Volume 4, No. 1 (Fall 2000) -- Ellis Island/Immigration Issue

Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear
by Lensey Namioka. Little-Brown and Dell. 1992
4th-6th grade level

This warm, funny immigrant story shows what it is like to be an outsider in a new homeland. Yang and his family have immigrated from China to Seattle, where his father plays in the Seattle Symphony. Yang's story captures the bewilderment of the immigrant experience and the confusion about customs and language. There are also some poignant moments—the ache for home in China, the sting of prejudice, the wish to have musical talent. Unwillingly to let his father down, Yang and his new friend Matthew, concoct a scheme to save the family's face at an upcoming violin recital. Self-acceptance triumphs as Yingtao realizes that his baseball skills make up for having a terrible ear for music.

A growing friendship between Yang and Matthew helps the reader to explore cultural differences and the problems of adjustment to a new society. Yang invites his first American friend to his home after school where they discover fish in Yang's bathtub. Yang discovers some other differences including the order of names, how tea is brewed, talk about money, respect for elders, eating and talking. Black-and-white sketches illuminate each character. This multicultural story will have a broad appeal for young readers and would be great to read aloud in class.