Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
12yo Ming wants to meet his parent's expectations. "Get good grades" "Be a good boy" and "Don't cause trouble." But starting middle school is hard. He has the same bowl haircut his mom has always given him, and his clothes have been bought at a thrift store. He knows he has no chance of being popular. Starting the year in an ESL class he doesn't need (he doesn't speak Chinese and was born in the United States), he makes friends in the cafeteria - Marcus and Vikrum. Ming isn't popular, but school is so much better with friends.
Don't Cause Trouble is a great story about trying to fit in. Ming's parents struggle to make money, his mother's cleaning job includes dealing with a racist who continually calls her bad words (represented in characters). Ming is also desperate to make money, trying to sell his Halloween candy. He's not an immigrant, his parents are, and we learn their back story. I know my middle school population can relate. Ming's family is Chinese.
Lisa Librarian
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