Flying the Dragon

When two cousin from estranged families are unexpectedly united, hard feelings and embarrassment keep them at odds–only by bonding over their shared interest in kite making and competitive kite fighting do they begin to accept one another.Plt;bPgt;NY Public LibraryP#8217;s 100 Titles for Reading and SharingPlt;/bPgt;Plt;brPgt;P#160;Plt;brPgt;Plt;bPgt;A young American girl grapples with her Japanese heritage in this P#8220;quiet, beautifully moving portrayal of a multicultural familyP#8221; for middle grade readers (Plt;iPgt;School Library JournalPlt;/iPgt;)Plt;/bPgt;Plt;brPgt;P#160;Plt;brPgt;American-born Skye is a good student and a star soccer player who never really gives any thought to the fact that her father is Japanese. Her cousin, Hiroshi, lives in Japan, and never really gives a thought to his uncleP#8217;s family living in the United States.Plt;brPgt;P#160;Plt;brPgt;Skye and HiroshiP#8217;s lives are thrown together when HiroshiP#8217;s family, with his grandfather (who is also his best friend), suddenly moves to the U.S. Now Skye doesnP#8217;t know who she is anymore: at school sheP#39;s suddenly too Japanese, but at home sheP#39;s not Japanese enough. Hiroshi has a hard time adjusting to life in a new culture, and resents SkyeP#8217;s intrusions on his time with Grandfather. Through all of this is woven HiroshiP#8217;s expertise, and SkyeP#8217;s growing interest in, kite making and competitive rokkaku kite flying.