe in ghosts. Not the kind of ghosts that hide
in dark corners and yell boo! Not scary ghosts, but family ghosts.
Organized and introspective nine-year-old Anne Nguyen misses her Grandma
Nội, a lot. But even though Grandma Nội passed away, it doesn't mean
she's disappeared. When Anne and her younger siblings Jacob and Liz are
given gifts passed on to them by Grandma, Anne soon realizes that
hers--a beautiful jade bangle--has a secret power. One that might just
give her the strength to stand up to her ballet teacher, who treats her
differently than her white classmates, and embrace her Vietnamese
identity through cooking Grandma's recipes. No matter how difficult
things get, Anne learns that the love of her ancestors is always with
her.