Set against the backdrop of a middle school cultural fair, this tenderhearted and funny novel from the author of The Unbeatable Lily Hong stars twelve-year-old Sophie Mu—who discovers the power of defining oneself as she navigates friendship drama, family expectations, and learning about her Hui, her Chinese Muslim identity.

I adored this middle grade book! As someone who is biracial and struggles with juggling and incorporating both identities, this book seemed right up my alley.

I think readers will enjoy the characters, and the drama that comes with the friendships as well as familial expectations and the experience Sophie goes through with learning about her Chinese Muslim identity.

First, I love that a school even has something called a Rainbow Fair. I think this is something that schools should have in place period. Celebrating others and their cultures is just lovely, and I think it is a great chance for kids to learn about things they never have been exposed to in general. I loved that Sophie could find a way to work at two booths at the Rainbow Fair but be able to learn more about a piece of her culture that she was leery of telling people about, and really didn’t understand other than her parents told her to identify as is also beautiful. Learning about your culture especially when you are not in a country full of people who identify or have the same beliefs as you can be so hard, and this book does a lovely job of facing that head on. I think this is a lovely inclusive book, and I love what the kids turn the Rainbow Fair into by the end of this book. Thank you for publishing such a lovely novel, I hope that it resonates with so many young and old readers.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

If you see this 224 page middle grade book, the title might hint that the content is LGBTQ+ as the rainbow often symbolizes such, but if you look closely at the cover you don't see a rainbow flag, just a Chinese scene on one side and on the other you will see crescent moon lights being hung up above a masjid silhouette, merging together with a little girl holding a rehal, a book and some art supplies. If you then turn the book over, or search the internet, and read the blurb, you will learn that the book is about Sophie, a Chinese Muslim girl learning and sharing her heritage at the school's Rainbow Fair. As a result, I requested an arc to read and review. No where does it reveal that the book centers queer characters, LGBTQ+ support and allyship, consistently parallels Islamic faith with sexual and gender identities, and prioritizes intersectional identities and agenda over plot and insight. Had I known this, I wouldn't have read the book, I share this review simply as a heads up to its contents, so families can decide for themselves if it is for them. The book is MG and honestly, it feels misleading and intentional that it is not articulated in a book meant for nine to 12 year olds.  With identity exploration of being Chinese, a child of immigrants, a main character being bisexual, the protagonist repeatedly claims to want to learn about her Muslim identity, but very little information or interaction with the knowledge is sadly ever shown.  The plot seems to just become a forced juxtaposition of two marginalized communities: Muslim and LGBTQ+, to make the point that we are all more than one label. I understand that my view and practice of Islam, is not every Muslims, but trying to have a faith identity and sexual/gender identity parallel one another by having the protagonist "coming out as Muslim," and being "outted" as Muslim by her bisexual friend before she is ready, is an awkward read. It continues in this approach comparing a trans character being misgendered in a locker room to a Muslim character not having a space to pray, and likens the diversity of a mosque BBQ to the pride parade. I support finding common ground, but when questions about Muslims stoning gays are left hanging, the reader never getting a convincing answer to why her parents hide their Islam, and there is no real rising action, climax, or character arcs- I feel like the labels and the author's agenda, even if OWN voice, are the point of the book, and it doesn't make for a compelling read.

SYNOPSIS:

Sophie and Katie did their school's Chinese booth together last year at the Rainbow Fair, they are best friends and do everything together, but since Katie has come out as bi, she has new friends and is petitioning to add an LGBTQ+ booth, and the rules say she can only be at one booth.  When a sleep over breakfast calls attention to Sophie not eating bacon, it comes out that she is Muslim, not something she meant to keep secret all these years, but something not even Katie knew about.  When discussions about being Muslim spill over into class when booths are being assigned, Sophie decides to do the Muslim booth. She is afraid her parents will be disappointed, and even though she knows nothing about Islam, she is ready to learn.  A new kid at school, Anna, is Muslim and joins Sophie at the booth, and as the two become friends, Anna tells Sophie there "is more than one way to be Muslim" and of course she is a "real Muslim."  Empowered by not having to pick one identity, Sophia and Katie and all the other kids change Rainbow Fair and show how everyone is more than just one label.

WHY I LIKE IT:

The premise on the back of the book is promising, I just feel like the book missed meeting its own stated intention. The characters are not developed, there are no moments of growth or self reflection, they have no arc or relatability outside of a label.  Sophie paints her parents to be strict, but the precious little that is shown, never backs that up. As a result the reader has no idea why Sophie doesn't just tell her parents she is doing the Muslim booth and ask them about Islam. After they see the booth at the fair, they say they don't talk about Islam because of Islamophobia in America and feeling othered in China, but that is it.  Exploration of that would be a far more interesting story: Why did they leave China for Taiwan? When did they migrate to America, was it recent, or did they slowly start to hide their Islam? Dad learned to read Arabic in Taiwan, what was the Chinese community like? Why don't they celebrate Eid, but have a Christmas tree, did something happen? Why do they not eat pork but drink alcohol? Sadly the two dimensional parents are not fleshed out and Sophie faults them, while constantly trying not to let Chinese stereotypes define them, but the repetitive contradiction, just leans into the labels and fails to make them feel real and relatable.

The book is all talk and no show, and with no real plot, the talking gets repetitive. Breaking the fourth wall we are taken in circles of the same talking points that more than once had me checking if I had bumped the screen and gone back to pages already read. Threads are introduced and then abandoned: what is the point of the whole roller derby thread aside from showing Sophie makes powerpoints, and her parents give in? The girls never go roller skating, it is not something that bonds them. We only know they are close because we are told they are. The beginning and end show Sophie can smell food and decipher its contents, so why isn't that part of the story as she is trying to figure out Eid foods, cooking, the lunch offerings at the mosque? It hints that the Black culture booth is being suppressed, but it never develops it, nor articulates any real push back, it just skirts the issue. Why the judge-y competitive aunt and uncle? Is their inclusion meant to make Sophie's parents more or less likeable? Does it reinforce or dispel Asian stereotypes?

From the very start the book feels forced.  Sophie has never gone to a sleep over, her best friend plans a sleepover birthday, but is willing to change it if Sophie can't come.  What kind of stilted set up is this, why wouldn't these bffs plan the birthday together, and get Sophie's parents on board first? It makes no sense that if she can't come it will be changed and not be a problem because they are so close and she has to be there. It also immediately contradicts the looming conflict of the book, that the parents are strict.  They gave in to roller derby, they give in to this sleep over, and have no problem that two of the girls are dating that sleep over, and "Shane is non binary and doesn't identify as a girl or a boy." Clearly the parents are very supportive.

Consistently Sophie drops words, or cultural practices, but doesn't explain them or engage with them, both the Chinese historical and cultural rep, and Islamic, quick example, she has a Quran but never reads it, we don't learn about the immortals her dad wants her to feature at the Chinese booth.  It makes it seem superficial and further distances the reader from connecting with Sophie, with culture, with faith, with the book.  Speaking of books, it really bothered me that two books mentioned as being intersectional, Black Muslim Author, Autumn Allen's All You Have to Do, and Queer Muslim Author Adiba Jaigirdar's Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating are YA books, isn't that off to mention repeatedly books that your target audience won't know, or be in the demographic yet to read?

I could go on and on, but I will stop, I think it is clear I didn't enjoy the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book.

My daughter enjoyed The Unbeatable LIly Hong, so we were looking forward to this book. However, I found it hard to really get invested in the story. It was difficult to empathize with Sophie’s struggle, nothing her parents said or did seemed like it would give her a reason to want to hide things from them. When she talks to them about their background, they seem happy to be able to share and answer any questions. The book covers issues that can be associated with finding out more about one’s background and identity. And it addresses how things aren’t black and white and there can be shades of gray when associated with a group - pretty relevant with today’s political climate where there are many assumptions of what you may or may not tolerate based on your label. Not a bad book, but I just didn’t find myself enjoying it as much as the author’s previous books.

This beautiful middle grade novel is for anyone who struggles to accept all of themselves. Often we place kids (or even ourselves) in a cultural box based on one aspect of ourselves. Maybe it's because of the color of our skin, the language we speak at home, or the way we worship but often a single box is not enough to make us feel seen because we are not just one thing.
Katie, Sophie and Anna are every kid struggling with the desire to be seen while still fitting in. They are great representations of a time in life where kids becoming teens struggle to define themselves and find their place. These changes can lead to feelings of isolation and anxiety for many and this book shows how finding your support and open communication can help, a message for any tween or teen that struggles with acceptance.
The book is informative about the Hui, and all the different ways to be Muslim in America. We often withhold aspects of ourselves for fear of rejection or ridicule this novel shows that kids can create safe spaces and share all of themselves.
I love the idea of kids stepping up and saying to the adults, I am not just one thing and I want to share and celebrate all my parts. In our America where there are so many people with parents from different cultures it is important for kids to see that every part of them is special and worthy. This book does that while giving information about a group that many may not have seen before.

A great middle grade book. Sophie is looking to learn about her heritage and multicultural family which at this point she doesn't really understand.
She is excited about the schools annual Rainbow Fair which is a a celebration of the schools diversity. Many different looks at the schools diversity was given and how Sophie got to explore her own Chinese and Muslim sides. It's so great that some schools do this. I know growing up I would have loved this sort of Fair much more than some of the fairs we had at school.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I received an electronic ARC from HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley.
Sophie and Katie are best friends and have been for years. However, some changes have been happening in seventh grade and they need to figure out how to maintain their friendship and adapt it at the same time. The Rainbow Fair of the title is an annual school event where students set up booths so share their culture. This year, the friends will not be at the Chinese booth together and Sophie feels the stress of this change. Readers see her struggle to figure out who she is. She knows she is Muslim as her parents tell her so but they do not attend faith services nor daily prayers. She keeps this hidden from everyone but her parents until an incident at a friend's home brings the info out. It is then accidentally shared at school and Katie finds herself setting up a Muslim booth for the Fair.
Every one of the characters knows they belong in more than one area but the rule is that they can only participate in one booth. I love the way Sophie leads the rule breaking and others find ways to honor all aspects of themselves. Readers will connect with the various ways they belong and understand the struggle to know who they are. Well written for middle grade readers.

Best friends forever, Sophie and Katie are planning what they will do for their middle school’s annual Rainbow Fair, a celebration of the diversity of the student body. They ran the Chinese booth last year and Sophie assumes they’ll do it again. But Katie decides to participate in the LGBT booth instead. Enter new student, Anna, who is Muslim. Sophie is tasked with taking her under her wing because as it turns out, Sophie is Muslim too. Her parents occasionally remind her that she is Muslim, but Sophie doesn’t really understand much about that part of her heritage, since her parents place more emphasis on their Chinese heritage. The kids struggle with how to navigate evolving friendships, honor their multiple identities and make this the best Rainbow Fair ever. A fun read. Thanks to author, publisher, and NetGalley for a preview copy.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. Sophie knows she is Muslim and Chinese yet doesn’t really understand about being Muslim since her family doesn’t practice it. Her middle school has a Rainbow Fair, which showcases the various cultures at her school. She wants to do the Chinese booth with her friend Katie but does the Muslim booth instead. She meets other kids at school that are Muslim and learns more about the culture. I do wish she’d gotten bold and told her parents about the Muslim booth but she thought her parents would be mad at her for not doing the Chinese booth. Her parents are happy for her regardless when they goto the fair. The kids have a blast doing the other booths and not just staying with their own booth.

This is such a great look at kids exploring their cultures and making new friends in the process.
I really enjoyed learning about Sophie being Muslim and Chinese. I liked watching her come out if her shell and stand up for herself and her cultures and stand up for get friends.
There is a look at assumptions within cultures and friends having to apologize. But this is a good representation of what some people ultimately do. They assume that just because someone is of a certain culture that they are going to do the bad things that one person from that culture may have done.
A great middle grade look at cultures and friendship and how they shape you.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Sophie is looking forward to the Rainbow Fair at Monroe Middle School in Seattle. It's a yearly event, meant to showcase the school's diversity. Last year, in sixth grade, Sophie worked at the Chinese booth with her longtime best friend Katie, which made her parents very happy. This year, Katie (who has recently come out as bisexual and has very supportive parents) has gotten permission for the very first LGBTQIA+ booth. Because the school rules dictate that students can only work at one booth, Sophie is disappointed that she won't be with her friend. Sophie's long held secret is that she and her family are Muslim, although the only way they preserve this identity is by not eating pork and by the parents occasionally telling her "remember, you're Muslim". After a rare sleepover for Katie's birthday (Sophie's parents think it would put Katie's parents out, but are convinced when Sophie suggests the perfect hostess gift), Katie accidentally "outs" Sophie as Muslim. A teacher who was wishing there would be a Muslim booth finds out and puts Sophie in charge, since there are others to fun the Chinese booth, even though they are more interested in robotics and other topics. Sophie does a lot of research, but doesn't have any first hand experience with the religion or culture, and even her attempts at making some traditional food fall flat. Luckily, a new student, Anna, starts at the school. Since she is Muslim, the two work together. All of the students are a bit upset that people can only work at one booth, and come up with innovative ways to promote intersectionality. Sophie's biggest concern is that her parents will be disappointed that she is not at the Chinese booth, even though she has learned a lot about the family's Hui identity.
Strengths: Sophie's community seems very supportive, and her parents are very mindful of how to address her friends, who also include the nonbinary Shane who uses they/them pronouns. The family's decision to stay quiet about their Muslim identity isn't really explored until the end of the book, but that seems realistic; even though society is more open today, I still agree with my grandmother's assertion that it's not necessary to tell everyone everything. When I was in middle school, my church confirmation classes took us to a wide variety of religious institutions, and that was fascinating. Middle school is an age where many kids are exploring issues of identity, so Sophie's questions, as well as her desire to learn more about Islam from Anna, will resonate with many young readers.
Weaknesses: I don't think today's tweens care what other people eat. Tell them you're allergic to pork. You don't like pork. Your mother won't let you eat it because of hepatitis E concerns. This figures largely in the plot, but seemed like a non-issue. I also would have liked more information about Muslim cultures and identities, as well as the display at the booth.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed this author's The Unbeatable Lily Hong (https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-unbeatable-lily-hong.html) or Ali and Saeed's Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices. https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/2020/05/ways-to-make-sunshine.html

Sophie Hu, a middle schooler preparing for her school’s annual Rainbow Fair, looks forward to celebrating her heritage with her best friend, Katie, at the Chinese booth. But when Katie accidentally reveals Sophie’s Muslim identity, Sophie is reassigned to run the Muslim booth on her own. This change sparks a journey of self-discovery, as Sophie navigates shifting friendships and the expectations of her parents.

The book excels at portraying the emotions and uncertainties of young teenagehood, and every moment feels genuine. I appreciated how seamlessly I learned about Chinese Muslim culture through Sophie’s experiences. The author skillfully weaves in the theme of embracing one’s multi-faceted identity, reminding readers that it’s okay, and even empowering, to be more than one thing at a time.

I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it

What do you do when efforts to celebrate diversity end up dividing?

Sophie is excited about her school's Rainbow Fair. Last year, she worked at the China booth along with her best friend, and it was great.

Except that this year her friend will be working at the new LGBT booth (and can only do one)...and to make matters worse, her friend accidentally "outed" Sophie as being Moslem. Except Sophie's family is non-practicing (except for not eating pork), and Sophie doesn't know what that means. Sophie is then put in a position of trying to represent a culture she doesn't know at all, support her friends in the China booth as well.....and feels left out with her friends who are doing the LGBT booth.

This book is a perfect example of how good intentions can go very, very awry. Because Sophie isn't just Moslem. The other kids in the China booth are, respectively more interested in Robotics and Drama than dragons and pagodas. The LGBT kids are also a mix of races and cultures, not just gay, trans, or bi...and so on. The good news is that, in this case, the kids realize what the adults don't, which is that intersectionality is more than a buzzword-it's the real world.

This is an excellent book and would be wonderful for class discussion. It doesn't shy away from issues of prejudice and discrimination and cultural clash, either. I wish I were more confident that it would be allowed in school and community libraries.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC!

Diana Ma does a great job of exploring the concept of intersectionality with different kinds of identities in Rainbow Fair. The main character, Sophie, is on a search to discover what her different identities mean to her throughout the book. Coming from a proud Chinese family, she is confused by the way that her parents seem to hide their Muslim identity from the outside world. Sophie is not sure why this is the case and starts to explore what being Muslim means to her when she is asked to create the Muslim booth at her school's Rainbow Fair. The teacher seems to be behind the times when she insists that each student can only work on one booth (as if everyone only has one group that they belong to!). As a result, Sophie and her best friend Katie, are no longer working together on the Chinese booth (as they have for the past several years). Sophie is now working on the Muslim booth and Katie is working on the new LGBTQ+ booth. What I appreciated about this book is the way that on their own, the students decide how to modernize the Rainbow Fair by integrating the different booths at the Rainbow Fair in creative ways! By the end of the book, Sophie also starts to understand more about where her parents are coming from and her own identity.