THE SECRET OF THE JADE BANGLE

When 9-year-old Vietnamese Canadian Anne inherits her grandma’s jade bangle, she begins a journey of cultural exploration.

It’s the new moon, and the Nguyen family is preparing altar offerings for the recently deceased Grandma Nội. “Three ceramic bowls of jasmine rice, three cups of black tea, barbeque pork, kale salad, lasagna, apples, and oranges” line the altar. But after Anne puts on the bracelet that night, Grandma Nội appears, revealing that she and the other family spirits wish to feast on food from the homeland. She never had the chance to pass on her culinary knowledge to Anne’s father, but now she has chosen Anne to learn her recipes. Anne is not sure she can live up to this responsibility, but cooking with Grandma Nội makes her feel safe. These days, assurance is something she’s looking for—her White ballet instructor’s racial microaggressions leave her feeling uncertain. Trinh addresses racism, allyship, and friendship in this series starter. Short chapters keep the narrative moving, capturing the emotional beats of a young person grappling with the complexity of traditions, differing cultural identities among generations, and the weight of expectations as a child in an immigrant family. Grandma Nội and Anne's parents, separately, open up to Anne about their own experiences with racism, which empowers her to voice her feelings. Expressive black-and-white illustrations bring to life this Vietnamese Canadian family’s story.

A solid chapter book laced with themes of cultural confidence and family.