Shanghai Messenger — Andrea Cheng

“You are my messenger. Look everything. Remember,” Grandma Nai Nai tells eleven-year-old Xiao Mei as the girl heads off to Shanghai, China, to visit their extended family. Xiao Mei is both excited and apprehensive. She will meet many new relatives, but will they accept her, a girl from America who is only half Chinese? Xiao Mei is eagerly embraced by her aunties, uncles, and cousins and quickly immersed in the sights, smells, and hubbub of daily living in Shanghai. At first battling homesickness, Xiao Mei soon ventures out on her own, discovering the excitement of a different way of life and a new appreciation of her Chinese heritage. When it is finally time to leave, Xiao Mei must gather up her memories and bring “a little bit of China” back home. Ed Young's exquisite drawings touchingly highlight Andrea Cheng's lyrical story of adventure, self-discovery, and the strong bonds that tie families together.