Based on Kelly Yang’s family’s experience at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, this book is a window to others’ experiences. Yang deals with anti-Asian hate through the eyes of children experiencing it. This book is full of honesty and heart. I hope many adults will read this in addition to the intended middle grade audience. This is a must have for my middle school library. It’s on order now. I will enthusiastically recommend this book as I do all of Ms. Yang’s previous titles.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free digital ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via NetGalley. Ten-year-old Knox and his 2 siblings are living in Hong Kong when the virus hits, but they are US citizens. Their parents make the decision for the kids and mom to go back to the US, while dad stays at his job. What follows is a realistic account of a family that could be ostracized in Hong Kong for speaking Mandarin, but then in the US tension and racism for being from Asia. Each of the three kids settles into their new routines very differently and with their own struggles. The main character Knox also learns that he has ADHD, which is yet another hurdle for him to understand.

I loved Kelly Yang’s Front Desk series and the writing in this is just as fabulous. Yang educates in an entertaining and genuine manner that is very relatable. I found some of the actions by the parents to be a little odd – and I don’t think Knox’s relationship with ADHD is a one-size fits all model, but overall this is a timely and necessary read for young people to understand discrimination and persistence. 4.5 stars, just not quite 5.

The changes in our lives due to the coronavirus pandemic have unsettled our children, mostly because it has unsettled the adults who have never had to deal with a situation like this before. It’s been especially hard on children with Asian heritage because of the rise in anti-Asian sentiment in the US and other countries.
With these issues in mind, author Kelly Yang has crafted a story based on the challenges that her family faced when the pandemic hit. In News from Here she narrates from the perspective of 10-year-old Knox Wei-Evans, the middle child in a multiracial family whose lives are upended by the pandemic. Knox tells us that he tends to have a problem with “blurting things out,” which he later learns has been diagnosed as ADHD.
When Knox’s family decides it will be safer for him and his siblings to go back to California with their mother while their dad stays in Hong Kong, we see Knox dealing with a series of disruptions that are almost overwhelming. He has to cope with being the new kid in school, with missing his dad, with a dismissive older brother, with anxieties about coronavirus, with money worries (his mother loses her job), and with the consequences of his behavior, which leads to many scrapes. It’s a lot to deal with, and sometimes this book felt just a little bit frantic, but you could make the case that it reflects frantic times.
I want to point out here that the tone is not all focused on problems. Like other Yang books, there is quite a bit of humor and also ingenuity on the part of the children in solving various problems that come across. For instance, the three siblings want to raise money for their dad’s plane ticket, and in so doing they accidentally sell their mother’s prized earrings for 50 cents. How they work together to figure out where they are and how to get them back almost merits a book on its own, and I think children will enjoy this subplot.
It is evident that Yang has experience with anti-Asian bias in the community, and her portrayal is nuanced and realistic. Because Knox’s father is Caucasian, he doesn’t present as Asian, but he sees what happens to his Chinese-American friend who is continually tagged as “it” by the other kids at school who are playing “coronavirus tag.” Also, his older brother looks like their Chinese-American mother and comes in for more taunting and remarks that his siblings.
Another thing I found interesting is the portrayal of the mother, who is moving way outside her comfort zone trying to support her three children in a time of disruption while also dealing with money worries and trying to find a new job. She tries to keep the family together and upbeat, but sometimes she is unsure what to do, sometimes she makes mistakes, and sometimes she snaps, causing the children more anxiety. We know that she is doing her best to try to keep it all together, and it’s a good reminder that almost everyone in the family will need forgiveness when they say hurtful things in times of stress. She is allowed to be more human than most mothers in children’s books.
At times, we wonder – as the children do – if we are seeing a family, part, but in the end we see that they are all dedicated to each other with love and humor and resilience. It is a book that will help children see how to navigate challenging times.
Thanks to NetGalley which provided me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Kelly Yang's Front Desk series, but I really fell in love with these characters, especially Knox. This book is not only full of heart, but also shares a beautiful message of love triumphing over hate. It is timely and kids will enjoy the relatable situations. Highly recommend.

Wow! Moving a family from Hong Kong without their father to escape the Coronavirus and all the struggles that ensue as racism, no medical insurance, work issues, school issues and growing up could break a person, a family unit- BUT Knox and his siblings will do most anything to bring their family together during a confusing time!

To see the results of the Coronavirus through this book made me think about how young people reading this story may empathize and connect with the children within the story and the craziness that was in 2020!

Beautiful line: “(Racism) It’s like a virus. You know what the vaccine for racism is? Love’”

A Must Read!!

This is such a great book about family and dealing with racism, COVID and trying to fit in, in a new place.
I loved the family dynamic between Bowen, Knox and Lea. I loved watching them grow and help each other as they adjust to their new school and new area.
There are just so many great things that I can say about this book. For anyone who feels like they don't fit in, read this one!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Very few middle-grade authors capture the complexity and compassion of young people with the grace that Kelly Yang does. New From Here is another shining example of her skill. It will stretch your heart, make you think, and encourage readers to stand up and speak out. Loved it!

Reading New From Here gave me a sense of deja vu. It centers around how a family is affected by the outbreak of COVID-19, though many of the events in this book are familiar still as the battle against this virus is very much ongoing. The main character, Knox, is an Asian American elementary age boy whose family has been living in Hong Kong, though they’ve lived in California before. When the coronavirus makes its appearance in Hong Kong, it’s decided that Knox, his older brother, younger sister, and mother will move to California for their safety. Knox’s dad has to stay behind for his work. Knox has issues with focusing and self control, and his older brother, Bowen, is a perfectionist who is extremely driven. Knox misses how close they were when they were younger. At this age, Knox feels like Bowen finds fault with everything he does. As the story builds, things go from bad to worse. Both parents experience employment issues, the family is confronted with racism in America as cases of the virus show up in the United States, Knox’s impulsivity (he finally learns that he has ADHD, and feels confused and ashamed by this) continually gets him in trouble, and the tension between family members escalates. Throughout the story, everyone in the family learns lessons and keeps trying to make the best of the situation. Readers will remember the beginning of the pandemic as they are reminding of peoples’ hoarding, intense anxiety, supply shortages, and remote learning. Yang tackles many themes in this book, and empathy can be learned through Knox’s family’s hardships. This generation of readers will be able to relate to this book for years to come.

As a fan of Kelly Yang's Front Desk series, I was excited to read her book New from Here. This book is extremely relevant and current, exploring the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and its affect on Asian people living in America. My fourth grade students who are mostly Asian Americans will find this book relatable and will give them an opportunity to reflect on current issues happening in our country surrounding racism and discrimination. i look forward to putting this book in my classroom library and discussing the themes and messages with my students.

Kelly Yang's newest book, New From Here neatly packages the experiences of a family divided by the Covid-19 pandemic. Living and working in Hong Kong, the Wei-Evans family becomes separated when Dad must remain in Hong Kong for his job while Mom and the three kids head off to the "safety" of California hoping to avoid the spreading virus. Weaving in typical sibling issues along with a middle child who suffers from ADHD and an overachieving eldest son, Yang has her finger on the pulse of sibling dialog and relations. Introducing the racism that starts to permeate their community as fear and misinformation about the virus spreads lets the reader experience through the eyes of children how the actions and words of the adults around them affect their lives. Zoom sessions, FaceTime and the dwindling supply of face masks (and toilet paper) are a reality with which readers will easily connect. A book that will be read long after the pandemic has ended.

This is another amazing Middle Grade title from Kelly Yang. All middle grade readers will be able to relate to Knox as he and his family try to navigate life during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yang hits all of the important topics including family, community, and sanding up against racism. I found Knox's use of ICEE to stand up and speak out especially powerful. This is a must purchase title!

I received this ebook for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

We are at the two year mark of Covid, and it is still so bad out there. Covid affects everyone, even kids. This book is important because it not only shows how Covid can impact kids, but especially those kids of color who were blamed by classmates for the virus. While AAPI hate has gone down some since the start of the virus it is still happening. Great book, great messages, highly recommend.

Kelly Yang is an auto-buy author for me. Her books cover important topics that lead to fantastic discussions in the classroom.

Loved this contemporary story that so many students will relate to: existing in a pandemic world. In the years to come, it will be a story to help share the experiences of this time with future students.

New from Here by Kelly Yang tells the story of a family's experience navigating Covid-19. When the coronavirus hits Hong Kong, Knox's family makes a hard decision. His parents think it is in their best interest for the mom and Knox's siblings to come to the United States until it is safe to go home.

Knox and his family have many obstacles to face after their move. The kids need to get used to going to a new school. His mom loses her job and needs to find a new one to help support the family. Their dad feels the strain of the virus as well in Hong Kong. In the United States, Knox and his family also experience racism.

This is a story about how a family comes together to navigate a tough situation. It has been the first novel I have read that really focuses on what family's have experienced during Covid-19. I think many readers will be able to relate to some of the events in the novel. The characters were strong, and the plot moved smoothly.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Overall a good story (and a timely topic too!), but I sometimes felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of concurrent plots. In addition to the ongoing plot about COVID-19 and anti-Asian racism, other ongoing plots include brotherhood, ADHD, supply hoarding, price gouging, police violence (briefly), academic stress, and the gig economy. For those who are struggling to get into it, the story picks up about 1/4 of the way in. It's worth pressing onward.

4 stars

For me, Kelly Yang is a sure bet when it comes to middle grade and YA, and this newest middle grade installment is no exception. But come to this one wanting to get a young person's view of the pandemic, not with the hope of escaping it.

Yang begins with an author's note that is not to be missed. In it, there's a brief description of Yang's children and their immediate family's experience with being split across continents during a long stretch of the pandemic. I thought about this note the entire time I read, and it really adds a meaningful layer to the fictionalized account.

Knox is the main character in this novel, and he is one of three siblings. At the start of the novel, the pandemic is just getting rolling, and Knox is living with his siblings, dog, mom, and dad in Hong Kong. The parents make a tough decision; dad remains in Hong Kong with the dog and mom heads to Northern California with the kids. Each character - as anticipated - has their own struggles with this arrangement, not to mention the turmoil that everyone experiences at this time. Also, the family is multiracial. Mom is East Asian, dad is white, and the kids - while all of the same parentage - experience differing degrees of racist nonsense based on their appearances. The conversation around anti-Asian racism flows through the whole novel and is portrayed in both a layered and age appropriate manner. Although there is A LOT happening in this novel - which is required since it's supposed to be realistic and we all know there are apparently no breaks to be caught during this time - what really stands out is Knox's development and the relationships within the family. There are some really great moments.

As much as the family relationships are a highlight for me throughout, I did struggle quite a bit with the mom. She's portrayed as (reasonably!) challenged by sudden single parenthood of three children in another country, but WOW does she make some wild choices. The kids are young, and at least one is prone to making particularly wild decisions. Why she trusts them in some of these situations is really beyond me unless it's supposed to be for comic relief, but I just found some of these moments stressful and odd. That author's note left me wondering if there is some vicarious self-deprecating happening here, but I still didn't love some of this content.

This is not just another great middle grade novel or another noteworthy work by Yang. It captures the pandemic - and this particular moment - in ways I haven't seen much yet for this audience. I'll be recommending this one to students (and all interested parties) for a long time for very specific reasons.

My first COVID middle grade novel and it was a bit harder than I expected. The author tackles A LOT but very well. Believable characters though at times plot points felt repetitive. The end also felt rushed but ultimately a satisfying read.