This Is How I Roll

Following a surprise move from San Francisco to Piper Bay, 12-year-old Susannah “Sana” Mikami is still adjusting to small-town life. She was hopeful that the move would mean that she and her family would have more time to connect; in the city, her successful parents were often too busy for her. But nothing has changed since the move, especially now that her father runs his own sushi restaurant and a production crew is filming a documentary. Sana wants to be a sushi chef like him, but he discourages her efforts after a past kitchen mishap. While longing for her dad’s attention, Sana also crushes on Koji Yamada, a local boy who’s resentful of Sana’s father’s perceived fame. Keeping her connection to her father secret, Sana befriends Koji and his mother, who teaches her Japanese cooking. But the arrival of Koji’s friend Haley threatens his and Sana’s budding relationship, and Sana fears that her lie will push Koji away for good. Florence (Sweet and Sour) knowledgeably renders tween obsession with Japanese kawaii culture via this sweet, low-conflict story line with a genial, appealing cast. Most characters are Japanese American; Haley cues as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Tricia Lawrence, Erin Murphy Literary. (Jan.)