Bubble Trouble

May 15, 2023
In this lighthearted novel by Shang (The Great Wall of Lucy Wu), an entrepreneurial middle schooler endeavors to make and sell her own boba to raise money for a class trip. Twelve-year-old theater-lover Chloe is ecstatic about her drama class’s upcoming field trip to a Broadway show. But while most members of her affluent D.C. neighborhood think nothing of the expense, Chloe hesitates to ask her father for the funds, especially since finances are tight following her mother’s death. A messy incident at a local boba shop inspires Chloe to start her own boba business to pay her way. But handling the sticky drinks and bustling business, on top of navigating her stubbornly growing feelings for cute if irksome classmate Henry Lee, is almost more than Chloe can juggle. But help from her tech-savvy dad, best friend Sabrina, and new rescue dog Phineas bring Chloe closer to her goal. Shang has developed a feast for the senses; anyone with a sweet tooth will rejoice at Chloe and Henry’s blossoming romance alongside abundant confectionary descriptions. Empathetic depictions of tween friendships, familial relationships, and moving on from loss deepen this quick-moving read. Chloe and Henry are Chinese American; Sabrina is Latinx-cued. Ages 8–12.

May 15, 2023
Boba tea may be the source of--and the solution to--this middle schooler's troubles. Twelve-year-old music lover Chloe desperately wants to go on her school's Broadway trip despite the teasing of her classmate Henry, "Mr. I-Hate-Broadway." But the cost for the shows, meals, and transportation is $375, and ever since Chloe's mom died, her dad has been working from home as an inventor, and she's sure the money's not there. Sabrina, Chloe's best friend, is eager to help her raise the funds, but when it becomes clear that Chloe's not cut out for babysitting and she gets banned from Henry's family's bubble tea shop for disruptive behavior, the two of them, with help from Chloe's new dog, develop a brilliant and delicious moneymaker. This is buoyant fare, touching only lightly on tough topics like grief and financial troubles. Chloe's and Henry's families are Chinese American; Sabrina is cued Latina. Chloe's intense desire for organization and neatness hints at neurodivergence, and while this is not explicitly identified, her family and friends seem to recognize and accommodate her needs. The story's primary and secondary romances are predictable, sweet, and age appropriate. What may linger longest are the fantastic bubble tea descriptions, which will have readers salivating--and curious about the science of popping boba. Indeed, the only thing missing here may be a recipe. Sweet fun. (Fiction. 8-12)

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July 1, 2023
Shang finds the right blend of serious and comedic in this novel about friendship, grief, and tween romance. Musical theater fan Chloe Wong, still grieving the loss of her mother, an ER doctor who died from COVID-19, yearns to attend her middle school's Broadway trip, but she's afraid her widowed inventor father cannot afford the $375 ticket. Determined to pay her way to New York City, Chloe (with best friend Sabrina's help) brainstorms money-making ideas involving the Tea Palace, where her show tune�? hating classmate/sometimes crush, Henry, happens to work. Several screwball events ensue when Chloe gets banned from the tea shop after confronting the local mean girl and eventually starts her own bubble tea business with help from friends and family. (Foodies will enjoy the detailed descriptions of the flavors and bubble tea�? making process.) Some of the novel's strongest passages are also the most heartfelt: those focusing on Chloe missing her mother, the kindness Henry shows Chloe, and the epiphany our protagonist reaches at the end. "The house was never going to be like it was with Mom, but we could still have love, just a different kind, with different people and creatures. And happiness. And mistakes." Michelle Lee

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2023
Shang finds the right blend of serious and comedic in this novel about friendship, grief, and tween romance. Musical theater fan Chloe Wong, still grieving the loss of her mother, an ER doctor who died from COVID-19, yearns to attend her middle school's Broadway trip, but she's afraid her widowed inventor father cannot afford the $375 ticket. Determined to pay her way to New York City, Chloe (with best friend Sabrina's help) brainstorms money-making ideas involving the Tea Palace, where her show tune�? hating classmate/sometimes crush, Henry, happens to work. Several screwball events ensue when Chloe gets banned from the tea shop after confronting the local mean girl and eventually starts her own bubble tea business with help from friends and family. (Foodies will enjoy the detailed descriptions of the flavors and bubble tea�? making process.) Some of the novel's strongest passages are also the most heartfelt: those focusing on Chloe missing her mother, the kindness Henry shows Chloe, and the epiphany our protagonist reaches at the end. "The house was never going to be like it was with Mom, but we could still have love, just a different kind, with different people and creatures. And happiness. And mistakes."

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)