Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything

This heartwarming and humorous chapter book introduces Ruby Lu, a spirited Chinese American girl whose world shifts dramatically when her deaf cousin, Flying Duck, and her family emigrate from China to live with them. Ruby grapples with communication barriers, cultural differences, and the challenges of sharing her home, all while navigating summer school and a rocky friendship. The story beautifully explores themes of empathy, cultural identity, and resilience, offering a relatable look at adjusting to big family changes and learning to understand others. It's perfect for early elementary readers ready for a character-driven story with a strong voice.

After Ruby Lu's deaf cousin, Flying Duck, and her parents come from China to live with her, Ruby finds life challenging as she adjusts to her new family, tries to mend her rocky relationship with her friend Emma, and faces various adventures in summer school.