{"product_id":"are-you-nobody-too-isbn-9780593567043","title":"Are You Nobody Too?","description":"\u003cb\u003eAfter years as the only Chinese student at her private middle school, Emily transfers to Chinatown's I.S. 23 for 8th Grade and ends up feeling more disconnected than ever. In this coming-of-age novel-in-verse, now in paperback, will Emily be able to find her way or will she lose herself completely?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter a year of distance-learning, Emily Sofer finds her world turned upside down: she has to leave the only school she's ever known to attend a public school in Chinatown. For the first time, Emily isn't the only Chinese student around...but looking like everyone else doesn't mean that understanding them will be easy--especially with an intimidating group of cool girls Emily calls The Five.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Emily discovers that her adoptive parents have been keeping a secret, she feels even more uncertain about who she is. A chance discovery of Emily Dickinson's poetry helps her finally feel seen. . . but can the words of a writer from 200 years ago help her open up again, and find common ground with the Five?\"\u003cb\u003eCaptures big, serious ideas about life\u003c\/b\u003e and relationships with brevity.\" —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Introspective\u003c\/b\u003e first-person verse skillfully depicts Emily’s conflicting emotions, which feel \u003cb\u003epalpable \u003c\/b\u003eas she grapples with the social nuances of each new experience.\" —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"With \u003cb\u003eart \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003ecare\u003c\/b\u003e, Cane [...] crafts a story that’s both \u003cb\u003elyrical\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003edeeply relatable.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003eLit Hub\u003c\/i\u003eTina Cane grew up in downtown New York City, and she draws much of her creative inspiration from her experiences as a city kid. The founder-director of Writers-in-the-Schools, RI, Tina was also the poet laureate of Rhode Island, where she lives with her family, who are a major source of inspiration.\u003cb\u003eI’m Nobody\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eI’m nobody! Who are you?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMs. Franklin wrote      on the whiteboard\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eUm, you’re Ms. Franklin\u003c\/i\u003e      the class laughed\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAnd you already know who we are!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat was back      in seventh grade\u003cbr\u003eat the Meadowlake School      where Ms. Franklin\u003cbr\u003esmiled and swung      her long red hair      back over\u003cbr\u003eher shoulder      before reading us      this poem\u003cbr\u003eabout a frog in a bog      she said was about\u003cbr\u003ebeing humble      not seeking attention\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe also made      some connection\u003cbr\u003eto social media      how everyone wants\u003cbr\u003eto be \u003ci\u003eliked \u003c\/i\u003eor \u003ci\u003eseen      \u003c\/i\u003eall the time      but how\u003cbr\u003ethat’s not      the meaning of life      how true happiness\u003cbr\u003ecomes from inside      and from relationships\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eI Understood\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat Ms. Franklin      meant at the time\u003cbr\u003ebut it really      made sense to me      once I started\u003cbr\u003egoing to I.S. 23      where I want      to be seen\u003cbr\u003ebut also wish      I were a little bit     invisible\u003cbr\u003elike a lunar eclipse      fully present\u003cbr\u003ebut also masked      by shadow\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eIt Should Have Been Easy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo respond      to Ms. Franklin’s writing prompt\u003cbr\u003eabout      \u003ci\u003eWhat it means to be person\u003c\/i\u003e      but it wasn’t\u003cbr\u003eI don’t remember      what I wrote      or if I even wrote\u003cbr\u003eanything at all      I do remember      a strong feeling\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rising inside of me      like my heart\u003cbr\u003ewas full      but not      in a joyful way\u003cbr\u003eI couldn’t think      of what to say\u003cbr\u003emy head felt heavy      as if filled with lead\u003cbr\u003emy hands got sweaty      just holding my pen\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy palms smelled      metallic like they did\u003cbr\u003ewhen I was little      after swinging      on the monkey bars\u003cbr\u003ein Washington Square Park      back when life\u003cbr\u003efelt less complex      just one hand      after the other\u003cbr\u003eafter the next      the other one      after that\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eFact\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne interesting fact      about me      is that\u003cbr\u003eI learned to read      when I was three\u003cbr\u003enot because      I am a genius      but because\u003cbr\u003eI was afraid      of animals      the stuffed kind\u003cbr\u003ewith cold button eyes      that stared at me\u003cbr\u003eas I lay      in my playpen or crib\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Their plush fur      and floppy ears\u003cbr\u003edidn’t comfort me      the way my parents did\u003cbr\u003eso Mom and Dad      put books      in my bed instead\u003cbr\u003eand I clung to them      the way other kids\u003cbr\u003ecuddle teddy bears      bunnies and giraffes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eBooks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Each night      I’d fall asleep\u003cbr\u003ewith a book      tucked under my cheek\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eYum Yum Dim Sum\u003c\/i\u003e      or some board book\u003cbr\u003eabout Lunar New Year      or how to do kung fu\u003cbr\u003eanything Chinese      because even then\u003cbr\u003emy parents      were trying      to show me\u003cbr\u003ehow to be      more how I looked\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eWords\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My parents      still laugh\u003cbr\u003eabout the first time      they saw me\u003cbr\u003eturning pages      with my chubby thumbs\u003cbr\u003esounding out      words like\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e      Cat      Mat      Sat      Hat\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ein books      by Dr. Seuss\u003cbr\u003eI was only three      but they could see\u003cbr\u003eI was teaching myself      how to read\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eBaby Like Me\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eIt blew my mind!\u003c\/i\u003e      Mom always says\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIt blew everyone’s mind!\u003c\/i\u003e      Dad always\u003cbr\u003echimes in      it’s true      not many people\u003cbr\u003eknow a child      who learned      to read\u003cbr\u003eat the age of three      especially      an adopted baby\u003cbr\u003elike me      who spent      her first months\u003cbr\u003ehearing Chinese      in an orphanage      in Beijing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eSomeplace Far Away\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEven today      we three laugh      about the time\u003cbr\u003emy parents      first saw me      swaddled\u003cbr\u003ein a red silk quilt      pumping my plump legs\u003cbr\u003elike I was biking      to the moon      or someplace\u003cbr\u003efar away      as New York      the city where\u003cbr\u003eI have lived      ever since      Mom and Dad\u003cbr\u003ebrought me home      from China\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMooncake\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat was back when      I still had      rosy cheeks\u003cbr\u003eround as the mooncake      I find waiting for me\u003cbr\u003eon a plate      a Post-it stuck      to its rim:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e     See you at 8!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e      xo Mom\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn days      when she has      a late meeting\u003cbr\u003emy mom      always leaves me      something sweet\u003cbr\u003efrom the deli      on the corner      or from her favorite\u003cbr\u003ebakery in Chinatown      Hop Wen      close to\u003cbr\u003ethe Community College of Lower Manhattan\u003cbr\u003ewhere she teaches      American literature\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eKeeper\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFlicking Mom’s note      into the trash\u003cbr\u003eI rip open      a fresh package of Oreos\u003cbr\u003ekick my Dr. Martens off      toward the corner\u003cbr\u003eof the kitchen      and call for Keeper\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It’s a long minute      before I hear\u003cbr\u003eKeeper’s tags jingle      faint like\u003cbr\u003ea distant wind chime      as he grunts\u003cbr\u003eto get up      from his bed      by the bathroom\u003cbr\u003ehis brittle claws      clicking across\u003cbr\u003ethe wide planks      of our soft wood floor\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eHere, Keeps\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI whistle      shoving a cookie      too fast\u003cbr\u003einto my face      \u003ci\u003eI am starving!\u003c\/i\u003e      I think\u003cbr\u003ethen wince      as the rough Oreo edge\u003cbr\u003escrapes the roof      of my mouth\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHere, Keeps\u003c\/i\u003e      I repeat      worrying the scuff\u003cbr\u003ewith my tongue      while he waddles over\u003cbr\u003etail ticking      slow as a metronome      his whole body\u003cbr\u003ewinding down      like a worn-out clock\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eCookie\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Keeper snuffles down      the cookie I hold out\u003cbr\u003ein a single gulp      his watery brown eyes\u003cbr\u003ewiden with surprise      from the sudden\u003cbr\u003erush of sugar      before he shuffles over\u003cbr\u003eto his other bed      beneath the kitchen table\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Old as he is Keeper      is still      the only dog we know\u003cbr\u003eable to eat cocoa      and not die      our whole family\u003cbr\u003ejokes it’s the Oreos      that are keeping him alive\u003cbr\u003ebut we don’t laugh      as hard      about that one\u003cbr\u003eas we used to      careful now      about not jinxing him\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpent by the effort      Keeper closes his eyes\u003cbr\u003eand sighs      fluttering the cloth      above his head\u003cbr\u003ewith a puff of warm breat     h as his ears twitch\u003cbr\u003etheir way      into the drift      of a dream\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e Keeper and Me\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Keeper and me      share a lot of things\u003cbr\u003elike pillows      and cookies      and when\u003cbr\u003eno one’s looking      dinner      but that\u003cbr\u003ehappens      less and less frequently\u003cbr\u003ethese days      Keeper mostly sleeps\u003cbr\u003eand me      I am usually busy      dealing\u003cbr\u003ewith life      at my new school\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e Keeper and Me\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003eKeeper and me      share a lot of things\u003cbr\u003elike how      we got our names      mine came\u003cbr\u003efrom Emily Bronte      my mom’s favorite author\u003cbr\u003eand Keeper was named      for Emily Bronte’s dog\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA loyal mastiff      said to be      stout and strong\u003cbr\u003eas a wild boar      he was probably      still no match\u003cbr\u003efor the puppy version of Keeps      who even as a beagle\u003cbr\u003eacted bigger than he was      always erupting with joy\u003cbr\u003elike a wind-up toy      you can’t turn off\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e Recently\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003eKeep’s been acting      a lot like me\u003cbr\u003ea little more quiet      than usual\u003cbr\u003ea little more lost      in thought\u003cbr\u003eabout simple things      like snacks \u003cbr\u003eand relaxing      or complicated stuff \u003cbr\u003elike life and death      or making friends \u003cbr\u003ewhich I never really      had to think about \u003cbr\u003euntil now\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Dog’s Life\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The expression      \u003ci\u003ea dog’s life\u003c\/i\u003e      is supposed\u003cbr\u003e to mean boring      and monotonous      but that\u003cbr\u003e could also be      \u003ci\u003ea kid’s life\u003c\/i\u003e      especially mine\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Back during      the early part      of the pandemic\u003cbr\u003e when middle school was      \u003ci\u003eschool-in-the-middle-of-my-room\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e where I sat      six hours a day      on my bed\u003cbr\u003e as if marooned      on an island      in a sea of worksheets\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My dad always      \u003ci\u003enot \u003c\/i\u003eknocking      and opening my door\u003cbr\u003e to ask      how I was doing      me always      hissing \u003ci\u003eFine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e waving him away      out of frame      so my classmates\u003cbr\u003e wouldn’t see him      checking up on me      like a freak\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eFreakish\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was freakish      when the pandemic hit\u003cbr\u003e Dad lost his job      almost overnight      at \u003ci\u003eThe Village Herald\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e where he’d worked      since before I was born\u003cbr\u003e he said he’d been      \u003ci\u003ehalf expecting it\u003c\/i\u003e      for as long\u003cbr\u003e as he could remember      but like Keeper\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eThe Herald\u003c\/i\u003e always      just seemed to hold on\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was weird      to suddenly have my dad      hanging around\u003cbr\u003e looking like      he didn’t know      what to do      with himself\u003cbr\u003e no longer needed      to rush to the scene      of a speech\u003cbr\u003e or a crash      or a crime      he had a lot of time      on his hands\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It’s hard even now      to understand      how everything\u003cbr\u003e felt so fast      but also painfully slow      for months\u003cbr\u003e we didn’t always know      what day it was\u003cbr\u003e for months      it didn’t always      seem to matter\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eI See Now\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I can see now      that Dad was kind      of depressed\u003cbr\u003e the way      he became obsessed      with taking daily\u003cbr\u003e portraits of me and Mom      like if he didn’t record\u003cbr\u003e all the small changes in us      he would fail\u003cbr\u003e to see      some big shift      before it came\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e How each night      he’d stand      on our fire escape\u003cbr\u003e snapping dozens      of pointless photos\u003cbr\u003e of the moon      as it waxed and waned\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eLooks pretty much the same     \u003c\/i\u003e I’d say\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eNo way \u003c\/i\u003e     Dad would reply      \u003ci\u003eLook again\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e She’s completely different today\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eWhat He Sees\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eCapturing what he sees\u003c\/i\u003e      Mom explained to me\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eis how your dad      understands the world \u003c\/i\u003e     I get that\u003cbr\u003e but for a while      I found it      extremely annoying\u003cbr\u003e actually      \u003ci\u003eintrusive \u003c\/i\u003eis the word      I would use\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But since      I didn’t refuse      his daily portraits\u003cbr\u003e there’s lots      of shots of me      making a face\u003cbr\u003e or rolling my eyes      which always      made Dad\u003cbr\u003e flash a smile      which is partly why      I let him\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eFate of the Earth\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e With the fate      of the Earth      so uncertain\u003cbr\u003e the sight of my dad’s      passionate expression\u003cbr\u003e as he’s holding his camera      and the light\u003cbr\u003e in his face      when he’s taking a photo\u003cbr\u003e make the world      feel like a safer place\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It’s no wonder      I’ve kept      a picture of him\u003cbr\u003e like that      in my mind      sometimes I find\u003cbr\u003e you don’t need      a camera      to remember\u003cbr\u003e the important things      you’ve seen","brand":"Make Me a World","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303941591269,"sku":"NP9780593567043","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780593567043.jpg?v=1767721754","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/are-you-nobody-too-isbn-9780593567043","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}