Maizy Chens Last Chance, Lisa Yee
Maizy Chens Last Chance, Lisa Yee
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Maizy Chen's Last Chance
(Newbery Honor Award Winner)

Author: Lisa Yee

Narrator: Yu-Li Alice Shen

Unabridged: 4 hr 41 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/01/2022

Synopsis

NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE

Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family’s Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY School Library Journal • Booklist • The Horn Book • New York Public Library • One of Slate’s 25 Greatest Picture Books of the Past 25 Years

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 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. 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 to find the answers.

About The Author

Lisa Yee is a Newbery Honoree and National Book Award finalist for Maizy Chen’s Last Chance. She is also the author of over 21 books for young people, including the groundbreaking Millicent Min, Girl Genius; Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time; and the DC Super Hero Girls novel series. Lisa is a frequent contributor to NPR’s Books We Love. A third-generation Chinese American, Lisa says, “I wrote Maizy Chen’s Last Chance as a tribute to my grandparents and to all the immigrants who made the journey to America.” Lisa divides her time between Western Massachusetts and Los Angeles.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Bookishrealm on February 12, 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......more

Goodreads review by Claude's on September 06, 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 t......more

Goodreads review by Darla on January 28, 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 restaur......more

Goodreads review by Christy on October 08, 2024

4 stars I enjoyed Maizy’s story in ‘Maizy Chen’s Last Chance’. Not only did we get her story, but we got the story of her family members when her grandfather talked about his grandfather, Lucky. This book hit important topics, but was also entertaining. Audio book source: Libby Story Rating: 4 star......more

Goodreads review by Jessica on March 06, 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 n......more

Quotes

Praise for MAIZY CHEN'S LAST CHANCE:

★ “Lisa Yee combines neglected U.S. history and multi-generational family legends… to create the delightful and enlightening Maizy Chen's Last Chance.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review

★ “A moving, multilayered family narrative.” —Booklist, starred review

★ “Captivating... and prompts readers to consider what it means to be American.” —The Horn Book, starred review

★ "This fast-paced, humorous, heartwarming tale of family and history is likely to appeal to readers of all ages." —School Library Journal, starred review

“Heartfelt, personal, and real—this book is a gift.” —Tae Keller, Newbery-winning author of When You Trap a Tiger

“Bursting with humor and heart.” —Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author of Breakout

“I love this book. This is a big story and brings up much-needed discussion about the importance of community, history, and truth.” —Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor-winning author of One Crazy Summer

Awards

  • National Book Award
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