I adored this book!
I have been following this series for quite some time, but this one was great as it came at the same time we need social awareness about Covid. I think we will look back at this book as one to read in looking back at the history of Covid. Love this book and recommended to all my students.

New From Here is a fantastic realistic fiction novel written by the extremely talented Kelly Yang. The story is set primarily in San Francisco during spring 2020 when three Chinese-American siblings, Bowen, Knox and Lea, move from Hong Kong to the US amid the beginnings of the COVID19 pandemic. Despite having lived in both the US and Hong Kong, the Wei-Evans family need to adjust to life in the US, and without their father who has stayed in Hong Kong to work even with the pandemic lockdown in full force there. Knox and his siblings miss their dad and work together to find a way to bring him to the US.

Throughout the story, the family faces a significant number of racist comments, discrimination and microaggressions starting from the first moments they arrive in the American airport. The many incidences described in the story make for a variety of opportunities for discussion about racism and antiracism as well as the benefits of diversity and the downfalls of prejudice and discrimination.

As with Yang's other books, this book tackles real issues including racism and discrimination in a way that is accessible and appropriate for middle grade readers, and provides interesting and thought-provoking content that will hook readers in this age group. She also creates characters that are easy to connect with and covers issues that are perhaps less serious than racism, but are still relatable and relevant to young readers, such as sibling rivalry, getting in trouble, making friends etc. As I was reading I was already thinking of all of the discussions I might have with my class about the content in this book and the list is still growing as I reflect back on the book. It is definitely one that I highly recommend and will be purchasing for my classroom library soon. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

I know I am late with my review but I still wanted to do it. Another great book from Kelly Yang. She is writing about topics that need to be discussed with kids but she does it in a sensitive yet direct way without being to heavy. It really would open up the dialogue for kids about Adhd, Asian hate, people who are different etc.

Kelly is a go to author for me and like her Front Desk series, this one was another gem

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Kelly Yang is brilliant when writing Middle Grade. The characters are so well flushed out and she provides great dialog between the children and their parents. I think this is my favourite book yet from Yang.

Reading about the start of the pandemic was rather more emotional than I anticipated. I guess that makes sense as we have been living it for over 2 years.

@kellyyanghk has a new classic coming soon: ‘New From Here’, inspired by her family’s experience during the early days of the pandemic. Eerie, poignant and an incredible testament to courage, hope and resilience, it comes out 03/01/2020 from @simonKIDS! (I received a free #NetGalley ARC in exchange for my honest review)
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When the coronavirus pandemic begins, Knox Wei-Evas and his family are living in Hong Kong. Fearing a repeat of SARS, his parents decide his mom will take Knox, his older brother and younger sister, and fly to the USA. Knox is devastated to leave his dad, who is his best friend, behind for work. As they all struggle to adjust to their new reality, Knox has a hard time as the new kid at school, especially when everyone finds out he is from Asia and assumes he has the virus. Knox, king of blurting and impulsive decisions, also discovers he has ADHD and tries to figure out what this means for his life. His mom gets fired and is freaking out about health insurance, and the whole family struggles not knowing when they will next see dad. All this against the backdrop of the early days of the pandemic, and the rapid rise in anti-Asian hate. Will the kids be able to plot to fly their dad back before the country closes down? How can you be new when you’re from here? And how DO you fight back against hate?
//
Kelly Yang is a master storyteller, and this story is clearly close to her heart. The strained relationship between the siblings felt very real, as well as the love the siblings had for each other. I really appreciated the authenticity of the mental gymnastics of a child with ADHD and the struggle between meaning well and being impulsive. I found this book difficult to read at times just BECAUSE it was such a perfect picture of the uncertainty and fear in the early days of covid. Yang unflinchingly showcases the different ways anti-Asian hate shows up, and the impact on the victims. At the heart of this book is the idea that only love can battle hate, and that love has to start at home. I can’t wait to see this in intermediate and middle classrooms/libraries soon.
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#diversekidsbooks
#weneeddiversebooks
#aapikidlit
#middlegradelit
#standuptoasianhate
#MGlit

Kids are going to love and relate to this book that captures perfectly the struggles and experiences of the pandemic. It’s funny and touching and exciting, all the good things.

Inspired by the author’s own family’s experience in early 2020, “New From Here” is told from the perspective of Knox, young biracial Chinese-American boy who moves with his mother and siblings from Hong Kong to California to escape the novel coronavirus. The kids desperately miss their father (who had to stay behind for work), so they concoct a plan to find their dad a job and raise money for a plane ticket. Knox grapples with ADHD, a contentious relationship with his older brother, adapting to a new school and is confronted with anti-Asian racism on the playground and in the community.

As with her other books, Yang writes with so much heart, and I think many children will feel very seen by this book. There are also lots of opportunities to discuss the different forms of racism and how to respond. However, this novel meandered through so many topics and plot lines, it felt unfocused. At nearly 400 pages, it could have been tightened up significantly. I also would have liked to have seen some more consequences for the kids’ wild schemes.

Thank you @NetGalley and @Simon&Schuster Books for the eARC copy

Review: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2

Quote: That being the man means you're there for the ones you love

I rarely read middle grade books but when I saw the synopsis of this book, I could not resist to put a request for it and am very thankful I got it.

The story is told through the eyes of 10 year old Knox when his parents made the tough decision to move him, his brother and sister to the states during the initial outbreak of the Coronavirus in China from HK to USA. His dad is forced to stay behind due to work.

This story explores the dynamic of the Asian family culture and the issues they faced during the onslaught of the Coronavirus and how terrible racism can be.

I enjoyed this book, Kelly Yang has a poignant way of story telling through the eyes of Knox and a lot of the situations hit very close to home. I relate very well with Bowen, Knox elder brother. Even though, he teases Knox and can be downright mean, I find most of his actions relatable as I had to go through those pains being the eldest in the family. As the eldest child in the family, the pressure can be overwhelming..

I also remember being a kid and how creative and resourceful we can be especially when we are determined to get something. I also like how ADHD not portrayed as a disability and Knox often find himself using it to solve for creative problems. It's also good to see how all of them grow as characters throughout the novel and things may not always be what they seem even though it's hidden from the surface..

Overall, a solid book to pick up if you want to relate to how Asians Americans and minority races can have it very tough.

We were so grateful to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. We have read all of Kelly Yang’s books and they are all so wonderful - New From Here is no exception. This is a timely book about the pandemic: masks, distancing, schools shutting down, but also the deeper issues of racism, financial hardship, separation from loved ones that hit many people very hard during this pandemic. I read this book aloud to my 12 year old and 9 year old and they were both equally enthralled by it. I think they appreciated a story that captured many of the things that they have just lived through and it gave a voice to their feelings. I highly recommend this book!!

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Kelly Yang. This book..no matter your age is a book that all will enjoy. The book had deep meanings in it and will keep your interest the entire time. Very enjoyable.
Kelly Yang never disappoints in her work.

Thanks for the opportunity to read your book.

Kelly Yang has the ability to teach me, make me smile, and occasionally shed a tear, all in one book. After loving the Front Desk series, I was thrilled to receive an eARC of this book.

Knox and his siblings, Bowen and Lea, are struggling with having to leave Hong Kong, and their dad, to return to the US, as the coronavirus starts to spread in China. Their parents are doing it for their safety, but it’s so hard to be apart. Starting at a new school is hard enough, but then their mom loses her job, and money gets tight. And when racism rears its ugly head, the family has to pull together to support each other.

Yang has an innate ability to portray a situation from a kid’s viewpoint, and offer a new perspective. She does it again with New From Here. She has taken on many issues - family separation, financial insecurity, ADHD, racism, bullying - and let me consider it from a tween’s position. My only concern might be that she has perhaps taken on a bit too much, and dilutes the full impact of some issues. I would highly recommend this for middle grade kids as they reflect on the pandemic, to consider how others have lived through the last 2 years.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest review.

this was a really good and heartwarming middle grade story. listening and feeling Knox's story, all too familiar in our pandemic life, was really powerful and I think lots of kids will relate and appreciate hearing it. highly recommend!

4.5 stars.
Kelly Yang’s trademark kindness for her characters is present in this story about:
-siblings becoming used to new surroundings and missing their father,
-a family separated by an ocean because of the COVID-19 pandemic,
-a mother rediscovering the joys and headaches of parenting three squabbling kids at home while trying to look for a job and manage their online schooling,
-how a middle child with ADHD discovers he has support for his differences and needs at a new school and with a new friend, and,
-how fear can fuel racism.

I fell in love with Kelly Yang’s Mia in “Front Desk”, and knew I would be treated similarly to realistic characters in this book who, while struggling with a number of challenges, including moving to a different country and dealing with a different culture, would care deeply for each other and support one another through good and tough times.

We get that in this terrific story, as main character Knox and his family move to the US from Hong Kong when the first news of an illness begins spreading. Knox has ADHD though he does not know that’s what his collection of symptoms are called. He just knows he’s incredibly impulsive, intense, energetic and can be hyper-focused. He finds the transition to the US a little easier than his older brother Bowen, and his younger sister Lea, who has an even easier time than them. That’s not to say there aren’t problems, and a few nasty incidents between Knox's family and intolerant people who fear that people of East Asian descent are the only vectors for the illness. (Considering how conscientious Knox's mother is about controlling their family’s contact with others to limit the potential spread of infection, the author shows us how these frightened people’s negative behaviour is race-based.)

There’s also a lot of humour as the kids accustom themselves to the cultural differences , and some really sweet moments within the family, and with Knox and his new friend and that boy’s family.

I already mentioned kindness, and how it’s a big part of this story, and something we all need more of. This book left me with a feeling of hope and happiness, and was a lovely read.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon & Shuster Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I received an ARC of New From Here by Kelly Yang from Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Kelly Yang and her middle grade series - Front Desk. So it was with a heart full of anticipation and excitement that I received a copy of New From Here, a new middle grade novel that Kelly Yang based upon her experience at the start of the pandemic. In New From Here, we follow Knox, the middle child of the Wei-Evans family who is finding that his life is about to change drastically as his mother decides to move him and his siblings across the ocean to America in order to escape COVID-19. His father, who is his best friend, would have to stay in Hong Kong as he is unable to leave because of work. Life is not exactly easy or smooth sailing even when they arrive in America as Knox is dealing with new revelations about himself and his family. On top of all that, he is the new kid and the siblings experience firsthand racism because they are Chinese. In a chaotic world where there is so much uncertainty, Knox and his family have to decide how they continue to move forward as a family.

What a beautiful, honest, heartwarming and inspiring story that Kelly Yang brings to readers yet again. Once again, she tackles on very real and important issues - and this one hits particularly hard as we are still living through this pandemic. It is a story that readers will connect to, engage with, and spark conversations about the very real issues that we have had to face in the past few years. I really enjoyed this story of family, courage, resilience, and love and I'm sure that readers will love it just as much as the Front Desk series.

I think that everyone should read this book as it describes a perspective that is likely not our own during the pandemic. Most of us did not have to deal with other people trying to blame us for starting the pandemic and having to deal with racist comments and hate. It really opened my eyes to what I’m sure is just a fraction of how the Asian community must have felt and been treated (and potentially still being treated) because of covid-19.

Another aspect that was different for me was being separated from immediate family due to circumstance. Being split up from the father of the family was obviously very hard not only for the children, but for the mom as she does not have her support system with her in the same country.

I did have a couple of issues with this book that stuck with me. One was the lack of attention paid to the children by the mother. Not that I’m saying she needs to be with them all the time, but the yard sale was a big issue with me. It felt very unbelievable to me and who puts that much trust in their young children? I was not happy with that and the frustration the mom had after that. The other thing was New York. There is NO WAY that would happen. Or maybe it does and I’m just that clueless, but I feel both of these incidences paint the mom in a bad light and I don’t think she is a bad mother, not at all. She moved her children back to the US so they would be safe! Neither of those story bits sat well with me.

Again, I think everyone should read this book. It may make you look at yourself and your reactions to things through the pandemic and see things differently. I myself have looked back and reflected on some comments I have made regarding people’s action and their choices.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada, Kelly Yang, and Netgalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was a really enjoyable read, and I had so many thoughts on it from my perspective as an educator and a parent. I think my students will really enjoy it as well, and there are so many discussion points and teachable moments that can come out of it.

As a parent, I really connected to the struggles Knox's parents go through while trying to protect their children during the pandemic, while also trying to pretend that everything is normal. It is so hard trying to shield our children from the fear and anxieties that come from them knowing too much, while at the same time being open and honest with them when they ask questions.

As an educator, I feel that this is a really important book that highlights the importance of school being a place for children to feel safe and supported. While Knox struggles with managing his ADHD and has a hard time being successful in school, I feel that this is also indicative of many other students who are trying their best to focus on learning while dealing with all the current emotions, anxiety and uncertainty in their lives.

Most of all, I think my students will really enjoy and gain a lot from reading this book. I'll have no trouble hyping it up, after the way Front Desk has made the rounds through my classroom. Students will relate to the characters, and be able to connect it to their own experience navigating the early stages of the pandemic in school. There are so many valuable lessons about empathy and understanding of others, taking pride in where you're from, and recognizing that the best way to overcome hate is love & kindness.

I highly recommend this book for the middle grade audience (and adults too!), and it will definitely be a new addition to my classroom library!

Knox Wei-Evans has a pretty amazing life. He lives in Hong Kong with his annoying older brother, his creative, adorable little sister, his beloved dog, Cody, and two parents who love him. But Knox is also THAT kid. The one who doesn't have a filter? Who can manage to knock over an entire display of Mountain Dew without really trying? Who maybe has trouble focusing in his academic work ? Yeah, Knox is THAT kid.

And then, as if figuring himself out wasn't enough, COVID-19 arrives in the world, and suddenly, nothing is normal. His parents decide that he and his siblings and their mom should return to the States, where the family has a home, while dad rides things out in Hong Kong. You know, just for a few months.....

This is a terrific middle-grade novel from the amazing Kelly Yang, author of Front Desk, which was a Global Read Aloud selection a few years ago. It is a remarkable story of what it's like to have attention-deficit disorder, and be a newly arrived Asian kid (who doesn't necessarily look Asian) in a classroom in early 2020.

There's so much here, and at times, I felt as though I was unpeeling an onion as I got deeper into the story. When I explained it to my spouse, I realized that there was so much more going on than Knox's story. Kelly Yang manages to weave in neuroatypicality, the economic pressures many families have experience during the pandemic, anti-Asian racism (just wait until you read about the game of COVID tag and who has to be it), and the pressure of being an immigrant kid, no matter what generation you are.

One of the things I liked best about the novel was the gradual unfolding of the character of Knox's mom. Dad has always been the primary caregiver, and suddenly, she finds herself without her corporate identity, and single parenting for all intents and purposes. The way she opens up to her kids, bit by bit, and shares with them her own experience of being "new" to the United States, was extremely powerful.

Your students will enjoy the chance to reflect on their own early experiences in the pandemic, and there are lots of opportunities to talk about ways to make change. And seriously, if anyone EVER finds a garage sale like the one in this novel? Call me, right away!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the advance review copy. New From Here comes out March 1. Go pre-order!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4546498977

Heartbreaking and uplifting. I felt Knox's anguish and frustration on every page. This is the first Kelly Yang book I've read and I'll be sure to read more. A wonderful story about perseverance, overcoming adversity and fighting back against racism. This will be a brilliant book for any middle grade classroom.

Absolutely loved this book and the positive messages it sends to kids about kindness, empathy, and standing up for/calling out important issues like racism.
The author always does an excellent job of writing relatable characters and putting big topics in a kid friendly manner. This book deals with the author's own experience with her family at the onset of the pandemic. She framed/wrote everything in a really engaging way and I'm sure kids and adults alike will really enjoy this one.
My son in grade 7 has long been a fan of Kelly Yang's books and he's hoping to do his final book report of the year on New From Here.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy; it was a true pleasure.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of this book. As an East Asian person reading a book about Asian people experiencing racism, I needed to be in the right headspace to read this book. When I was finally ready, I couldn’t stop reading! There were some difficult parts to read for sure, but Kelly Yang did such an amazing job inspiring hope in this novel. It was very age appropriate for a middle grade read and I think great for sparking conservations with elementary age students and kids.
Something I also loved about this novel was that Yang acknowledged some of the different experiences of various Chinese people. From the beginning when the family is in Hong Kong and they talk about the differences between being a Mainlander and being from Hong Kong, and when Bowen, the eldest brother, is treated differently from his siblings because he has darker skin and looks more visibly Asian. Such a timely read and so important in helping children understand racism and how to be there for one another when we need it most.