Goodbye, French Fry - by Rin-rin Yu (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A Chinese American girl does her best to stay true to herself in a world that often judges"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A sparkling debut novel featuring a Chinese American girl doing her best to stay true to herself in a world that often judges

Some days Ping-Ping feels like she just can't win. She was born in the US, so it's frustrating when people are surprised by how American she is, but her Chinese relatives feel she's not Chinese enough. But the things bugging her the most lately are her classmate Lee Beaumont, who has taken to calling her "French Fry" because of the tofu sticks she eats at lunch, and the possibility that her family will have to relocate to Kenya for her father's UN job. Of all the things Ping-Ping loves, her home and best friend are at the top of the list, and she'd hate to have to leave them. What's a girl to do when she can't be in as much control as she'd like to be? Well, good thing Ping-Ping is a wiz at taekwondo--she's learning how to kick her frustrations away, and there's almost nothing she can't master if she puts her mind to it. Rin-rin Yu has written a warm and funny family story that will have kids rooting for Ping-Ping--a girl who is ready to kick all the assumptions made about her aside!

Review Quotes

"A compelling and heartfelt exploration of identity, family, and friendship. . . . Inspired by her own childhood experiences growing up in the suburbs of New York City, Yu crafts a relatable first-person narrative exploring themes that will resonate with many readers facing cultural duality or questions of identity. There is plenty to root for as Ping-Ping navigates her journey of self-discovery through taekwondo, music, and the support of close friends and family." --Booklist

"A Chinese American tween living in Queens, N.Y., grapples with cultural identity in Yu's heartening debut. . . . Ping-Ping soon learns that, unlike her ability to kick her frustrations away in taekwondo or her affinity for always playing with perfect poise during piano practice, some things are out of her control. Ping-Ping's bravery and self-awareness, relayed via inviting prose, immediately endears her to the audience. Empathetic portrayals of the protagonist's stern yet supportive family inject warmth into a story that will empower readers to stay true to themselves." --Publishers Weekly

"A young girl navigates fifth grade with cheer and determination. . . . Through it all, Ping-Ping's experiences are anchored by empathetic parents and supportive friends who validate her feelings. Short chapters move the plot along briskly, briefly integrating other relatably funny or frustrating minor conflicts. . . . Ping-Ping's strength and thoughtfulness when navigating microaggressions based on race and gender will especially resonate with readers who share her background; her humor and tenacity will win over all. A comforting coming-of-age tale that celebrates family and friendship." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Rin-rin Yu (RinRinYu.com) is a journalist, writer, editor, and digital media strategist with a diverse background in business and in multimedia journalism. Goodbye, French Fry is her debut novel. She is the assistant VP of strategic communications and editorial strategy at Duke University, and she is also principal and co-founder of the Silver Media Group, a strategic marketing and content consultancy. She enjoys taking pictures and traveling the world, usually simultaneously. Born and raised outside New York City, Rin-rin currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area.