First Love Language

A white and Taiwanese American adoptee reconnects with her roots and experiences first love in Valentine’s romantic and profound debut. Seventeen-year-old Catie Carlson doesn’t remember much about her biological mother. Following her parents’ separation when Catie was five, she and her white father moved to the U.S.; the traumatic situation is made worse when her dad dies of cancer. Now living with her white stepfamily, Catie yearns to know more about her Taiwanese heritage. But living in Mormon Utah presents its challenges—microaggressions and stereotypes surrounding her ancestry abound—until she meets 19-year-old Korean and “Blackanese” Toby. Though the teens’ first encounter is messy, it proves beneficial for them both: in exchange for Mandarin lessons from Toby, Catie will teach him how to date so he can ask his crush out. As Catie’s Mandarin improves—and as she begins reconnecting with her mother—she finds herself increasingly drawn to Toby. Humorous moments of joy and connection—facilitated by the love interests’ shared cultural appreciation and deepening attraction, as well as Catie’s desire to broaden her understanding of her personal history—deftly buoy sensitively rendered depictions of heavy topics surrounding grief and transracial adoption. Ages 12–up. (Jan.)