Maizy Chen's Last Chance

Informationen zum Autor Lisa Yee Klappentext "Eleven-year-old Maizy Chen visits her estranged grandparents, who own and run a Chinese restaurant in Last Chance, Minnesota; as her visit lengthens, she makes unexpected discoveries about her family's history and herself"-- Leseprobe Chapter 1 The pies were fake, but my grandparents didn't know that. Not at first, anyway. My mother had invited them to watch her work on a Tasty Flaky Pie Crust commercial. When I first started going with her to the set, Mom told me, As a food stylist, my job is to make sure everything looks good for the camera. Oma and Opa showed up directly from the airport wearing matching airplane pillows around their necks. My job was to make sure they didn't get into trouble. My grandmother's luggage had barely touched the floor when she rushed over and, in her excitement, practically knocked me down. Oma's hug felt awkward partly because of the neck pillow and also because, even though I was eight years old, it was the first time I'd met her in person. My best friend thinks it's weird that I don't know my grandparents that well. Her family is really close. It's complicated, I've tried explaining to Ginger. But the truth is, I don't understand it myself. My mom and I talk about almost everything, but when it comes to her relationship with her parents, that's a different story. On the set, Opa beamed brighter than the soundstage lights dangling overhead. Maizy, you're so big! my grandfather kept repeating before he got distracted by the pretend kitchen with only one wall. That's when Oma pointed to a tight circle of people. Shouldn't they be working? she asked. Why aren't they working? Mom stood calmly in the middle while the director yelled, Charlotte, I need practice pies, now! You'll get your pies, Mom said, motioning to the two-dozen pies lined up on folding tables. Some were fully baked, others were ready for the oven, preparing for their close-ups. My grandparents watched in shocked silence as Mom's perfectly rounded scoops of mashed potatoes stood in for vanilla ice cream, since potatoes don't melt. Instead of milk, glasses were filled with glue because that looks better on camera. Oma and Opa are in the food business, too. They own the Golden Palace. That's their Chinese restaurant in Last Chance, Minnesota. Mom once told me, Maizy, you're the last of the Last Chance Chens. That seemed weird, since I'd never even been there. I leaned in to eavesdrop as my grandparents began to whisper. Where did Charlotte learn that? Not from us! It's not real food. When Mom topped the pies with a can of shaving cream instead of whipped cream, Oma looked like she had just seen a zombie. It was all too much. My grandmother grabbed her suitcase with one hand, and my grandfather with the other. Come on, we're going home! But we just got here-- Opa protested. By now he had noticed that the back of the oven was missing and that there was a camera inside it. Before he could say anything more, Oma kissed the top of my head. We love you, Maizy. Come visit us! That was the last time I saw my grandparents. Until today. Chapter 2 An elderly woman is sweeping the sidewalk with a bamboo broom. Oma? I call to her. My grandmother drops the broom and clutches her heart. The huge black bear sculpture that towers over her makes me nervous. Opa! she cries into the Golden Palace restaurant. Our Maizy has arrived! From inside, a man's shaky voice calls out, Maizy? Maizy, come here so I can look at you! My little Maizy, Oma says. This is ironic, since my grandmother is only a couple of inches taller than me. You've finally decided to visit! I don't tell her I didn't have a choice. She looks much happier today than the last time ...

Autorentext

Lisa Yee

Klappentext

NEWBERY HONOR AWARD • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST •
ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE WINNER • Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family’s Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family.

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 to find the answers.

  “Heartfelt, personal, and real—this book is a gift.” —TAE KELLER, Newbery Medal–winning author of When You Trap a Tiger***

  Zusammenfassung
  **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**

  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.

  Leseprobe

Chapter 1

The pies were fake, but my grandparents didn t know that. Not at first, anyway. My mother had invited them to watch her work on a Tasty Flaky Pie Crust commercial. When I first started going with her to the set, Mom told me, As a food stylist, my job is to make sure everything looks good for the camera.

Oma and Opa showed up directly from the airport wearing matching airplane pillows around their necks. My job was to make sure they didn t get into trouble.

My grandmother s luggage had barely touched the floor when she rushed over and, in her excitement, practically knocked me down. Oma s hug felt awkward partly because of the neck pillow and also because, even though I was eight years old, it was the first time I d met her in person. My best friend thinks it s weird that I don t know my grandparents that well. Her family is really close.

It s complicated, I ve tried explaining to Ginger. But the truth is, I don t understand it myself. My mom and I talk about almost everything, but when it comes to her relationship with her parents, that s a different story.

On the set, Opa beamed brighter than the soundstage lights dangling overhead. Maizy, you re so big! my grandfather kept repeating before he got distracted by the pretend kitchen with only …