by Kelly Yang
First published 2025
Jason Yao returns from Chinatown with big news for his parents. He wants to become a modern chef, though he still struggles to define what that means. More importantly, he wants to tell them about Mia Tang, the girl who has helped him control his temper and stay out of the principal's office. His parents deliver a crushing response: no girlfriend allowed. Jason faces an impossible choice between family expectations and his own dreams. His old anger threatens to resurface as he fights for the right to choose his path. He must learn to stay calm and speak his truth while pursuing his culinary ambitions. Mia stands by his side, ready to face even his disapproving parents. Jason discovers that becoming the person he wants to be requires courage he never knew he possessed.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, young-adult, 21st-century, asian-american, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Chinatown
Period: 21st-century
240 pages · Hardcover · Scholastic Press