| Joann Sgroi |
| Lily Yumi is miserable. Nothing in the fourth grade at P.S. #145 is going exactly the way she wanted it to. The girls don’t like her. The boys laugh at her. She just doesn’t fit in. No one, not even her own family, understands what it is like to be different. To make matters worse, her maternal grandmother, Kiyoko Aomori, is coming to New York City to visit for almost four whole months! Mama is eager for this visit since she hasn’t seen her mother in almost seven years. Papa is only concerned with teaching six-year old Maggie the proper way to greet Gaisobo. Why doesn’t anyone see that Lily is desperately unhappy? Following Grandmother’s arrival, Lily makes one excuse after the other to avoid her family, especially her Gaisobo. But, Gaisobo Aomori slowly begins to unfold the Japanese culture before her granddaughter and, through subtle encouragement, gives Lily the chance to accept who she is. Through the telling of ancient Japanese folklore and through the use of traditional Japanese rituals and traditions, Lily comes to understand and embrace her Japanese heritage. |
