Growing Up & Facts of Life
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Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire (Cilla Lee-Jenkins, 1)
Editorial Reviews
Praise for Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire:
"This story has everything. An irresistible voice, a cast of authentic characters, a hilarious and whip-smart heroine. Also . . . some spectacular baldness and TIME TRAVEL! Cilla Lee-Jenkins is brilliant. Her struggles may seem ordinary, but they're also extraordinary, exquisite, and very very important." ―Kate Beasley, author of Gertie's Leap to Greatness
"Cilla's empathy, candor, and skill at turning a phrase indicates that her claim to be a future author extraordinaire is completely justified . . . Anyone who spends time with Cilla Lee-Jenkins will look forward to reading her in the future." ―Booklist, starred review
"[Cilla Lee-Jenkins] is 50% Chinese, 50% Caucasian and I think 100% wonderful . . . I suspect young readers will want to reach into the pages and hug her!" ―Rachel Renee Russell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dork Diaries, for Omnivoracious.com
"Cilla Lee-Jenkins is the kind of book you can't wait to share. There's humor and heartache, and future writers of all kinds will see themselves in Cilla. But above all, this is a book just bursting with love." ―Kate Milford, New York Times bestselling author of Greenglass House
"I challenge anyone to read this book and not fall in love with Cilla Lee-Jenkins. With the spunk of Ivy and Bean and the heart of Ramona Quimby, she's a charmer from start to finish of this laugh-out-loud-funny book." ―I. W. Gregorio, author of None of the Above
"Cilla's liveliness, vulnerability, and thoughtfulness make her an endearing and entertaining narrator." ―Horn Book
"Tan, who grew up in a mixed-race family, does a lovely job of showing how Cilla finds joy in both sides of her heritage." ―Kirkus Reviews
"Tan writes in a fun and spunky voice that brings to mind favorite characters such as Junie B. Jones, Ramona Quimby, and Fancy Nancy but is still all her own . . . Readers will identify with Cilla and wish they were friends with her in real life." ―School Library Journal
"This story has everything. An irresistible voice, a cast of authentic characters, a hilarious and whip-smart heroine. Also . . . some spectacular baldness and TIME TRAVEL! Cilla Lee-Jenkins is brilliant. Her struggles may seem ordinary, but they're also extraordinary, exquisite, and very very important." ―Kate Beasley, author of Gertie's Leap to Greatness
"Cilla's empathy, candor, and skill at turning a phrase indicates that her claim to be a future author extraordinaire is completely justified . . . Anyone who spends time with Cilla Lee-Jenkins will look forward to reading her in the future." ―Booklist, starred review
"[Cilla Lee-Jenkins] is 50% Chinese, 50% Caucasian and I think 100% wonderful . . . I suspect young readers will want to reach into the pages and hug her!" ―Rachel Renee Russell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dork Diaries, for Omnivoracious.com
"Cilla Lee-Jenkins is the kind of book you can't wait to share. There's humor and heartache, and future writers of all kinds will see themselves in Cilla. But above all, this is a book just bursting with love." ―Kate Milford, New York Times bestselling author of Greenglass House
"I challenge anyone to read this book and not fall in love with Cilla Lee-Jenkins. With the spunk of Ivy and Bean and the heart of Ramona Quimby, she's a charmer from start to finish of this laugh-out-loud-funny book." ―I. W. Gregorio, author of None of the Above
"Cilla's liveliness, vulnerability, and thoughtfulness make her an endearing and entertaining narrator." ―Horn Book
"Tan, who grew up in a mixed-race family, does a lovely job of showing how Cilla finds joy in both sides of her heritage." ―Kirkus Reviews
"Tan writes in a fun and spunky voice that brings to mind favorite characters such as Junie B. Jones, Ramona Quimby, and Fancy Nancy but is still all her own . . . Readers will identify with Cilla and wish they were friends with her in real life." ―School Library Journal
Readers Top Reviews
A reader from Concor
This is middle grade fiction at its best! Cilla is hugely likable, spunky, and creative, and the way this story weaves together Cilla's relationship with her parents and grandparents (Chinese and Caucasian) and her friends is ingenious!
@the.bitty.bookshelf
So much of the story resonated with my 8 year old daughter. Cilla Lee is a smart, charming girl trying to make her way through the tough challenges of friendship and family. Like my daughter, she wants to be a writer and shares her life story through her writing. Being part of a mixed race family, the author shares vignettes if situations mixed race children have to deal with in our society. A must read for parents and families.
I am reading it with my 8 and 4 year old granddaughters in the morning before the older one gets on the bus. The best way I can describe their reaction is to say they prefer the book to watching their tablet! It's entertaining and some of the humor goes over their heads but gives me a chuckle. Great book!
Afoma
I LOVED reading Cilla’s stories and her brand of wit is just the best. This book explores everything from identity, especially for a biracial child, friendships and dealing with the birth of a new sibling. Cilla is smart, imaginative and simply a delight to be with!
The Poet
My six year old loves this book; my husband, a writer, ordered 2 of the Cilla Lee-Jenkins books thinking my son might enjoy listening to a book about a kid author. To our surprise he not only enjoyed it but decided he would read this book on his own so he didn’t have to wait for us. The language and vivid pictures the author draws with her words is simply terrific. The way the author explores the family dynamic, in a child like way, really gets to the heart of the experience of the first child. The book made us all laugh and think as we could definitely relate to this vibrant, charismatic 8 1/2 year old- Cilla Lee-Jenkins. I would recommend this book for any parent with a child that does not like reading; this book is sure to draw them in and bring them back for more.
