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Maizy Chen's Last Chance
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 find the answers.
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 find the answers.
277 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2022
About the author
Lisa Yee
33 books493 followersLisa Yee has written over 20 novels. Her most recent book, Maizy Chen's Last Chance, is about a fifth-generation Chinese American girl, and is a National Book Award Finalist, Newbery Honor, and the Asian Pacific American Children's Literature Award winner.
Lisa's debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Other books include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes), illustrated by Dan Santat.
Lisa is also the author of several American Girl books and the DC Super Hero Girls series. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa's books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.
Lisa lives In Western Massachusetts, but spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, especially when it's cold. Her next book, an awkward and hilarious mystery, is called The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum, and is illustrated by Dan Santat.
You can visit Lisa at www.lisayee.com.
Lisa's debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Other books include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes), illustrated by Dan Santat.
Lisa is also the author of several American Girl books and the DC Super Hero Girls series. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa's books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.
Lisa lives In Western Massachusetts, but spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, especially when it's cold. Her next book, an awkward and hilarious mystery, is called The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum, and is illustrated by Dan Santat.
You can visit Lisa at www.lisayee.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 690 reviews
February 13, 2022
It's been a while since I've read a story within a story and this one does a great job of incorporating historical fiction with realistic fiction.
Maizy Chen's Last Chance focuses on Maizy Chen as she moves temporarily to Last Chance, Minnesota for the summer with her mother. They are making the trip to help Maizy's grandparents with their restaurant after her grandfather gets sick. While there Maizy meets a host of different characters who later serve as her support system. After a racially charged incident impacts the family, Maizy begins to talk to her grandfather about their family history. He tells her about Lucky Chen who immigrated from China to California for work. Through the stories, we learn that, like Maizy, Lucky Chen also faces more than a fair share of racially charged incidents. One incident in which he was accused of stealing money from an employer pushed him to move to Minnesota to work in restaurant.
There were a couple of things that I really enjoyed about this novel including the writing style and the historical elements. Yee has a writing style that's easy to follow and really captures the attention of readers. The decision to include family history as a separate narrative from Maizy's story was ingenious. It was a unique form of storytelling that had me wanting to learn more about Lucky Chen. It was also a great way to show the paralleling of discrimination faced by the Asian community that has continued on to Maizy's generation. While that is a huge part of the story, I loved all the other things that readers see Maizy do in this book like building a relationship with her grandfather, getting to know other people in town like Daisy. This book also isn't all roses and there are some difficult things that occur outside of the on the page racism. A lot of middle grade readers will connect to Maizy's reluctance to go to Minnesota and live in a new environment as well as the struggles that she has fitting in. This was such an emotional and impactful read and I learned a lot myself.
Maizy Chen's Last Chance focuses on Maizy Chen as she moves temporarily to Last Chance, Minnesota for the summer with her mother. They are making the trip to help Maizy's grandparents with their restaurant after her grandfather gets sick. While there Maizy meets a host of different characters who later serve as her support system. After a racially charged incident impacts the family, Maizy begins to talk to her grandfather about their family history. He tells her about Lucky Chen who immigrated from China to California for work. Through the stories, we learn that, like Maizy, Lucky Chen also faces more than a fair share of racially charged incidents. One incident in which he was accused of stealing money from an employer pushed him to move to Minnesota to work in restaurant.
There were a couple of things that I really enjoyed about this novel including the writing style and the historical elements. Yee has a writing style that's easy to follow and really captures the attention of readers. The decision to include family history as a separate narrative from Maizy's story was ingenious. It was a unique form of storytelling that had me wanting to learn more about Lucky Chen. It was also a great way to show the paralleling of discrimination faced by the Asian community that has continued on to Maizy's generation. While that is a huge part of the story, I loved all the other things that readers see Maizy do in this book like building a relationship with her grandfather, getting to know other people in town like Daisy. This book also isn't all roses and there are some difficult things that occur outside of the on the page racism. A lot of middle grade readers will connect to Maizy's reluctance to go to Minnesota and live in a new environment as well as the struggles that she has fitting in. This was such an emotional and impactful read and I learned a lot myself.
September 7, 2023
3.5 Stars
A great middle grade novel that seamlessly weaves historical and contemporary fiction together through the grandfather's absorbing storytelling. I found myself eager to see what Lucky's fate was as the story progressed. I always find intergenerational stories heartwarming and important as they tackle significant family plotlines/themes that everyone can relate to. There were some confronting scenes as racial hate crimes take place in the town of Last Chance. To balance these out there were incredible acts of kindness and many townspeople were inclusive and caring community members. I look forward to reading more books from Lisa Yee.
A great middle grade novel that seamlessly weaves historical and contemporary fiction together through the grandfather's absorbing storytelling. I found myself eager to see what Lucky's fate was as the story progressed. I always find intergenerational stories heartwarming and important as they tackle significant family plotlines/themes that everyone can relate to. There were some confronting scenes as racial hate crimes take place in the town of Last Chance. To balance these out there were incredible acts of kindness and many townspeople were inclusive and caring community members. I look forward to reading more books from Lisa Yee.
January 29, 2022
As a tribute to her grandparents and their immigration to America early in the 20th century, this works very well. There is a story within the story that Maizy's Opa is telling her bit by bit. It is the story of Lucky and his coming to America and the origins of The Golden Palace, the family restaurant in Last Chance, Minnesota. That was my favorite part of the book. Maizy's summer in Last Chance had too many issues crammed in. I did especially love her relationship with her Opa and the custom fortunes she started inserting in the cookies. The subject of Paper Sons is also well covered in this book and that is an important piece of history for Chinese Americans. After the story, the author includes some family photos and a nonfiction narrative summarizing some facts about the arc of Chinese immigration in the US. Overall, a bit of a disappointment due to the all the stuff crammed into Maizy's summer, but the Golden Palace story saves the day.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
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January 10, 2022I wish I could turn back the clock to when I was a sixth grade teacher because I would so be reading this book out loud to my class, and enjoying the discussions I know it would spark.
Mazy Chen is eleven, living with her mom in Los Angeles when they suddenly drop everything to drive back to the tiny town of Last Chance, Minnesota, to visit the grandparents Maizy has only seen once on a single occasional memorable for its discomfort.
Her Oma and Opa run a Chinese restaurant, the only one in the tiny town. And there's a reason her grandparents, both of Chinese ancestry, go by the German nicknames for grandparents, which we find out later.
At the beginning, Maizy is not happy to be stuck in a dull little town at a restaurant that is the center of her grandparents' lives; Opa is ill, and it's Maizy's job to keep him occupied so that he doesn't get stressed with work.
Once Maizy starts getting to know Opa, the book opens up like a lotus, one absorbing petal after another. I especially appreciated the little snips of ancestor "Lucky" Chen's life, beginning in China in 1853, then coming to America, as told by Opa to Maizy.
The prose is simple without ever being simplistic (In my family, sometimes what's not said takes up more space than what is), the characters a wide range from repellent to lovely, with plenty of complexity between; the pacing is brisk enough to keep me turning the pages until I suddenly found myself done. I can see a kid reader racing through this book.
I think what I appreciated most was Yee's clarity of vision. She gives us characters representing all the warts and foibles of human nature, with a strong glimmering of compassion tying everything together. This is not a flowers and rainbows book of everybody simple and happy, which can hit false notes, especially for kids today who hear their parents' worries and who might have family stories about racial slurs, or have been hit with them themselves.
But it is also not one of those dreary seventies Problem Novels that (in my classroom experience) put more kids off reading than not, and also implied somehow that being other than white cis het was A Problem--not a message that is helpful to anyone.
The book is funny and scary by turns, thoughtful and wise, as adults as well as kids make mistakes and learn from them--or don't. I would have bought this in hardback for my classroom shelf. Two copies.
Copy provided by NetGalley
Mazy Chen is eleven, living with her mom in Los Angeles when they suddenly drop everything to drive back to the tiny town of Last Chance, Minnesota, to visit the grandparents Maizy has only seen once on a single occasional memorable for its discomfort.
Her Oma and Opa run a Chinese restaurant, the only one in the tiny town. And there's a reason her grandparents, both of Chinese ancestry, go by the German nicknames for grandparents, which we find out later.
At the beginning, Maizy is not happy to be stuck in a dull little town at a restaurant that is the center of her grandparents' lives; Opa is ill, and it's Maizy's job to keep him occupied so that he doesn't get stressed with work.
Once Maizy starts getting to know Opa, the book opens up like a lotus, one absorbing petal after another. I especially appreciated the little snips of ancestor "Lucky" Chen's life, beginning in China in 1853, then coming to America, as told by Opa to Maizy.
The prose is simple without ever being simplistic (In my family, sometimes what's not said takes up more space than what is), the characters a wide range from repellent to lovely, with plenty of complexity between; the pacing is brisk enough to keep me turning the pages until I suddenly found myself done. I can see a kid reader racing through this book.
I think what I appreciated most was Yee's clarity of vision. She gives us characters representing all the warts and foibles of human nature, with a strong glimmering of compassion tying everything together. This is not a flowers and rainbows book of everybody simple and happy, which can hit false notes, especially for kids today who hear their parents' worries and who might have family stories about racial slurs, or have been hit with them themselves.
But it is also not one of those dreary seventies Problem Novels that (in my classroom experience) put more kids off reading than not, and also implied somehow that being other than white cis het was A Problem--not a message that is helpful to anyone.
The book is funny and scary by turns, thoughtful and wise, as adults as well as kids make mistakes and learn from them--or don't. I would have bought this in hardback for my classroom shelf. Two copies.
Copy provided by NetGalley
March 6, 2023
A wonderful, wonderful book! Maizy and her adventures in Last Chance, Minnesota, discovering her family, discovering history, discovering herself, is just perfection.
Yee did an amazing job of balancing the heartache with humor, of laying out grim facts from the past but keeping it light enough to not traumatize younger readers. I would love to eat at the Golden Palace, and give Bud the Bear a pat on the paw, and see what special fortune Maizy put in my cookie!
Yee did an amazing job of balancing the heartache with humor, of laying out grim facts from the past but keeping it light enough to not traumatize younger readers. I would love to eat at the Golden Palace, and give Bud the Bear a pat on the paw, and see what special fortune Maizy put in my cookie!
March 13, 2023
Maizy Chen’s Last Chance is a spellbinding middle grade book about one Chinese family’s heritage and the granddaughter who ties it all together. This book highlights the challenges that Chinese people have faced while immigrating to the US. It also shows how immigrants can find family among themselves and in their communities. Maizy Chen’s Last Chance also depicts a protagonist whose father was a sperm donor, like Nikki in Nikki on the Line. Some kids with unique family situations may appreciate this detail. I loved this one and I always enjoy Lisa Yee’s storytelling. This is a must-read.
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/maizy-...
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/maizy-...
November 30, 2021
A fabulous middle grade novel!
Would be a great pairing with MG novels Front Desk & The Parker Inheritance + picture book Paper Son.
Would be a great pairing with MG novels Front Desk & The Parker Inheritance + picture book Paper Son.
August 13, 2023
As a reread, I enjoyed this even more than I did the first time and have upped the rating from 4⭐s to 5⭐s.
8/8/23 Well-written and well researched, Lisa Yee's book is a wonderful story about a Chinese American girl from Los Angeles who finds herself living in small town Minnesota for a summer with her Mom and grandparents who run a Chinese restaurant in town. Maizy learns poker, hears family stories and experiences prejudice. She speaks up for herself and solves a mystery. She has quite the summer and it turns out Last Chance wasn't the boring small town she thought it would be.
11/16/23 Alas, it did not win the NBA for Young People's Literature. The winner was All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir.
10/4/22 Update - Now an NBA finalist for Young People's Literature, winner to be announced on November 16, watch the awards live.
9/25/22 Only child Maizy and her Mom travel from big city California to spend the summer in small town Minnesota where Mom grew up as the daughter of the local Chinese restaurant owners. Is it possible for Maizy to have a relationship with grandparents that she barely knows? What secrets does the town of Last Chance hold for Mom and Maizy?
Not everyone is who they seem or appear to be in this story about family secrets & histories, prejudice and Chinese American immigrants. Give this one to anyone who likes stories about families and family dynamics.
8/8/23 Well-written and well researched, Lisa Yee's book is a wonderful story about a Chinese American girl from Los Angeles who finds herself living in small town Minnesota for a summer with her Mom and grandparents who run a Chinese restaurant in town. Maizy learns poker, hears family stories and experiences prejudice. She speaks up for herself and solves a mystery. She has quite the summer and it turns out Last Chance wasn't the boring small town she thought it would be.
11/16/23 Alas, it did not win the NBA for Young People's Literature. The winner was All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir.
10/4/22 Update - Now an NBA finalist for Young People's Literature, winner to be announced on November 16, watch the awards live.
9/25/22 Only child Maizy and her Mom travel from big city California to spend the summer in small town Minnesota where Mom grew up as the daughter of the local Chinese restaurant owners. Is it possible for Maizy to have a relationship with grandparents that she barely knows? What secrets does the town of Last Chance hold for Mom and Maizy?
Not everyone is who they seem or appear to be in this story about family secrets & histories, prejudice and Chinese American immigrants. Give this one to anyone who likes stories about families and family dynamics.
May 15, 2022
i LOVED this. maizy chen's last chance is a heartfelt story with earnest characters and themes i rooted for wholeheartedly - and it was exactly what i needed to read today, a day when i could've really used a pick-me-up. i can't wait to reread this!
Was Lucky happy here in Last Chance? When I near the Golden Palace, I try to look at it the way Lucky would have the first time he got off the train. I’m not just walking into a building—it feels like I’m walking into a story.
June 11, 2022
I'd say 3.5 stars. This was an engaging read that would be a great way to start conversations with teens about immigration, as well as introducing them to Chinese immigration in US history. I did feel like some of the side characters were either under-developed or unnecessary, making them hard to keep track of and remember, and (again, in my opinion) some of the "extra" issues she tacked on as themes felt forced, like she was trying to check boxes to appeal to others. But the main characters were super lovable and I enjoyed the "story within a story" element.
July 2, 2023
A Chinese-American saga
Maizy Chen is an ordinary twelve-year-old girl living near Los Angeles. She also happens to be Chinese-American, but this fact has not been terribly important to her life in the past. She is the only child of a successful single mother. One summer her mother takes her off to the little town of Last Chance, Minnesota, where Maizy's grandmother and grandfather own and run a restaurant called the Golden Palace. Maizy is drawn into the life of Last Chance and the operation of the Golden Palace. Simultaneously, her grandfather tells her stories of her family -- how his grandfather (Maizy's great-great-grandfather) came to the USA during the California Gold Rush, worked on the railroad, and eventually became a successful restauranteur in Last Chance. During that time the Golden Palace became a sort of haven for Chinese Immigrants trying to make lives in the USA.
As I read Lisa Yee's Maizy Chen's Last Chance it felt familiar to me. I recently read Ken Liu's All the Flavors (in the collection The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories) and Kelly Yang's Front Desk. All the Flavors is a story about the Chinese community in Idaho (which historically had one of the largest Chinese immigrant communities of the United States.) Front Desk is about a modern Chinese family who comes to the USA and takes on the management of a motel.
Together, Front Desk and All the Flavors cover similar subjects to Maizy Chen's Last Chance. But they are, in my opinion better. The stories are better and better told. Yang's Mia Tang is, to my taste, a more interesting character than Yee's Maizy Chen, and Liu's Logan (Lao Guan) is more fascinating to me than Maizy's grandfather.
Now, I am in some mental conflict here. There is a part of me that thinks, "You should not rate Maizy Chen's Last Chance relative to other stories about the same subject. If it's a good book, then give it a good rating!" But there's also a part of me that replies, "Why not? In reality, every book I read is a choice -- I don't have time to read all the books I want to. If nothing else, Front Desk and All the Flavors suggest it could be done better." Thus three stars -- my "I'm not sorry I read this" rating.
Blog review.
Maizy Chen is an ordinary twelve-year-old girl living near Los Angeles. She also happens to be Chinese-American, but this fact has not been terribly important to her life in the past. She is the only child of a successful single mother. One summer her mother takes her off to the little town of Last Chance, Minnesota, where Maizy's grandmother and grandfather own and run a restaurant called the Golden Palace. Maizy is drawn into the life of Last Chance and the operation of the Golden Palace. Simultaneously, her grandfather tells her stories of her family -- how his grandfather (Maizy's great-great-grandfather) came to the USA during the California Gold Rush, worked on the railroad, and eventually became a successful restauranteur in Last Chance. During that time the Golden Palace became a sort of haven for Chinese Immigrants trying to make lives in the USA.
As I read Lisa Yee's Maizy Chen's Last Chance it felt familiar to me. I recently read Ken Liu's All the Flavors (in the collection The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories) and Kelly Yang's Front Desk. All the Flavors is a story about the Chinese community in Idaho (which historically had one of the largest Chinese immigrant communities of the United States.) Front Desk is about a modern Chinese family who comes to the USA and takes on the management of a motel.
Together, Front Desk and All the Flavors cover similar subjects to Maizy Chen's Last Chance. But they are, in my opinion better. The stories are better and better told. Yang's Mia Tang is, to my taste, a more interesting character than Yee's Maizy Chen, and Liu's Logan (Lao Guan) is more fascinating to me than Maizy's grandfather.
Now, I am in some mental conflict here. There is a part of me that thinks, "You should not rate Maizy Chen's Last Chance relative to other stories about the same subject. If it's a good book, then give it a good rating!" But there's also a part of me that replies, "Why not? In reality, every book I read is a choice -- I don't have time to read all the books I want to. If nothing else, Front Desk and All the Flavors suggest it could be done better." Thus three stars -- my "I'm not sorry I read this" rating.
Blog review.
August 31, 2023
A pleasure to read!
Favorite things:
• Lucky’s story (Maizy’s great-great-grandfather) being told to Maizy by her grandfather. I loved how it was woven into the story—my only complaint is that I wanted more!
• Maizy writing personalized fortunes for fortune cookies that she’d then give to the patrons of her grandparents restaurant. She was wise and funny!
• I loved the overall message of the book: how important it is to take care of each other.
Favorite things:
• Lucky’s story (Maizy’s great-great-grandfather) being told to Maizy by her grandfather. I loved how it was woven into the story—my only complaint is that I wanted more!
• Maizy writing personalized fortunes for fortune cookies that she’d then give to the patrons of her grandparents restaurant. She was wise and funny!
• I loved the overall message of the book: how important it is to take care of each other.
January 22, 2022
This was my first novel by the author and I really enjoyed it! It is a standalone novel about a girl, Maizy Chen, who lives with her single mother in Los Angeles. They spend the summer with her grandparents, because her grandfather (Opa) is not in good health and her mother wants to help her parents out. They end up in the fictional town of Last Chance, Minnesota, which was on the railroad line a hundred years ago, connecting the Midwest with the West Coast. Her grandparents have not had much of a presence in her life and the relationship between her mother and grandparents seems to be strained. Her grandparents own the only Chinese restaurant in town, and as Maizy spends the days, she becomes closer to her Opa, who tells her story about Lucky, his grandfather. In the meantime, some of the townsfolk target Maizy for bullying because her family is the only Chinese family in town. Without revealing any spoilers, I learned a lot from this book, even if the place and story is fictional. In particular, I learned about the transcontinental railroad and how 20,000 Chinese immigrants were instrumental in getting it built. I also learned about the "paper sons" which I have never heard of and I love how the author tied it into Maizy's family history. And I loved the food, both the food cooked by her Oma/restaurant, as well as the Brats made by Werner.
This story is written children, and I would say the target audience is about 3rd-6th grade, depending on the reading level of the kids. The chapters are short, and parents could easily read a few chapters at bedtime. I think this book is thought-provoking and could lead to many positive discussions. I would definitely recommend this to my students.
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story is written children, and I would say the target audience is about 3rd-6th grade, depending on the reading level of the kids. The chapters are short, and parents could easily read a few chapters at bedtime. I think this book is thought-provoking and could lead to many positive discussions. I would definitely recommend this to my students.
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 26, 2022
This is a very sweet story about connecting with family and learning about heritage, and I generally enjoyed it. I particularly loved the stories about Maizy's ancestors and her efforts to make connections with descendants of those with similar stories to hers. The characters were well drawn and I loved the setting of Last Chance, MN, and the Golden Palace. However, I thought the writing was relatively pedestrian, with unrealistic dialogue and some leaps in logic that were difficult to ignore. Maizy is also one of those kid characters who is somehow much smarter and more insightful than all the adults in her life, a trope that always makes me roll my eyes a little. Overall, though, this is a valuable story, even if the writing occasionally lapses into the mediocre.
March 11, 2023
2.5 stars: This story started out very strong, but it didn’t come together for me. I really liked how the author incorporated Chinese history and culture into this story. The relationships in this book felt very surface level and I never felt connected to the story or the characters. I felt like the author wanted to hit so many points in this story, so nothing felt fleshed out or impactful. This book won the Newbery Honor award and I just don’t think this story is distinctive or memorable.
March 10, 2023
Didn't like it and neither did my kids-- really pushed the whole racism thing - and hit your head with it over and over. and then the gay couple at the end-- not happy she threw that in- can't believe this was a finalist for book of the year-- it wasn't even written that well
February 9, 2023
I completely enjoyed 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘻𝘺 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 by Lisa Yee. It was a Newbery Honor winner. 5/5 stars.
It was fast moving, and readers will learn so much.
Maizy and her mom leave Los Angeles for the summer to spend time in Last Chance, Minnesota because Maizy’s grandfather, her Opa, is sick. She helps out at the family restaurant, the Golden Palace, and learns about its history, along with some of her own.
Family relationships, grandparents, family lore, stories within stories, friendship, Chinese immigration, Chinese Exclusion Act, paper sons and daughters, Chinese Americans, poker, cooking, loss.
It would make a FANTASTIC read-aloud, and an important one because of the increased racism towards Asian Americans. I’d say 3rd grade + but younger readers will need help with the historical components. She was a minor character, but I sure loved Daisy.
It was fast moving, and readers will learn so much.
Maizy and her mom leave Los Angeles for the summer to spend time in Last Chance, Minnesota because Maizy’s grandfather, her Opa, is sick. She helps out at the family restaurant, the Golden Palace, and learns about its history, along with some of her own.
Family relationships, grandparents, family lore, stories within stories, friendship, Chinese immigration, Chinese Exclusion Act, paper sons and daughters, Chinese Americans, poker, cooking, loss.
It would make a FANTASTIC read-aloud, and an important one because of the increased racism towards Asian Americans. I’d say 3rd grade + but younger readers will need help with the historical components. She was a minor character, but I sure loved Daisy.
October 29, 2022
This is a book for younger readers but was a page tuner for me as well. This story touches on everything - families, communities, racism, death/dying, friendships, Chinese American history; it has something for everyone. I chose it as it is up for the National Book award and I see why! The author grew up in the same city as I did in an adjacent community which was an added bonus.
August 22, 2023
A great historical fiction novel.
June 2, 2023
While sweet and short, Maizy Chen's Last Chance just didn't strike me as anything powerful or memorable. Maizy was a okay character who lacked a strong character or personality. The side characters were sweet but felt rather unexplored. I wish this book could have tackled darker subjects or delved deeper in others such as hate crimes, racism, and systematic racism.
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March 21, 2024reading a middle reader every month is healing my inner child everyone shut up!!!!!!!
October 26, 2022
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Maizy and her mother live in California, where her never-married mother works as a well-known food stylist. Maizy has only met her Oma and Opa once, when her mother's parents came to visit, but immediately left. When Opa becomes ill, Maizy and her mother decide to spend the summer in Last Chance, Minnesota, where her grandparents run a Chinese restaurant. It's certainly a different sort of life, and while she misses her best friend, Maizy settles in to small town life. She meets Logan, who is nice, and some mean girls, who seem to be making fun of her. She spends a lot of time in the restaurant, where she gets to know Daisy, the only staff member, and some of the regulars. She is also tasked with keeping Opa company, and the two spend a lot of time watching a food television show. When she learns that Werner, who runs a bratwurst stand, used to be her grandfather's best friend, but they had a falling out, she trades food from the Golden Palace for sausage sandwiches, hoping to get Opa to eat more. Eventually, Werner comes to spend time with his old friend, although they watch television rather than talk. Her mother seems to be reconnecting with a high school flame, who is now the school principal. When Maizy experiences some racial tension, since her family is the only Asian-American one in town, her grandfather starts to tell her about some family history. Going back into the mid 1800s, we find out about Lucky Chen, who left China to come work in California and fled when he was wrongly accused of stealing from his employers. He got a ticket as far as Minnesota, and got a job as a cook at the Golden Grille. Throughout the book, we see Lucky and his descendants' stories of discrimination contrasted with what is going on in Last Chance now, which includes racial slurs painted on the restaurant and the stealing of a stuffed bear mascot. Maizy learns a lot about the history of her family, her grandparents, and how the struggles that Chinese-Americans have experienced through history are still continuing today.
Strengths: Maizy was a great character who wasn't too thrilled to be away from home for the summer but who made the best of her experiences. She was glad to get to know her grandparents, to hang out in a different place, and to learn about her family history. So many middle grade characters approach new experiences with negativity, so this was great to see. I'm usually not a fan of the story-within-a-story, but Opa's tale about Lucky and the Golden Palace worked extremely well, and I was looking forward to the next installment as much as Maizy was. The secondary characters, like Principal Holmes, Daisy, and Werner help to give a good feel for the dynamics of the town; Principal Holmes is married to a man, and lives in a nearby city because he's not sure how this will go over with residents, Daisy has some learning challenges but thrives when given a chance by Oma to work, and Werner's family highlights the German residents who first came to Last Chance. I have relatives in a much smaller Iowa community, and the details about a small town Midwest community are spot on. Now, we just need some newer historical novels about Paper Sons and Chinese workers in the 1800s, and if they are written in such an engaging style, they'd see a lot of circulation.
Weaknesses: The subplot with the mayor felt a bit forced, and Maizy's interplay with the local mean girls didn't quite gel as much as it could have.
What I really think: This was a perfect balance between a fun setting and characters, and more serious issues and history. It had a lot of similarities to Johnson's The Parker Inheritance, with the blend of modern and historical problems, or Luz Alegre's Dream Weavers, with the family business. I'm always a fan of characters who get to know their grandparents and who get to experience other places in the world, and Maizy makes the most of her opportunities. Definitely glad to add this to my selection of summer adventures for my readers.
Maizy and her mother live in California, where her never-married mother works as a well-known food stylist. Maizy has only met her Oma and Opa once, when her mother's parents came to visit, but immediately left. When Opa becomes ill, Maizy and her mother decide to spend the summer in Last Chance, Minnesota, where her grandparents run a Chinese restaurant. It's certainly a different sort of life, and while she misses her best friend, Maizy settles in to small town life. She meets Logan, who is nice, and some mean girls, who seem to be making fun of her. She spends a lot of time in the restaurant, where she gets to know Daisy, the only staff member, and some of the regulars. She is also tasked with keeping Opa company, and the two spend a lot of time watching a food television show. When she learns that Werner, who runs a bratwurst stand, used to be her grandfather's best friend, but they had a falling out, she trades food from the Golden Palace for sausage sandwiches, hoping to get Opa to eat more. Eventually, Werner comes to spend time with his old friend, although they watch television rather than talk. Her mother seems to be reconnecting with a high school flame, who is now the school principal. When Maizy experiences some racial tension, since her family is the only Asian-American one in town, her grandfather starts to tell her about some family history. Going back into the mid 1800s, we find out about Lucky Chen, who left China to come work in California and fled when he was wrongly accused of stealing from his employers. He got a ticket as far as Minnesota, and got a job as a cook at the Golden Grille. Throughout the book, we see Lucky and his descendants' stories of discrimination contrasted with what is going on in Last Chance now, which includes racial slurs painted on the restaurant and the stealing of a stuffed bear mascot. Maizy learns a lot about the history of her family, her grandparents, and how the struggles that Chinese-Americans have experienced through history are still continuing today.
Strengths: Maizy was a great character who wasn't too thrilled to be away from home for the summer but who made the best of her experiences. She was glad to get to know her grandparents, to hang out in a different place, and to learn about her family history. So many middle grade characters approach new experiences with negativity, so this was great to see. I'm usually not a fan of the story-within-a-story, but Opa's tale about Lucky and the Golden Palace worked extremely well, and I was looking forward to the next installment as much as Maizy was. The secondary characters, like Principal Holmes, Daisy, and Werner help to give a good feel for the dynamics of the town; Principal Holmes is married to a man, and lives in a nearby city because he's not sure how this will go over with residents, Daisy has some learning challenges but thrives when given a chance by Oma to work, and Werner's family highlights the German residents who first came to Last Chance. I have relatives in a much smaller Iowa community, and the details about a small town Midwest community are spot on. Now, we just need some newer historical novels about Paper Sons and Chinese workers in the 1800s, and if they are written in such an engaging style, they'd see a lot of circulation.
Weaknesses: The subplot with the mayor felt a bit forced, and Maizy's interplay with the local mean girls didn't quite gel as much as it could have.
What I really think: This was a perfect balance between a fun setting and characters, and more serious issues and history. It had a lot of similarities to Johnson's The Parker Inheritance, with the blend of modern and historical problems, or Luz Alegre's Dream Weavers, with the family business. I'm always a fan of characters who get to know their grandparents and who get to experience other places in the world, and Maizy makes the most of her opportunities. Definitely glad to add this to my selection of summer adventures for my readers.
November 16, 2022
"Not everything illegal is wrong..." p.97
"When you're in a position to help, that means you're in a good place in your own life..." p.97
"Things aren't always what they seem. The same goes for people." p.201
"When you're in a position to help, that means you're in a good place in your own life..." p.97
"Things aren't always what they seem. The same goes for people." p.201
March 6, 2022
I got this audiobook as a whim on Libby, so I didn't go in with any expectations, and I was pleasently surprised.
This book follows Maizy Chen throughout her summer at her mom's hometown, Last Chance. She and her mother are there because Maizy's Opa, her grandfather, is sick. Her summer doesn't really begin on a good start with her dropping her phone down a well and some mean girls being, well, mean. She quickly finds her summer changing for the better, though, when her Opa begins to tell her stories about Lucky, Opa's grandfather.
I didn't really start to get into this until the second half. The writing was a bit clunky, and you could definitely tell that it was meant for younger kids. The transitions between scenes were rough and there were some scenes that served no purpose at all to the story. I was really caught up on that for the first fifty percent. The chapters are also super short and sometimes cut off in places that don't make sense, but if you can get past that, I think this story is phenomenal.
The second half of the story was really when my love for the main character began to grow. Maizy Chen is the perfect middle-grade protagonist. She's smart, she's lovable, she's kind, and I just wanted to hug her. Ever since To Kill a Mockingbird, I have been fascinated with the way dark subjects such as racism and homophobia are seen through the eyes of a child, and the way the author portrays racism is still dark but not so scary that it would make children (especially non-white children) fear the world.
Maizy's grandparents, Opa and Oma, were adorable and they made me squee. Opa's Lucky stories, at least to me, were the main drive of the story for a while. I found myself wanting to jump out of the present tense and dive headfirst into Lucky's tale. After a while, I learned to appreciate Maizy's story also.
The side characters were mostly really well written. I found myself really attached to Daisy and her avid activism for recycling despite the fact she was really shy. Lady McBeth (Idk if I'm spelling that right because I listened to an audiobook) provided the classic 'don't judge a book by its cover' lesson and it was done really well. My only complaint regarding this aspect was Logan. He very much felt like his storyline revolved around Maisy. His only purpose was the further Maizy's story. He was still adorable and I loved him, but every time he showed up, I was kinda like 'why are you here again?'
I liked how there was never a very climactic confrontation. It was felt very rooted in reality. That being said, I don't really get
Overall, very sweet read. Definitely deserves more hype.
This book follows Maizy Chen throughout her summer at her mom's hometown, Last Chance. She and her mother are there because Maizy's Opa, her grandfather, is sick. Her summer doesn't really begin on a good start with her dropping her phone down a well and some mean girls being, well, mean. She quickly finds her summer changing for the better, though, when her Opa begins to tell her stories about Lucky, Opa's grandfather.
I didn't really start to get into this until the second half. The writing was a bit clunky, and you could definitely tell that it was meant for younger kids. The transitions between scenes were rough and there were some scenes that served no purpose at all to the story. I was really caught up on that for the first fifty percent. The chapters are also super short and sometimes cut off in places that don't make sense, but if you can get past that, I think this story is phenomenal.
The second half of the story was really when my love for the main character began to grow. Maizy Chen is the perfect middle-grade protagonist. She's smart, she's lovable, she's kind, and I just wanted to hug her. Ever since To Kill a Mockingbird, I have been fascinated with the way dark subjects such as racism and homophobia are seen through the eyes of a child, and the way the author portrays racism is still dark but not so scary that it would make children (especially non-white children) fear the world.
Maizy's grandparents, Opa and Oma, were adorable and they made me squee. Opa's Lucky stories, at least to me, were the main drive of the story for a while. I found myself wanting to jump out of the present tense and dive headfirst into Lucky's tale. After a while, I learned to appreciate Maizy's story also.
The side characters were mostly really well written. I found myself really attached to Daisy and her avid activism for recycling despite the fact she was really shy. Lady McBeth (Idk if I'm spelling that right because I listened to an audiobook) provided the classic 'don't judge a book by its cover' lesson and it was done really well. My only complaint regarding this aspect was Logan. He very much felt like his storyline revolved around Maisy. His only purpose was the further Maizy's story. He was still adorable and I loved him, but every time he showed up, I was kinda like 'why are you here again?'
I liked how there was never a very climactic confrontation. It was felt very rooted in reality. That being said, I don't really get
Overall, very sweet read. Definitely deserves more hype.
October 28, 2022
Such an amazing story within a story. Maizy Chen is an exceptional character who is the relationship bridge between her grandparents and mom. She’s incredibly clever with a wonderful heart!
May 25, 2022
Maizy Chen's Last Chance is a touching story that blends modern-day fiction with historical facts. Throughout her visit, Maizy's grandfather tells her stories about her great-great-grandfather's journey from China to America and the challenges and prejudices he faced. In addition to the family geneology, her grandfather describes the experiences of Chinese immigrants in America, from their role in building the transcontinental railroad to anti-Chinese animosity leading to immigration restrictions.
Integral to the story is the time Maizy gets to spend with her grandparents and with the residents of Last Chance where her grandparents run a Chinese restaurant that has been in the family for over one hundred years. This is an emotional story that offers many glimpses into family relationships as well as facing prejudice. A well-written middle grade novel
Integral to the story is the time Maizy gets to spend with her grandparents and with the residents of Last Chance where her grandparents run a Chinese restaurant that has been in the family for over one hundred years. This is an emotional story that offers many glimpses into family relationships as well as facing prejudice. A well-written middle grade novel
August 4, 2022
Do not miss this book. Incredible storytelling on two timelines! Of course I loved Maizy and her grandpa, and there are many complex characters. Good middle grade fiction tells complex stories in an accessible way and this book does exactly that. Lisa Yee’s writing about immigration and both past & present racism is of course so relevant to the modern day, and again - complex ideas written in a super accessible way. She doesn’t shy away from reality and that is important because readers are living that reality. This book can be a mirror for many kids and a window for many others, and I will be recommending it to everyone I know, including allllll the librarians.
Shelved as 'notes-on-unfinished-books'
August 9, 2022Great! I read about 25 pages. Yee uses well-chosen, specific details to make the settings feel real and personal. She shows the characters doing significant things that make me want to read more about them. The setup of small mysteries and cliffhangers gives the story a lot of momentum. I would love to come back and read more of this book, time permitting.
September 10, 2022
A heartwarming story of food, family, culture and the importance of remembering the stories of the past and how they shape the present, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance is a heartfelt and emotional story that acts as a fantastic introduction to the history and trials of Chinese American immigrants and their descendants.
TW: racism, hate crime, racial slur
TW: racism, hate crime, racial slur
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February 5, 2023I loved the way "Maizy Chen's Last Chance" taught the history of Chinese American immigrants - especially through Opa's "Lucky" stories - and how it addressed anti-Asian racism. I thought the majority of this book was very good, but the author brought up some other issues that leave me uncertain about how to rate it.
"In poker, the power of suggestion can unconsciously change behavior....[Maizy's] fortunes are kind of like that. The power of suggestion only in a cookie."
This power of suggestion can also be found in the books we read. These suggestions can be based on truth (racism is an attack against the dignity of a person and is unequivocally wrong ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) but they can also be false (people who believe in the importance of traditional marriage for the good of society are old-fashioned at the best and bigots at the worst ⭐).
Less than a third of the way into "Maizy Chen's Last Chance" Maizy's mother claims, "Not getting married saved me from getting a divorce." I thought maybe she going to explain how she was in a bad relationship with Maizy's father, but she was simply determined to have child, married or not. Where does her fear of divorce come from? It is certainly not because of her "old-fashioned" parents whose love for each other is one of the *best* things in this book.
For some reason, Maizy loves to hear about how her father, some athletic Chinese law student, was a sperm donor She can find out more about him when she turns 18 if she wants to. It's no big deal. Maizy loves living with just her mom and couldn't imagine sharing her with anyone else.
However, near the end of the book, Maizy overcomes her jealousy about the time her mom is spending with her childhood friend, now Principal Holmes, and tells him it's OK if he wants to date her mother. He then reveals that he loves someone else. "Chris is my husband...[but]...not everyone around here is happy we got married." Maizy chides him "I don't understand why you're trying to make the bigots feel comfortable."
Books do change the way people think and the way they behave, especially when they're written for children. In some instances I have hope that those changes will be for the better, but in others I fear it will be for the worse.
"In poker, the power of suggestion can unconsciously change behavior....[Maizy's] fortunes are kind of like that. The power of suggestion only in a cookie."
This power of suggestion can also be found in the books we read. These suggestions can be based on truth (racism is an attack against the dignity of a person and is unequivocally wrong ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) but they can also be false (people who believe in the importance of traditional marriage for the good of society are old-fashioned at the best and bigots at the worst ⭐).
Less than a third of the way into "Maizy Chen's Last Chance" Maizy's mother claims, "Not getting married saved me from getting a divorce." I thought maybe she going to explain how she was in a bad relationship with Maizy's father, but she was simply determined to have child, married or not. Where does her fear of divorce come from? It is certainly not because of her "old-fashioned" parents whose love for each other is one of the *best* things in this book.
For some reason, Maizy loves to hear about how her father, some athletic Chinese law student, was a sperm donor She can find out more about him when she turns 18 if she wants to. It's no big deal. Maizy loves living with just her mom and couldn't imagine sharing her with anyone else.
However, near the end of the book, Maizy overcomes her jealousy about the time her mom is spending with her childhood friend, now Principal Holmes, and tells him it's OK if he wants to date her mother. He then reveals that he loves someone else. "Chris is my husband...[but]...not everyone around here is happy we got married." Maizy chides him "I don't understand why you're trying to make the bigots feel comfortable."
Books do change the way people think and the way they behave, especially when they're written for children. In some instances I have hope that those changes will be for the better, but in others I fear it will be for the worse.
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