Making Friends with Billy Wong

May 30, 2016
In a quiet story set in 1952, Scattergood (Glory Be) shines a light on a rarely told bit of history. Introverted Azalea Ann, 11, is reluctant to spend the summer in Arkansas helping her bossy Grandma Clark, a woman she hardly knows, and she has no idea what to think of Billy Wong, who has just moved to attend a better school and help his family run the town’s small grocery. Billy is the first Chinese person Azalea has met, and she openly wonders how she could “talk to a boy who looked like he’d just moved here from China.” Despite Azalea’s reservations, they soon unite against the overt racism of Willis DeLoach, a local boy with a tough reputation. Grandma Clark, Billy, and even Willis end up teaching Azalea quite a bit about jumping to conclusions and the power of finding unexpected commonalities. Azalea’s narration is interspersed with occasional entries from Billy’s perspective, written in verse, that show his strength of character and desire to succeed, despite facing clear challenges in the segregated South. Ages 8–12. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt.

June 15, 2016
It's 1952, and Azalea Ann Morgan, an 11-year-old white girl, doesn't want to leave Texas and help Grandma Clark, who hurt her foot and lives in Paris Junction, Arkansas.Worse, Mama appears dead set on leaving fast before dropping off Azalea with the grandmother Azalea barely knows and whose enormous garden will need serious tending. The last thing Azalea wants is to talk to strangers. And Paris Junction seems to be full of them. Right off the bat, Azalea sees someone she's never seen before: a Chinese-American boy in a tree waving to her. The boy is Billy Wong, a budding reporter, whose family owns Lucky Foods, the only grocery store in town. Grandma Clark claims they can be friends, but Azalea has doubts. How she can become friends with someone from China? Can he even speak English? As garden helpers arrive, Azalea must interact with more strangers, including the town troublemaker. Despite their different backgrounds (and as the title suggests), a tender friendship between Azalea and Billy develops. Writing in alternating prose and verse voices for Azalea and Billy, respectively, Scattergood paints an honest portrait of two young characters dealing with quick judgments, prejudice, and racism. Azalea's voice feels the more developed of the two and dominates the story. What's needed are more insights from Billy and his unique perspective on this historical setting. Even though this is mostly Azalea's tale, it's a refreshing novel inspired by real-life Chinese-American communities not often seen in stories. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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July 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-Azalea, 11, is summoned from Texas by her grandmother in Arkansas to help her while she recuperates from an injury. Shy Azalea is less than thrilled to spend the last month before school starts away from her best friend, waiting on the crotchety relative she hardly knows and missing the family vacation. Grandma Clark has Azalea work in the garden but forbids her to go into the mysterious garden shed. She also sends Azalea to the only grocery store in town, which the Wong family has run for generations. The Wongs' great-nephew, Billy, has recently moved in with them so he can attend the local school, as the one in his hometown is segregated. This being the early 1950s, Billy would be forced to attend the less well-equipped school for nonwhites in his hometown. Billy is undaunted at being the only Chinese student at the school and wants to experience all it offers. He describes his thoughts and feelings in scattered chapters of free verse. Slowly, Billy and Azalea become friends. Not everyone in town, especially bad boy Willis, who has secrets, is happy about the new student. The characters are finely drawn, and the period elements are smoothly incorporated into the narrative. The author's extensive research on the time and place comes through in the details. VERDICT This is a quiet story about family, friendship, and combatting the problems of racism and bullying. A fine addition to most collections, especially where historical fiction set in the mid-20th century is in demand.-Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Grades 4-6 Eleven-year-old Azalea Morgan had no idea that a summer in Arkansas would change her life, much less through an unexpected friendship. Initially reluctant, Azalea befriends Billy Wong, gradually learning about his family and the history of the Chinese community in the Deep South, and readers will soon like him as much as she does. Billy's perspective is provided through the notes he takes about making a new friend, dealing with racism and isolation, and looking forward to school. Azalea and Billy contend with a number of problems: a snooty gossip girl; a sneering, racist bully with a tender secret; unending chores; elusive parents; unfulfilled creative talents; and the weight of keeping too many secrets. Though these multiple plots compete for attention, most are satisfactorily resolved. The summer ends on a positive note with the promise of a continuing friendship. Further context for the story is provided by the author's note, which explains her research and more of the history of the Chinese community's negotiation of race relations in the Jim Crow South.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)