Gr 3-5- This compact sequel to The Year of the Dog (Little, Brown, 2006) charts an eventful year, based on the author's own childhood. As the story opens, Pacy (who uses an American name, Grace, at school) is celebrating Chinese New Year with her family and friends. Their gatherings always center on food and the delightful stories her parents tell of their lives in Taiwan and of coming to America. As Pacy's dad relates the story of the rat and the Chinese zodiac, her mother notes that the Year of the Rat is a time for making changes. Change quickly becomes the hallmark of the protagonist's year: her best friend moves to California, and Pacy must adjust to a new teacher and new relationships. When a boy from China arrives at her school, her classmates tease him for being different. Pacy watches guiltily until she finds the courage to speak up for him. Lin's handling of the situation as related through a child's perspective is graceful and sensitive. Young readers will find this episodic, character-driven short novel appealing and relate to its authentically childlike Pacy, whose family's Thanksgiving feast includes both huo guo (Chinese hot pot) dishes and a small turkey. Lin's plentiful detailed line drawings add to the story's appeal. This heartwarming sequel will leave readers hoping for more about this engaging heroine and her family.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

Praise for Year of the Rat:
A CCBC Fiction for Children Choice

"Readers of this gentle, appealing sequel will appreciate the way the engaging protagonist discovers she can survive the changes a new year brings."
— Kirkus

"An endearing story that will touch readers."
— Booklist

Praise for Year of the Dog:
ALA Children's Notables list pick
Booklist Editor's Choice
Kirkus Best Early Chapter Book
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing selection
Gold Award from the National Parenting Publications Awards
Texas Bluebonnet Nominee

[star] "Lin does a remarkable job capturing the soul and spirit of books like those of Hayward or Maud Hart Lovelace, reimagining them through the lens of her own story, and transforming their special qualities into something new for today's young readers."
—Booklist, starred review

"For any reader who enjoys stories of friendship and family life."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Girls everywhere, but especially those in the Asian-American community, will find much to embrace here."
—Publishers Weekly

"A gentle tale full of humor."
—The Horn Book

Kim Mai Guest narrates this stand-alone sequel. The story is about Pacy's life in New Hartford, New York, and the many changes she experiences throughout a calendar year. Pacy faces her best friend's move to California, her fear of losing a library book, her concern over her future as an author and illustrator, and her understanding of where, as a Chinese American, she fits among her peers. The semi-autobiographical middle-grade novel contains a sequence of charming scenes depicting the funny, serious, thoughtful, and relatable moments of childhood. Guest performs in a sweet voice that one could mistake for that of an actual child. She flawlessly eases into Chinese and Taiwanese words, as well as contrasting the parents' accents with the speech of their American-born children. S.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine