Jasmine Toguchi, Bridge Builder and Magnolia Wu Unfolds if All

Florence, Debbi Michiko and Vukovic, Elizabet (illus.).

Jasmine Toguchi, Bridge Builder (#7)
July 11, 2023 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jasmine is excited to be visiting Japan; after a few days visiting with her grandmother in the city, the family is on their way to stay with her grandmothers sister in rural Kabo. It's a gorgeous area, and Jasmine is amazed at how quiet and empty the nearby beach is. She hopes to get out and explore with her older sister Sophie. After a long ride, though, Sophie is hot and tired, and NOT happy with the bugs in the area of the frog in the bathroom. That just makes it more exciting for Jasmine. Sophie has been a little nicer to her, calling her "Squirt" again, but doesn't want to ride on a teeter totter (she's afraid of heights), run around on the beach (too hot and sweaty), or go exploring to trap cicadas (bugs, igh!). Her mother is busy visiting with relatives and reminiscing, and the conversation is often in Japanese, making it hard for Jasmine to follow. There is an Obon festival coming up, but the adults work on setting up and don't want Jasmine involved. Jasmine gets into a little trouble, climbing a tree and breaking a branch when she is told not too, but her mother is very understanding, especially since she did something similar herself when she was younger. The festival goes well, and Jasmine and Sophie are able to spend some time together. It's not a perfect vacation, but Jasmine is able to make good memories even though she misses home. 

Strengths: I'm a big fan of seeing what daily life is like in other parts of the world, so getting to take a virtual trip to rural Japan was a big treat. Florence has a nice note in the back that explains that this is based on what Kabo was like when she was a child, and that it's even smaller now, but getting a glimpse at the local celebrations, the beach, and a visit with family was very fun. The illustrations are charming as well. 
Weaknesses: I'm going to have to go back and read Jasmine Toguchi, Peace-Maker, where the family is visiting in Hiroshima, since there are mentions of the grandmother's house there and I feel like I missed a lot by not reading all of the books. These are a bit young for my students, but I like them personally. 
What I really think: I would love to see Florence put ALL of her energy writing middle grade books like This is How I Roll, Sweet and Sour, and Keep it Together, Keiko Carter, but this is a fantastic series for elementary school students who enjoyed Sheth's Nina Soni, Potter's Piper Green, or Brown's Lola Levine books.

Miller, Chanel. Magnolia Wu Unfolds it All

April 23, 2024 by Philomel Books

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Magnolia is ten, and spends most of her days at the Bing Qi Ling Bubbles Laundromat that her parents run. Her only friend has moved away, and she has little interest in making new ones, even though it means that her birthday party will be a little sad. Her mother has a friend, Mrs. Lam, who works nearby as a dance instructor, and she brings her daughter Iris to hang out with Magnolia. Iris has just moved from California, and thinks it is better than New York, so Magnolia sets out to show her all of the interesting things about the neighborhood. Magnolia has a bulletin board at the laundry filled with single socks, and after an angry customer is mean to her mother and derides the board, Magnolia decides that she should investigate and try to return the socks to their owners, with Iris' help. The two start to ask questions, and talk to a lot of neighborhood business owners, running errands for them as they look for clues as to who might belong to the socks. They track down yarn at the Knitty Bitty shop, which leads them to Alan, who also plays piano. They stop by a pizza parlor and bookstore, and meet Jessica, who plays soccer and is rather lonely. When there is grafitti in the neighborhood that says "Go home!", Iris is sad, so Magnolia tries to recreate a California beach with cat litter. After finding the home of the final sock, which smells like coconut, the two girls are friends, and feel closer to their neighborhood. 

Strengths: This had a bit of a vintage feel to it, with Magnolia having some Harriet the Spy (Fitzhugh) or A Girl Called Al (Greene) vibes. Living in suburbia, I am enthralled by vibrant city landscapes, but I also find it hard to believe that they really exist! Magnolia and Iris are allowed a fair amount of freedom to wander about and meet people, which is delightful. There are plentiful page decorations, which is something I would like to see more in middle grade literature. 
Weaknesses: The illustrations are a bit odd, and Magnolia and Iris have many philosophical discussions with the people in their neighborhood that seem a bit deeper than conversations ten year olds usually have. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for younger readers who like books that center around neighborhoods, like Vivat's Meet Me on Mercer Street, LaCoer and Albert's The Apartment House on Poppy Hill, or Finnegan's Sunny Parker is Here to Stay.