Tilted Sky

Gr 3-7–This English translation of a Chinese novel relates the story of 12-year-old Bai Jian as he and his father struggle with housing and food insecurity. Bai Jian’s father secures him a spot in an expensive boarding school so that he has a place to sleep and reliable meals. Bai Jian’s father is resentful, unreliable, angry, and abusive. His mother is mostly absent. Supporting characters include classmates, school faculty, and the romantic partners of Bai Jian’s father. While there is a compelling exploration of homelessness, much is ultimately unsuccessful. Significant time jumps, muddy plotting, and an adult tone make it difficult to get past the first chapters. Those who do continue will find on-page domestic violence and intense language far outside typical for middle grade books in the United States. The overall effect is a book written for adults from a child’s point of view, rather than one written with young readers in mind. This, paired with unclear messaging and a heavy burden on the main character in the final pages, means that this novel will struggle to find a good home in the vast majority of collections.