I imagine that most book people know Chanel Miller because of her 2019 memoir, Know My Name - and not just because it was published 4 years prior to her new middle grade novel, Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All. Know My Name was a bonafide blockbuster. It was a New York Times bestseller, a New York Times Book Review Notable Book, and a winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. It also earned Miller the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, the Ridenhour Book Prize, and the California Book Award. So, it’s not surprising that when most book people hear the name Chanel Miller they likely think of her memoir. I, however, am not most book people.
I picked up Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, because I’d read a few reviews that piqued my interest. Described as a short, illustrated novel for middle grade readers, featuring a pair of plucky “sock detectives,” my first thought was, count me in! I'm always on the hunt for shorter books for middle grade readers (no shade to longer books, y'all! We need books for all kinds of readers!) and I love the way illustrated novels, like Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, act as a bridge between graphic novels and full text. (And before y'all come at me about graphic novels being real books - of course they are! And I love 'em!) So... after checking a bunch of boxes for me, this book soon jumped to the top of my TBR pile. It was only after I’d started sharing the book with others that I discovered Chanel Miller had also written a memoir for adults and that just about everyone I know had read it. By the time I made this connection, however, I was already head over heels for Magnolia Wu.
10 year old Magnolia feels destined to spend the summer watching the world go by from within her parents’ laundromat in New York City. Creative but shy, Magnolia dreams of adventures that feel beyond her grasp. However, when Magnolia’s mom introduces her to the daughter of an old friend, who has moved back to the neighborhood from California, the two girls embark on a friendship that leads to adventures, hurt (and mended) feelings and, ultimately, a deeper understanding of what it means to be a friend.
Although the story centers Magnolia’s friendship with Iris, one of the things I loved most about the book is Magnolia’s relationship with her parents. Having immigrated to the US (from China) before she was born, Magnolia’s parents' desire to ensure their daughter has a better life than they did, often leaves Magnolia feeling like they only care about their family’s business. Of course, the truth is the thing they care most about is Magnolia! And I loved seeing the tender and earnest ways they showed that love throughout the book.
When an angry customer yells at Magnolia’s mother, calling their laundromat shabby, Magnolia removes her prized bulletin board, filled with single socks whose matches left the laundromat long ago, from the wall - tossing it next to the dumpster to be collected with the rest of the trash. It's Iris who finds the abandoned collection and suggests that the two hunt down each sock's owner. What follows is a funny and surprising adventure that left me thinking about all the ways I might share this book with kids.
It's easy to focus on the "sock detective" aspect of the story - after all, who hasn't lost a sock in the dryer and wondered where all the world's lost socks eventually end up? But I think the friendship between Magnolia and Iris is the secret ingredient to this book's magic. Both girls face challenges, especially when they and their families experience racism. And, both girls struggle with how to protect their own hearts without accidentally stepping on their new friend's feelings. As Magnolia and Iris figure out who owns each lost sock, discovering more about themselves, their neighbors and the complex nature of identity along the way, young readers are reminded that caring for others is important, and that having a supportive community is essential.
In the end, the lessons in this book feel like your favorite pair of socks - warm, comforting and often like they aren't even there. In Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, Miller has crafted a story that will capture readers' imaginations while also gently holding their hearts. I love this book, y'all. And I'm betting many of your readers will, too!
ISBN: 9780593624524
Publisher: Philomel Books
Publication Date: April 23, 2024
Audience: This one of those rare books that feels perfect for readers across the MG category: 4th -7th grade.
⭐️ BONUST CONTENT:
Y'all! Chanel Miller will be joining me (and all of you!) for the Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club on August 6th! Registration for this event is FREE and there will be a recording, so reserve your spot today! That said, every month I create additional resources, (related to our book club pick) for participants. It's my hope that these resources will prove helpful to educators who spend their days connecting readers to the stories their hearts need most. While I'm still holding a few goodies up my sleeve, here's a preview of the Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All related resources I will share during book club in August.
COLORING SHEET:
First, I created a coloring sheet to go along with Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All! I've been thinking a lot lately about the ways that reading (and coloring!) can serve as stress reducers during a time when so many of us (kids included!) are experiencing a great deal of stress. In my heart of hearts, I'd like to think that this resource might entice colorers to pick up Chanel's book, while also giving those readers who have already fallen in love with it, a fun way to stay connected to the story, but... it's fine if readers (of all ages!) just have fun coloring it, too. You can access the free download here.
CONNECTIONS:
Next up, I also created a Connections style puzzle to go along with Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All ! As someone who plays the NYT Connections puzzle every day, I have the most fun creating these, y'all! I wrote about the process for creating book related Connections here. The post also includes a planning worksheet for kiddos to help them with the process of creating their own book related Connections puzzles. That said, a link to the puzzle for Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All , along with the answer key, can be found here.
DISCOUNT CODE:
Finally, please enjoy a special discount of 20% off Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All (or other books of your choice) by visiting Bookelicious and using the code JENNIFERLAGARDE. Note: I do not make any money when you purchase books from Bookelicious, but I am delighted that you get to save some by using my discount code! HOWEVER, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that buying books from Bookelicious is the way we keep events (like our Middle Grade Book Club) free while also supporting the authors and illustrators who join us each month, so... I hope you'll think of your book purchases from Bookelicous as supporting a good cause!
Happy Reading!
