Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards by Susan Tan, author of the APALA Literature Honor-winning Cilla Lee-Jenkins series, is a rollicking, otherworldly middle-grade adventure.
Being the new kid is never easy, but it's much worse when your first day of school is in October. Twelve-year-old Mo Lin worries she'll "stick out--everyone's already gotten to know each other, and the building, and the teachers, and everything." She quickly realizes "there [are] no friends here" after a boy makes slanted-eyelid gestures at her in the classroom and her first cafeteria encounter ends with "you're living in the old dump with the weird old Asian guy."
Mo's new home is indeed next to the old town junkyard. That "aging Chinese hippie" is her (great-)Uncle Ray, who's welcomed Mo, five-year-old sister CeCe, and their mother into his house after a devastating divorce. Mom seems lost in her depression after Mo's stepdad abandoned the family. For now, Uncle Ray is the only reliable adult in Mo's life; sharing his love of music provides a soothing balm to Mo's distress. There's also a town legend about an elephant ghost.... This could be scary, but it might just be the distraction Mo needs--especially since new friend Nathaniel is practically a paranormal expert.
Mo's challenges are many, but Tan deftly, realistically includes unexpected kindness and surprising allyship (librarians rule!), which help clear the many stumbling blocks. Tan dexterously navigates resonating topics--anxiety, grief, family dynamics, racism--with patient empathy and gentle humor. --Terry Hong, BookDragon