Parachutes
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4.5 • 2 Ratings
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang’s acclaimed novel about two girls navigating power and corruption in an elite institution—a modern immigrant story that combines the drama of Gossip Girl with the hard truths of Speak.
They’re called parachutes: wealthy teenagers dropped off to live and study in the United States while their parents remain in Asia. That’s how Claire, from Shanghai, comes to live with Dani, who couldn't be less thrilled that mom rented out their spare room.
As Claire explores her newfound freedom and Dani navigates a complicated relationship with her teacher, both girls wrestle with life-changing choices. The girls might be opposites, in terms of privilege, but Claire and Dani will need each other to survive the modern American dream.
This #MeToo story for teens explores what it means to speak your truth, even when the world wants you to stay silent.Both girls find relationships that offer opportunity and status—but in this gripping YA social thriller, they're about to find out the lengths the powerful will go to protect that prestige.Inspired by the author's real life experience navigating trauma at Harvard Law School, this brutally honest, cautionary tale is a must read for today's teens.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In her YA debut, Yang (Front Desk) draws from personal experience and the news to tell a contemporary story of class discrepancy, the pervasiveness of rape culture, and the Asian diaspora. Claire Wang, a high school junior living in Shanghai, is used to a life of luxury, while Filipina American Dani De La Cruz, a debate champ and Yale hopeful who is on a full scholarship at California's American Preparatory, is living a completely different life, cleaning homes to help make ends meet. After receiving a bad grade, Claire is appalled when her parents transfer her to an American high school: Dani's. American Prep is a magnet for parachutes, or "kids from China who come to the U.S. on our own," often scions of wealthy families. When Dani's mom rents out their spare room to an international student, the girls' lives become twined, even as they chafe at the other's socioeconomic misunderstandings. But when each girl experiences a traumatic incident, they learn about the devastating convergences of power, money, and male privilege. Despite occasionally flat side characters, this is a multifaceted read, by turns poignant, fun, and exultant in its celebration of the multitudinous experiences and strength inherent in diasporic identity. Ages 14 up.
