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A powerful and engaging exploration of contemporary Asian American identity through interwoven stories set in a teeming Chicago airport, written by award-winning and bestselling East and Southeast Asian American authors including Linda Sue Park, Grace Lin, Erin Entrada Kelly, Traci Chee, and Ellen Oh. Flying Lessons meets Black Boy Joy.

Six Starred Reviews!

“Reminds us that a more functional, less ailing America requires not just the courage to speak but the courage to listen.”—New York Times Book Review

“Not only important, but essential.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review

An incident at a TSA security check point sows chaos and rumors, creating a chain of events that impacts twelve young Asian Americans in a crowded and restless airport. As their disrupted journeys crisscross and collide, they encounter fellow travelers—some helpful, some hostile—as they discover the challenges of friendship, the power of courage, the importance of the right word at the right time, and the unexpected significance of a blue Stratocaster electric guitar.

Twelve powerhouse Asian American authors explore themes of identity and belonging in the entwined experiences of young people whose family roots may extend to East and Southeast Asia, but who are themselves distinctly American.

Written by Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Minh Lê, Ellen Oh, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan, and edited by Ellen Oh.

One airport. Twelve kids. A dozen different ways of figuring out who you are. Interwoven Stories: Follow twelve young people whose paths cross and collide during a chaotic airport delay, from a boy trying to smuggle his grandfather’s ashes to Thailand to a girl who finds her voice standing up to a bully.Asian American Identity: Explore the modern AAPI experience through the eyes of kids navigating microaggressions, family expectations, and the question of what it means to truly belong.All-Star AAPI Authors: A powerhouse lineup of award-winning and bestselling authors including Grace Lin, Linda Sue Park, and Erin Entrada Kelly come together to tell a single, powerful story.Contemporary Realistic Fiction: Set in a bustling Chicago airport, this timely and relevant collection addresses real-world issues with heart and hope, all connected by a mysterious blue electric guitar.