"A well-executed easy chapter book that incorporates a friendship story with the more serious issue of identity. . . A first-rate purchase." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Ginny is sure the new girl in her second-grade class will be her best friend. After all, Stephanie is Chinese, just like Ginny. But Ginny soon discovers some puzzling things about Stephanie: she doesn't like Chinese food, she hates her straight black hair, and even more surprisingly, her parents are not Chinese. At Ginny's house, MaMá cooks delicious Chinese dishes as the family prepares for their big holiday party and Stephanie spies Ginny's most prized possession — a hand-carved jade dragon — and asks to take it home. Much as Ginny yearns for a best friend, is it worth the risk of losing her special keepsake and angering MaMá? Drawing on Virginia Loh's real life story, the authors poignantly capture Ginny's dilemma as she navigates with difficulty between her culture and her friendship. Carolyn Marsden is the author of THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS and its sequel, THE QUAIL CLUB, as well as SILK UMBRELLAS and MOON RUNNER. Virginia Shin-Mui Loh is a former elementary-school teacher who is currently a doctoral candidate in education. THE JADE DRAGON is her debut novel. Like Ginny, the story's heroine, she was born and raised in Virginia. "Ginny," came Stephanie's voice, very low. "I have another secret. . . ." Stephanie scooted close to Ginny. Ginny could smell the minty toothpaste smell of her breath. "Okay. Here goes. Sometimes I wish my parents were Chinese." Ginny's eye flew open. "You do?" "Then everyone wouldn't stare at us. . . . You think it's hard to be different from kids at school. Just imagine being different from your own mother and father." Ginny nodded, her head making a rustling sound against the crisp pillowcase. "Now your turn," Stephanie said suddenly and brightly. Ginny had nothing to match Stephanie's secret. She pulled the comforter higher over her shoulders. What could she offer? She felt Stephanie waiting. She searched for what Stephanie wanted to hear. Finally, she found it. She whispered, "Sometimes I wish I wasn't Chinese. . . . I wish I was just American. . . ." The minute she'd said it, she wished she hadn't. She wished she could pull the words right out of the air. They seemed to hang there for anyone to hear. How would MaMà and Daddy feel to hear those words? . . . Stephanie leaned up on one elbow. "But what about your whole Chinese life? The food and all?" she asked. "I thought you liked all that." "I do. Just sometimes. . ." ". . . you wish . . ." Stephanie said. Ginny nodded. She couldn't say the words again. "That's my secret, too," Stephanie said, lying back down. "Even more than my parents being Chinese, I wish we were all white." _________ THE JADE DRAGON by Carolyn Marsden and Virginia Shin-Mui Loh. Copyright (c) 2006 by by Carolyn Marsden and Virginia Shin-Mui Loh. Published by Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA. Used Book in Good Condition