Description
From acclaimed author E. L. Shen comes a sun-drenched, cinematic YA novel about three Asian American girls, their unbreakable bond, and one life-changing summer, perfect for fans of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
Best friends Jia Lee, Ariel Kim, and Everett Hoang are inseparable. But this summer, they won’t be together.
Everett, aspiring Broadway star, hopes to nab the lead role in an Ohio theater production, but soon realizes that talent and drive can only get her so far. Brainy Ariel is flying to San Francisco for a prestigious STEM scholarship, even though her heart is in South Korea, where her sister died last year. And stable, solid Jia will be home in Flushing, juggling her parents’ Chinatown restaurant, a cute new neighbor, and dreams for an uncertain future.
As the girls navigate heartbreaking surprises and shocking self-discoveries, they find that even though they’re physically apart, they are still mighty together.
About the Author
E. L. Shen is an author and editor whose family immigrated to Flushing, Queens, many years ago. She attended Barnard College of Columbia University and received a bachelor of arts in English with a concentration in creative writing. Her debut novel, The Comeback (Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2021), was a Junior Library Guild selection, received two starred reviews, and was praised in the New York Times for its “fast-paced prose, authentic dialogue, and high-spirited [protagonist].” The Queens of New York is her first book for teens. E. L. Shen lives in Brooklyn, New York. Learn more at elshenwrites.com.
Praise For…
“Smart, funny, but tender at times as well, The Queens of New York is a luminous read.” — Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries
"A heartfelt, skillfully wrought portrayal of friendship." — Kirkus Reviews
"Through alternating first-person narratives, Shen connects three Asian American leading ladies—inspired by the relationship with her own childhood best friends—with love. A heartfelt blend of female empowerment and friendship." — Booklist
"Via the vivacious trio’s alternating perspectives, Shen chronicles their tumultuous summers as they come into their own identities and learn how to get by without each other’s constant support. An eclectic mix of emails, text messages, and prose keeps the pace quick in this insightful story of grief, connection, and change." — Publishers Weekly
"It is the friendship here that is the real star, outshining not just parental pressures and systemic racism, but every other relationship, familial and romantic. Recommend this to readers seeking an updated “sisterhood” and a culturally sensitive celebration of friendship at its most enviable." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"This book is a love letter to female friendship, and how girls can show up for one another in a very organic and meaningful way." — School Library Journal