Are You Nobody Too?, Tina Cane
Are You Nobody Too?, Tina Cane
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Are You Nobody Too?

Author: Tina Cane

Narrator: Rachel Yong

Unabridged: 4 hr 45 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/27/2024


Synopsis

After years of discomfort as the only Chinese student at her private middle school, Emily transfers to Chinatown's I.S. 23 for 8th Grade and ends up feeling more disconnected than ever. In this coming-of-age novel-in-verse, will Emily be able to find her way or will she lose herself completely?

After a year of distance-learning, Emily Sofer finds her world turned upside down: she has to leave the only school she's ever known to attend a public school in Chinatown. For the first time, Emily isn't the only Chinese student around...but looking like everyone else doesn't mean that understanding them will be easy--especially with an intimidating group of cool girls Emily calls The Five.

When Emily discovers that her adoptive parents have been keeping a secret, she feels even more uncertain about who she is. A chance discovery of Emily Dickinson's poetry helps her finally feel seen. . . but can the words of a writer from 200 years ago help her open up again, and find common ground with the Five?

About The Author

Tina Cane grew up in downtown New York City, and she draws much of her creative inspiration from her experiences as a city kid. The founder-director of Writers-in-the-Schools, RI, Tina was also the poet laureate of Rhode Island, where she lives with her family, who are a major source of inspiration.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Emily on April 28, 2024

This is a slow-paced novel in verse that feels authentic to the introverted young teen experience. It doesn’t, however, feel authentic to the international adoptee experience in my opinion— the conversation isn’t nuanced enough for such a sensitive topic. Emily finds out that her parents were pregna......more

Goodreads review by Rachel on July 12, 2024

Narrating this gem of a book! 🥲......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on January 26, 2025

Emily, a Chinese girl who was adopted as a toddler by white parents, has recently moved to a new school and is having trouble fitting in. A chance encounter with the poetry of Emily Dickinson's poetry allows her to really think about "fitting in" and friendship. Cane does a nice job of introducing y......more

Goodreads review by Christiana on June 23, 2024

This is the first book I have read set after the height of the pandemic. I have read a handful set during the pandemic, but this is the first time I have read one set during in-person school. This story follows Emily, an adopted Chinese-American girl whose parents have transferred her away from her......more

Goodreads review by Dini - dinipandareads on August 29, 2024

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Make Me a World for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion. 3 stars TL;DR: This was a unique middle-grade contemporary told in verse. The author had a unique way of expressing th......more


Quotes

"Captures big, serious ideas about life and relationships with brevity." —Kirkus Reviews

"Introspective first-person verse skillfully depicts Emily’s conflicting emotions, which feel palpable as she grapples with the social nuances of each new experience." —Publishers Weekly

"With art and care, Cane [...] crafts a story that’s both lyrical and deeply relatable."Lit Hub