Finding My Voice

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling to balance the heavy weight of family expectations with the desire to forge their own path, particularly in environments where they feel like an outsider. This story follows Ellen Sung, a Korean American high school senior in a predominantly white Minnesota town, as she navigates her final year of high school. It is a powerful exploration of the pressure to excel academically, the pain of overt and subtle racism, and the quiet courage required to speak one's truth. While the book addresses difficult themes including racial slurs and intense parental pressure, it serves as an essential mirror for children of immigrants and a window for those seeking to understand the nuances of the Asian American experience. It is a realistic, grounded, and ultimately empowering choice for mature middle schoolers and high school students who are beginning to question the status quo and find their own voices in a complicated world.