Meilan and her family move from Chinatown in Boston to a rural town in Ohio after selling her grandmother's bakery. Meilan feels that everything that happened was the result of a family argument. Not only that, but she feels like she started that fight. In her new town of Redbud, Meilan deals with injustice and racism towards her. She also struggles to define who she really is, vacillating between the many meanings of her name between school and home.



Wow, what a great book. I related to Meilan feeling like a family fight was all her fault and wanting to reunite her family, even when being apart may have been better for them. I experienced something similar around her age, so this part of the book was a total mirror for me. I really related and saw my situation. On the other hand, The Many Meanings of Meilan will provide a mirror for some readers and a window for others, like myself. Meilan really had a community in Chinatown, and in Redbud is the target of bullying from adults and children alike because she is Chinese. With the support of friends and family, Meilan really finds meaning within herself. This book explored grief, injustice, and finding home in such an impactful way and was a clear 5 star read for me.

As her extended family seems to be falling apart (thinks it is her fault), moving with her father, mother and grandfather, Meilan finds herself in a small Ohio town that lacks any diversity. Her family, speaking mostly Madarin, makes it harder in school. The mean principal renames her Melanie. Angered by her mother's acceptance she because a different personality matching a different meaning of her names. She meets the twins next door, Logan a friend and Liam mean. In the end when the three help find grandfather they become friends. Meilan realizes she does not control other people's choices, was not the cause of the family falling apart. Sad but redeeming at the end.

After the death of her grandmother, the family bakery in Boston Chinatown is sold due to the discord among family members. Meilan, her parents and grandfather start visiting friends in different locations, looking for a new place to settle - finally landing in Redbud, Ohio. When her mother enrolls her at the local school, the principle changes her name to Melanie, saying it will help her to fit in. Meilan's solution to being the only Asian in the school is to try to stay invisible. Her one friend is a boy named Logan. While the fact that Meilan is Chinese is part of the story, it's all about finding one's place in a new location.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

I know so many students will be able to relate to this book. In the book, Meilan has to move to another state and when she starts there, her principal makes her change her name to Melanie so it is easier to say. I know so many students to whom this has happened. She also has to navigate moving to a new town and making friends. The book is written with some Mandarin written in and a glossary at the back to help readers better understand the sayings.

After a falling out over money, Meilan and her family move away from Boston, where her family owned a bakery with their extended family, and end up at a small town in Ohio, Meilan needs to learn how to be her true self. Which is hard when she soon realizes that she doesn't feel like she fits in, and that she doesn't look "American" enough to really belong. What comes through is a story about finding a new way, and finding your true self.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this middle grade novel.

I really enjoyed this book, and immediately thought of a couple of students who I know will love to get their hands on this when it hits the shelves. Living in the Boston area, many of the landmarks were also familiar, which will be an added bonus for our students. Meilan's journey is unfortunately all to familiar for many students. Americanizing students names is a custom I wish we could grow out of, but so many kids and families feel the need to do this still. I'm grateful for this book's take on holding on to yourself and your culture.

Meilan is a lot of different things and is hurting in a few different ways. When her family is uprooted and she is stuck in Redbud where she has to start everything over it's hard and she closes off into herself and becomes a different person around different people. I really felt for Meilan and her having to make new friends, and try to keep her family hopeful. She is such a beautiful strong character, and I liked how she blossomed throughout the story. I really liked all the culture throughout this story too!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I can't wait to give it to my middle grade readers!