Cilla Lee-Jenkins: This Book Is a Classic - by Susan Tan (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

In the second middle-grade novel starring exuberant third grader Cilla Lee-Jenkins, the future bestselling author writes a Classic.

"Anyone who spends time with Cilla Lee-Jenkins will look forward to reading her in the future." --Booklist, starred review, on Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire

Priscilla "Cilla" Lee-Jenkins has just finished her (future) bestselling memoir, and now she's ready to write a Classic. This one promises to have everything: Romance, Adventure, and plenty of Drama--like Cilla's struggles to "be more Chinese," be the perfect flower girl at Aunt Eva's wedding, and learn how to share her best friend.

In Cilla Lee-Jenkins: This Book Is a Classic, author Susan Tan seamlessly weaves experiences as a Chinese American with universal stories about being a big sister, making friends, and overcoming fears. Cilla Lee-Jenkins will bulldoze her way into your heart in this winning middle grade novel about family, friendship, and finding your voice.

"A jubilant story that will leave young readers wanting to hear more about Cilla's adventures." --School Library Journal

Review Quotes

Praise for Cilla Lee-Jenkins: This Book Is a Classic:

"Cilla, who is biracial, Chinese and White, is now in the third grade, and Gwendolyn, her baby sister whose arrival Cilla was dreading in the first book, is beginning to crawl. . . . Cilla's year is full of lessons about family and friendship, and Tan successfully gets into the head of an inquisitive and exuberant young girl. Wulfekotte's gentle line drawings enhance a jubilant story that will leave young readers wanting to hear more about Cilla's adventures." --School Library Journal

Praise for Cilla Lee Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire:

"Cilla's empathy, candor, and skill at turning a phrase indicates that her claim to be a future author extraordinaire is completely justified. . . . Anyone who spends time with Cilla Lee-Jenkins will look forward to reading her in the future." --Booklist, starred review

"Tan, who grew up in a mixed-race family, does a lovely job of showing how Cilla finds joy in both sides of her heritage." --Kirkus Reviews

"[Cilla Lee-Jenkins] is 50% Chinese, 50% Caucasian and I think 100% wonderful. . . . I suspect young readers will want to reach into the pages and hug her!" --Rachel Renee Russell, #1 New York Times--bestselling author of Dork Diaries, for Omnivoracious.com

"Heartwarming and poignant! Meeting Cilla felt like making a new best friend. I can't wait to share the book with my own daughter." --Grace Lin, bestselling author of Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and National Book Award finalist When the Sea Turned to Silver

"Tan writes in a fun and spunky voice that brings to mind favorite characters such as Junie B. Jones, Ramona Quimby, and Fancy Nancy but is still all her own. . . . Readers will identify with Cilla and wish they were friends with her in real life." --School Library Journal

"Cilla Lee-Jenkins is the kind of book you can't wait to share. There's humor and heartache, and future writers of all kinds will see themselves in Cilla. But above all, this is a book just bursting with love." --Kate Milford, New York Times bestselling author of Greenglass House

"This story has everything. An irresistible voice, a cast of authentic characters, a hilarious and whip-smart heroine. Also, some spectacular baldness and TIME TRAVEL! Cilla Lee-Jenkins is brilliant. Her struggles may seem ordinary, but they're also extraordinary, exquisite, and very very important." --Kate Beasley, author of Gertie's Leap to Greatness

"I challenge anyone to read this book and not fall in love with Cilla Lee-Jenkins. With the spunk of Ivy and Bean and the heart of Ramona Quimby, she's a charmer from start to finish of this laugh-out-loud-funny book." --I. W. Gregorio, author of None of the Above

About the Author

Susan Tan has lived many places in her life, but calls Concord, Massachusetts, home. She grew up in a mixed-race family, and, like Cilla Lee-Jenkins, had very little hair until the age of five. After studying at Williams College, she earned her PhD from the University of Cambridge, where she studied children's literature. She currently lives in Somerville, enjoys frequent trips to Chinatown to eat tzuck sang, and teaches at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Dana Wulfekotte is a children's book author, illustrator, and animator. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and lives in Queens with her boyfriend and two rabbits (whom she now regrets not naming Supernova and Sparkledust).