Miller, Chanel. Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All. Chanel Miller, Illus. Philomel, 04/2024. 160pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-5936-2452-4. GRADES 2–6. OUTSTANDING.
Ten-year-old Magnolia Wu thinks it’ll be another boring summer in her family laundromat, Bing Qi Ling Bubbles. But then her Mom introduces her to a family friend, ten-year-old Vietnamese American Iris, who just moved to New York City from Santa Cruz, California. This engaging story details Magnolia and Iris’s blossoming friendship on an adventure through NYC as they figure out the mystery of each lost sock left at the laundromat. They grow closer as they confront racism, anxiety, and misunderstandings. Miller’s gritty, comical, black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout the book and bring to life the whimsical characters and visceral descriptions of the city. The author’s note pays homage to the history and tenacity of Chinese Americans running laundromats despite legal anti-Chinese discrimination, and addresses anti-Asian violence during COVID-19.
Alva Fong—San José State University iSchool student