MAIZY CHEN'S LAST CHANCE

Narrator Yu-Li Alice Shen brings multiple facets to her portrayal of 11-year-old Maizy Chen. Her tone captures the adjustments of a middle schooler from Los Angeles who is spending the summer in Minnesota at her grandparents' home and restaurant. Shen expresses Maizy's curiosity about an illustrious 1886 ancestor, along with her determination to discover who has stolen the bear sculpture from her family's restaurant. Shen's character depth is necessary as Maizy has much to understand--her dying grandfather's gift for poker and how he applies it to his situation, immigration, racism, the appearance versus the realities of various people, complex relationships, and her own place in the world. The author's afterword offers personal and historical viewpoints that further contextualize the story. S.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2022]