Parents' Guide to Parachute Kids, Book 1

Parents need to know that Betty C. Tang's Parachute Kids: A Graphic Novel is an emotional tale about three Taiwanese siblings learning to navigate life in America without their parents. Readers will also learn about racism and the parachute kids' immigrant experience. The story is loosely based on her own experience as a parachute kid and her immigrant friends' stories. Important themes include family, friendship, communication, compassion, integrity, and perseverance. Diverse representations include Taiwanese, Chinese, and Chinese American characters. There's also one gay character who struggles with his identity throughout the story. Feng-Li and her siblings face racism and bullying at school: kids mock their English, ask if they eat dogs, slant their eyes while saying things like "ching-ching-chong-chong" and "ping-ping-pong-pong," and more. Bullying kids beat a boy up at school and later he ends up in the hospital, unconscious with a concussion and broken bones. A character makes fun of a boy and his friend, calling them lovebirds and saying that's why "Chinamen" are sissies. A girl kisses a boy on the cheek. A character is told by family members that boys don't kiss or marry boys. A boy remembers the first time he kissed a boy and attempts to kiss his male friend. Characters steal popsicles, and Feng-Li gets caught stealing an Intendo game that she thinks will help her fit in at school. Language includes variations of "shut up," "crap," and "stupid." Name-calling includes "dumb," "jerk," "coward," "idiot," and "lazy piggy." Teens smoke cigarettes.