Threads - Hardcover

Polonsky, Ami

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1484746902 ISBN 13: 9781484746905

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2016

Synopsis

Don’t miss Ami Polonsky’s stunning new novel, World Made of Glass

To Whom It May Concern: Please, we need help!

The day twelve-year-old Clara finds a desperate note in a purse in Bellman's department store, she is still reeling from the death of her adopted sister, Lola.

By that day, thirteen-year-old Yuming has lost hope that the note she stashed in the purse will ever be found. She may be stuck sewing in the pale pink factory outside of Beijing forever.

Clara grows more and more convinced that she was meant to find Yuming's note. Lola would have wanted her to do something about it. But how can Clara talk her parents, who are also in mourning, into going on a trip to China?

Finally the time comes when Yuming weighs the options, measures the risk, and attempts a daring escape.

The lives of two girls -- one American, and one Chinese -- intersect like two soaring kites in this story about loss, hope, and recovery.

About this title

About the Author

Ami Polonsky is a middle school English teacher, parent to two children, and author, among other things. Her critically acclaimed novels for young readers include Gracefully Grayson, Threads, and Spin with Me. Ami lives outside of Chicago with her family. She invites you to visit her online at amipolonsky.com.

Reviews

Gr 4–7—When Clara finds a note and photo from a kidnapped and enslaved Chinese orphan girl hidden in a department store purse in Evanston, IL, she is eager to help. This unusual discovery resonates strongly with Clara, since she and her parents are grieving for her slightly older adopted Chinese sister, Lola, who died of leukemia six weeks earlier. Though this plot device and the family's subsequent journey to China seem somewhat contrived, the story sheds unique light on the horrific plight of illegal child labor across the globe. Despite their being a world apart, both Clara and Yuming suffer from feelings of sadness and loss and are desperately driven to take action. The plot is quickly paced and told in alternating chapters from the points of view of both girls as they draw closer to each other—Clara, as she hears the voice of Lola telling her what to do, and Yuming, who endures harsh factory conditions and attempts a harrowing escape with other enslaved children. The title simultaneously refers to sweatshop conditions in the garment industry and the invisible ties that bind us to one another as humans. VERDICT Based on a true incident, this is an engaging offering for readers who seek to broaden their global perspective. Especially good for teachers to use as a spark for classroom conversation.—Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

Edition details

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1484746902
• ISBN 13: 9781484746905
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256