Can one spoiled brat upend three kids' hard-won happiness and even their safety? Find out in this hilarious, hair-raising, high stakes companion to the bestselling Parachute Kids!
WITH FAMILY LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
After seven months on their own as undocumented immigrants, the Lin siblings have settled into their new lives in California. Jia-Xi (Jesse) has a new job, Ke-Gang (Jason) has a new crush, and Feng-Li (Ann) is excited to celebrate her eleventh birthday with her new friends. Their parents still await visa approval in Taiwan, so the trio is trying to take better care of one another and stay under the radar of immigration authorities. But when their stuck-up cousin Josephine-a violin prodigy-arrives with her privilege and demands, suddenly their world is in turnaround. Will they have to give up their home, their friends, and the stability they worked so hard to achieve?
This book needs a sexually explicit warning. This is absolutely not appropriate for kids ages 9-12. My daughter came running to tell me she couldn’t finish the book because there was too much kissing - boy on boy, girl on boy and very sexual images. I am shocked this book doesn’t have a warning and Scholastic put this out for the age range. This either needs a warning or the recommended age should be minimum 16+
A great follow-up book to Parachute Kids. I really felt for each of them and the troubles they were going through. Seems like there will be *at least* a third one to continue the story.
The follow-up to Parachute Kids is as strong as I expected. The characters and stories are hard but real: living as undocumented children, racism, bullying, understanding your sexuality. There’s plenty of plot lines, but it’s deftly told in a way that doesn’t feel over the top or unfocused. The narrative flow is commendable and while it’s a long graphic novel it doesn’t feel like it is with crisp illustrations and zippy dialogue. More for upper elementary and middle school as there is lots to unpack.
Wonderful graphic novel. Seeing a new immigrant storyline was really interesting to me. I love all the topics that were touched. Love learning about new cultures and experiences. I would recommend for grades 5 and up. I will be getting a copy for my school library.
i hope josephine rots in hell, idc if she’s 11 jason and alex were so cute i need them back together in the next book (edit: jason x alex yaoi?? 👀 (im aware this book is for kids stfu (even tho im a kid…)))
Again, LOVE these books! The depth to the characters and the plot are amazing! It’s so engaging and really reveals the realities of many endeavors many people, even kids, must face for a life many people are already used to. Being kind goes a long way. I recommend everyone to read this! And the graphics are phenomenal!
4.5 5 stars ⭐️ Although the audience for this book is middle grade, I can see my high school students being interested in this book. It shows how hard it is to move to a country where you don’t speak the language well, and have no adults around to help you due to immigration issues. I actually think this is a very current book and important, especially for people who thinks that anyone can easily move to a country and everything will work out well.
In this second book, the Lin siblings' aunt and cousin are travelling from Taiwan to stay with them for a couple of weeks until the cousin starts music school. When a grandfather in Taiwan becomes ill, the aunt travels back to care for him, leaving the cousin, Josephine, behind.
Josephine is a spoiled brat and a definite pill. She's the same age as Feng-Li/Ann, and constantly picks on her and bullies her. At school, everyone likes Josephine better.
Meanwhile, Jia-Xi/Jesse is working at a restaurant where the owner is ripping her off for being an undocumented worker, and she's frantic about getting a high score on the SAT so she can get into Harvard. Ke-Gang/Jason has no friends, but finds himself crushing on a the brother of Jesse's best friend.
I didn't like this one as much as the first book, but it's still a really enjoyable series, and so needed right now, when undocumented immigrants are being targeted and dehumanized by the current administration.
This one was more climatic than the last one, and it made it seem a less believable than the last one. I think Jia-xi should have been more supportive of Ke-Gang and Alex, but I suppose it was the 1980s. I'm also sad that she did so poorly on the SATS, but I guess the message is that sometimes you have to prioritize other things.
Thank you Edelweiss Plus for providing a digital ARC copy.
This is the continuation of the story started in Parachute Kids. The Lin siblings have settled and they have settled into a routine, but when their aunt and cousin come to transition, new conflicts arise.
The conflicts in this book are definitely heavier than the first, and the portrayal of each siblings struggles were relatable and familiar. I could easily see my aunties and uncles (family and church) respond the same way as the ones in the book if they had kids in those situations.
For Jessie, the push for "the best" is real. And whether or not there actual parental pressure, the self imposed pressure as the eldest is real.
For Jason, I have friends who were in the same situation (actually, they're Christian AND Chinese), and the it was as if I was reading/hearing their story reflected in Jason's fear.
I think Ann's struggles are pretty universal to anyone trying to fit in. Middle school is a tough time for anyone, and any differences you have from the "norm" really make you stand out.
Their cousin's storyline was a bit of a shocker, but I guess the author had to show that even though a person's life looks perfect from the outside, it's really just a facade.
I did not like the implications the of the plot twist that lead to the final conflict of the story. I think there were other avenues for the Lin siblings needing to do what they had to. However, like many cliff hangers, I may have made an incorrect conclusion.
I think this book is probably more suitable for upper middle grades due to the storyline of the older siblings. I don't think an elementary schooler would be able to fully grasp the depth of Jason's and Jessie's stories.
Feng-Li (Ann) Lin and her family travel from Taiwan to the US in 1981 to visit Disneyland and California, but the parents leave the children and return to Taiwan. Outsider Kids picks this story up. An aunt visits with Ann's cousin, Josephine, who has been accepted into a prestigious music school. The plan is for the mother to stay with her in the US, but when the grandfather back in Taiwan becomes ill, and the aunt has unspecified troubles back home, Josephine ends up staying with Ann and her older brother and sister. Josephine speaks much better English, and wins over all but a couple of Ann's friends. The two have a lot of animosity, and there are other problems in the family as well. Jason, the brother, develops a relationship with a boy, and when his religious sister (who is a friend of Jessie Lin) finds out, the families quarrell. Jessie is having trouble at work, since her boss pays her less and treats her terribly because of her undocumented status. After Ann writes a letter to the music school suggesting that Josephine is too mean to attend, Josephine finds out and calls the police to report the Lins to immigration. The three children are unable to take a bus to live with family friends, but Jessie manages to drive there.
This was an interesting look at the further adventure of the Lin family, but was much darker than the first book. Elementary aged children might struggle with this one a bit and need some help in navigating various situations.
Outsider kids Is a book about Taiwanese immigants. Ann, her sister, and brother are left in America with no visa! Well Ann and her brother go to school there sister works hard at a Chinese restaurant hoping to get Collage acceptance letters. It is hard with there parents being gone, to get through life. It gets even harder when there grandpa gets an illness's that means he will only survive one m ore week. There Aunt has to go be with Ann's parents in Taiwan and support him. So there Aunt leaves, but she has to go with out her daughter. Now it is Ann, her brother, sister, and mean cousin. Josiphene. Josiphene is very mean and snobby. She is an only child so she gets spoiled a lot. She is also very good at playing insrtuments. One day Ann gets so fed up with her cousin that she writes a letter to the fancy school that accepted Joshaphene. The letter talks about how mean Josphene is andf how she steals peoples friends. When Josiphene finds out she is very upset, all though he school recognized the hand writing was a childs so they didn't take it seriously. Late at night Jospihene makes a phone call to the police filing a report about illegals. The cops show up and ask for idea. Luckily Anns sister makes an excuse and they leave to go live in New York with more family. They are happy and safe there.
Over all I rate this book a eight out ten. It was good and there was a really good and unexpected plot twist. If you are looking for fun entertainment this is for you!
A follow up to the first graphic novel about a family who brings their children from Taiwan to the United States and leaves them there while they return to work in their native country. The nervousness of the kids, an older sister, middle brother, and younger sister at living and taking care of themselves but fearing being found out wears on them including the oldest sister that's the "adult" trying to care for everyone. In this story, they're visited by an auntie and cousin who is stuck up and frustrating before even her world falls apart (people are never perfect) and leave the kids alone again only to be scared that immigration services have been called and they actually flee to another family member.
It's a nerve-wracking graphic novel to read based on true experiences of Asian families who wanted to give their kids more but also were separated because they didn't have the visas to stay in the United States. It's a graphic novel version, in many ways, of Kelly Yang's successful books showcasing prejudice, discrimination, and experiences of Asians living in the United States (but in graphic novel format). As Tang shares, she didn't set out to do another but got a positive response with Parachute Kids asking for more.
I read Parachute Kids back in March, and I instantly fell in love with the characters and the story. When I found about the sequel, I was hype the entire thirty days I had to wait. This book did NOT disappoint.
Although it’s in the background of the story, I really liked the plot with Jessie. As the oldest, I can completely relate to the pressure of being perfect (primarily academically), and anything below that is unacceptable. It’s a nice detail to her character.
I think it’s especially amazing that Jason is more in the spotlight this time around. Reading about his blossoming relationship with Alex was DEFINITELY something wonderful. The accidentally getting outed scene was unfortunately, very relatable. Tears were shed.
Middle school me could’ve related to Ann’s struggles a bit more than I can now. It’s still a universal struggle, and I’m glad it’s included in the story.
This book is great! Although it’s not a “happy” one, I think this ending is way better than the one in the first book. Definitely cried the last twenty pages. Like i’ve stated before, this book was definitely worth the wait!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
If you enjoyed Parachute Kids, you’ll love this sequel. You definitely need to read that one first before diving in here as this picks up after those events.
Although classified as middle-grade, this, like its predecessor does a fantastic job of juggling the stories of all three siblings. The youngest, middle-grader, Ann, isn’t always her best self when contending with a not so nice cousin overstaying her welcome, while her brother Jason enters into a romance that isn’t well-received by all, and the eldest, Jessie, continues to have a ton on her plate from trying to get into Harvard, managing the family finances, caring for her siblings, and dealing with a boss who wants to underpay her due to her undocumented status.
This one’s emotionally engaging throughout, though never more so than in the final quarter where the stakes truly ramp up for these kids. This was such a satisfying read, yet (or maybe because of that) I greedily want even more of this family, I’m very much hoping for a third book and beyond.
I was a big fan of Parachute Kids so I was excited to read the sequel. It didn't disappoint! I loved it just as much as the first book.
Tang extends the story of the 3 Lin siblings, who are living in the U.S. while their parents stay in Taiwan awaiting a green card. The Lins are slowly getting acclimated to life in America - they've made friends, their English has improved, and they've even connected with other "parachute kids". But when their spoiled cousin visits, everything gets shaken up.
This book is well-written and very inclusive. It paints a believable picture of the immigrant experience, and what could be more timely in this divisive political landscape? I hope kids will pick this up and devour it - whether they can relate to the Lins' story or it helps them consider how different childhood can be for those migrating from their home country to a new one.
I read and mostly liked the first graphic novel in this series, which I don't think was originaly intended to have a sequel. This volume addresses some of the things I didn't love about the original book, simply by extending the narrative. I didn't love that Jason's storyline ended with him being unhappily closeted, apparently forever, so seeing him get a boyfriend and come out to his siblings felt good to read. Likewise, oldest daughter Jesse gets a lot of pressure taken off of her at various points in this book, and the story ends with the kids in a more stable situation. A lot of this book is taken up with a very mean and spoiled cousin. Somewhat realistically, there's no real redemption arc for this kid, and she causes a lot of damage in her time with the siblings. Definitely feel like a lot of readers will find that a lot easier to identify with than a narrative where the bully gets a comeupance or reforms. And as before, strong dialog throughout.
i liked this book. i'd say that tang did better on this one than she did on parachute kids, but i'm not sure what i rated that one, so i'm sorry if my ratings don't match up.
once again, tang's work is immaculate. her storytelling is great, and the character development was good. i really liked how she used background colors and box shapes to show the emotion her characters were feeling or the state of the situation they are in.
one thing that i didn't really like in this book is how unnatural ke-gāng and alex's romance seemed. i understand that it isn't the focus of the book, and maybe i just skipped over the important parts that specified the time-frames of certain events, but it felt like it was rushed.
anyhoo, the ending of the book seems to promise another sequel, so i will be waiting for it to come out while i read her other books!
Reading 2025 Book 147: Outsider Kids: A Parachute Kids Graphic Novel by Betty C. Tang
Was so excited when I saw that there was a sequel to Parachute Kids. This is a middle grade graphic novel based on true life events. I learned so much from the first book, and bought this book to keep on my shelf.
Synopsis: Can one spoiled brat upend three kids' hard-won happiness and even their safety? Find out in this hilarious, hair-raising, high stakes companion to the bestselling Parachute Kids!
Review: So much happens in this book to the Lin sibs that may go over the heads of younger middle grade readers. There is family drama on top of middle and high school issues. Of course, the Lins are by themselves and daily they have to hide that their parents are living in Taiwan. I liked this book, not as much as the first one. My rating 4.25⭐️
Second parachute kids book that continues the story of the three kids left to fend for themselves while their parents wait in Taiwan for visas to come back to America. The oldest is studying to take the SAT's over so she can get into Harvard. The brother is finding love and the youngest, Ann, is trying to learn English, keep her friends and play the flute. A cousin and aunt come to stay with them and it gets crazy. The cousin, Josephine, is a snob and the aunt pampers her every whim. Josephine and Ann used to be best friends but not now. Ann tries but Josephine is so mean....she takes all Ann's friends, she treats her horrible....it's very disruptive to the life the 3 kids have made for themselves. Everything comes to a head and it looks like no one will be the winner.
This is unnecessary to introduce to elementary age children. My 4th grader came to me with the book and said I think this is inappropriate, and I have to agree. While the book per the recap is supposed to be focused on parachute kids surviving life, its strays into so many unnecessary topics. An 11yr old accidentally drinks alcohol and gets hungover (talk about virgin drinks), she calls ICE on her cousins in retaliation for another mean act, two boys kiss in a church and they attach sterotypes that asian kids cant be gay and christians kids families don't want them to be gay, they talk about the uncle having an affair and a mistress who gets pregnant. The list goes on. So all this may be appropriate for your child, but it wasn't for mine
A quick graphic novel YA edition read! Not for younger children.
“WITH FAMILY LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
After seven months on their own as undocumented immigrants, the Lin siblings have settled into their new lives in California. Sis has a new job, Bro has a new crush, and Feng-Li (Ann) is excited to celebrate her eleventh birthday with her new friends. Their parents still await visa approval in Taiwan, so the trio is trying to take better care of one another and stay under the radar of immigration authorities.
But when their cousin Josephine―a violin prodigy―arrives with her privilege and demands, suddenly their world is turned upside down. Will they have to give up the life and the stability they worked so hard to achieve?”