Parachute Kids: a Graphic Novel

From New York Times bestselling comic artist Betty Tang comes an extraordinary story filled with humor and heart about three kids living on their own as undocumented new immigrants,inspired by the author’s childhood experiences as a parachute kid. Ten-year-old Feng Li Lin is so excited for her family’s first trip to the United States! Their amazing whirlwind tour of Los Angeles–including Disneyland and meeting Mickey Mouse!–is sure to make her the envy of her friends back home. But after an action-packed two weeksshe and her siblings–16-year-old sisterJia Xiand 14-year-old brotherKe Gang–learn that they will remain indefinitely in California while first their father and then their mother returns to Taiwan. Suddenly Feng Li and her siblings are thrust into an alien world where even the local Chinese restaurant tastes nothing like home and the fear of being discovered by Immigration become a daily reality. As they navigate a new schoolnew namesa new languageand making new friendsthey also contend with bullies and racismthe pressures of running a householdand the challenges of getting along with one another. But there are funny times tooas well as the generosity of neighbors and the kindness of new friends. With humor and insightParachute Kids digs deep into the hardships and psychological challenges of being left to fend for yourself in an unfamiliar placewhile celebrating the comical moments and the incredible strength and courage it takes to make a life on your own.