Kelly Yang Inspires Connection in 6th-Grade Readers

In late February, Lowell 6th graders enjoyed an uplifting evening at Politics and Prose’s special author event with Kelly Yang, whose books appear in our Primary and Middle School libraries. Ms. Yang was in town to promote her latest book, Finally Seen, and to talk about her work giving voice to the immigrant experience in America, at times in spite of temporary book bans.

In 6th-grade social studies, our students are reading her novel, New From Here, which tells the story of an Asian-American boy who relocates from Hong Kong to California at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and his challenges with a separated family and rising anti-Asian racism.

At her February event, Ms. Yang spoke about her activism to ensure access to books for young people. Much like Lowell’s reading curriculum, the author advocates for stories that open up readers to experiences unlike their own. As she says, “[Books can] foster empathy and make sure that our kids are prepared for the future, a future that we know is diverse…because today is diverse…We need to encourage them to read about all kinds of people from different cultures, different identities, different walks of life, so that later on, they know how to thrive.”

“What really moved me was how profoundly Kelly Yang spoke about her book being banned—a book she wrote to give voice to an immigrant experience she herself had never encountered in any of the books she read as a child,” said 6th-grade teacher Yasmin, reflecting on the class trip. “One of my students who is Asian went up to her to get her book signed and thanked her for writing a book to which she could relate. This student then told me [that day] was the best day of her life.” 

Following the event, a few students drafted submissions for Ms. Yang’s ongoing “Finally Seen” Stories, a collection published online about the books that have been a personal mirror for young readers. “When I read this book, I feel whole,” wrote one Lowell 6th grader. “With each line I read, I felt more connected…and less alone,” shared another. 

The powerful connections to the stories students read illustrate the impact of an author. What a gift for our young learners to get inspiration from their words and experiences!