“No story starts at the beginning,”
—epigraph from Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee
With book-club style discussions, a Zoom visit from the author, and workshops ranging from “Build a {Giant} Bear,” to “Kid Immigrants: The Facts” to “General Who? Cooking Chinese American,” fourth and fifth graders immersed themselves in the world of Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, the Newbery Honor-winning book by Lisa Yee that was the basis for One Book Day this year. Faculty from almost every department, as well as two retired teachers and one parent, ran 26 unique workshops, all inspired by the book—the story of a Chinese American girl who discovers that her grandparents’ restaurant is full of secrets and history. The Saint Ann’s kitchen provided a special lunch of Chinese dumplings and a German-Chinese fusion dish (read the book to learn why!), which helped make the day, run jointly by the library and the Lower Middle School office, an experience involving all five senses. Thanks to all who participated—especially the fourth and fifth graders—for their knowledge, love, and enthusiasm on Thursday, February 27!
