Finally Seen

《Front Desk》紐約時報暢銷書作者再度出擊，帶來一部扣人心弦的中年級小說，講述一位小女孩離開中國，與分別五年的父母和妹妹重聚，在陌生的美國生活中學習關於家庭、友情，以及「被真正看見」的力量。

「我姊姊是和爸媽一起長大的。那我呢？我是在爸媽寄來的明信片裡長大的。」

當十歲的Lina Gao踏下洛杉磯的飛機時，這是她第一次來到美國，也是她五年來第一次見到爸媽和年幼的妹妹！她每天都在北京和外婆一起生活，一邊忍受同學嘲笑她是「留守女孩」，一邊期待這一天的到來。終於，她的爸媽準備好讓她加入他們在美國的「夢幻生活」了！只是，現實並不如明信片裡描繪的那樣：

學校比她想像的還要難。開學第一天她把幾個英文字念錯後，就決定——她再也不要開口說話了。

1. 嘴巴很快的小妹妹英文說得嚇嚇叫，什麼都比Lina做得好，甚至很懂爸媽的心。
2. 他們住的不是信裡說的房子，而是公寓，還欠了一大筆疫情期間的房租。媽媽口中的還債計畫，聽起來更像是個興趣，而不是能賺錢的生意。
3. 在心裡積壓著一堆委屈與困惑時，Lina既無法在家中，也無法在學校真正表達自己。當她的老師因為選了一本與Lina產生深刻共鳴的書而面臨挑戰時，Lina必須鼓起全副勇氣，克服恐懼，為自己選擇一個能被「真正看見」的未來。

From the New York Times bestselling author of Front Desk comes a gripping middle grade novel about a young girl who leaves China to live with her parents and sister, after five years apart, and learns about family, friendship, and the power of being finally seen.

My sister got to grow up with my parents. Me? I grew up with postcards from my parents.

When ten-year-old Lina Gao steps off the plane in Los Angeles, it's her first time in America and the first time seeing her parents and her little sister in five years! She's been waiting for this moment every day while she lived with her grandmother in Beijing, getting teased by kids at school who called her "left behind girl." Finally, her parents are ready for her to join their fabulous life in America! Except, it's not exactly like in the postcards:

1. School's a lot harder than she thought. When she mispronounces some words in English on the first day, she decides she simply won't talk. Ever again.

2. Her chatty little sister has no problem with English. And seems to do everything better than Lina, including knowing exactly the way to her parents' hearts.

3. They live in an apartment, not a house like in Mom's letters, and they owe a lot of back rent from the pandemic. And Mom's plan to pay it back sounds more like a hobby than a moneymaker.

As she reckons with her hurt, Lina tries to keep a lid on her feelings, both at home and at school. When her teacher starts facing challenges for her latest book selection, a book that deeply resonates with Lina, it will take all of Lina's courage and resilience to get over her fear in order to choose a future where she's finally seen.