Are You Nobody Too?

By: Tina Cane

Narrated by: Rachel Yong

After years of discomfort as the only Chinese student at her private middle school, Emily transfers to Chinatown's I.S. 23 for 8th Grade and ends up feeling more disconnected than ever. In this coming-of-age novel-in-verse, will Emily be able to find her way or will she lose herself completely?

After a year of distance-learning, Emily Sofer finds her world turned upside down: she has to leave the only school she's ever known to attend a public school in Chinatown. For the first time, Emily isn't the only Chinese student around...but looking like everyone else doesn't mean that understanding them will be easy--especially with an intimidating group of cool girls Emily calls The Five.

When Emily discovers that her adoptive parents have been keeping a secret, she feels even more uncertain about who she is. A chance discovery of Emily Dickinson's poetry helps her finally feel seen. . . but can the words of a writer from 200 years ago help her open up again, and find common ground with the Five?

Critic reviews

"Captures big, serious ideas about life and relationships with brevity." —Kirkus Reviews

"Introspective first-person verse skillfully depicts Emily’s conflicting emotions, which feel palpable as she grapples with the social nuances of each new experience." —Publishers Weekly

"With art and care, Cane [...] crafts a story that’s both lyrical and deeply relatable."—Lit Hub