Pie in the Skyby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 9 Jingwen and his younger brother (Yanghao) and mom move to Australia, which feels like Mars. English, and thus school, is torture. As a distraction and an act of redemption for blaming himself for his father's death, Jingwen decides to bake all the cakes his father planned for his new shop, but it has to be a secret from his mom!This is an illustrated book that is aimed at kids, but is still something adults can identify with and enjoy reading. It does drag out the point a bit (almost 400 pages), but it's actually building things up on multiple fronts. Remy Lai perfectly conveys the frustration, confusion, and shame of not knowing a language, especially with the forced immersion and pressures of school. I'm really surprised that Jingwen didn't make more of an effort (and / or that mom didn't force him to make more of an effort, like speaking some English at home to help encourage him). I got a bit tired of how much the word "booger" was used, but the target audience will find it as a humorous relief from many more serious points. There is lots of humor, mostly thanks to the annoying younger brother. I like how the brothers work together, coming up with rules to keep them safe and their secret safe. At the same time, I appreciate how Jingwen is concerned and confused by the fact that Yanghao doesn't see the cake making in the same way he does (tied to their dad and his dream), despite them having different experiences with their dad. The reveals of the mean things Jingwen said to his dad and the shame he felt for being a kid from a family of simple (not fancy) bakers are powerful because they're relatable. We've all said things we later regretted, especially to someone who died. The climax, however, is not something I saw coming, and totally explains the depth of Jingwen's shame and why he blames himself. I love how the circumstances of the climactic end scenes reshape things in a positive light for Jingwen and his family. It's a beautiful and happy ending after an emotional story of personal struggle and growth. The art is simple and clean, focusing on a few choice scenes. I like the character designs and the two-color choice, which keeps it simple but has more pop than black and white. I also like that the illustrations are needed to complete a scene, not just there to complement it. That means art is in line with text, and you read word balloons as you would written out speech in the text section, before continuing to the next text section. I wish more illustrated books did this approach, as it enriches the reading experience. This is a powerful and personal real, and I am better for knowing the story. I highly recommend it, and hope it gets into the hands of many kids struggling with grief. Written: June 16, 2019
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