In the Beautiful Country

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

This emotional debut novel in verse, an Indie Next pick that was inspired by the author’s own experiences, is about a young Taiwanese girl who emigrates to America and finds a stark difference between her dreams and her reality.

Anna is counting the days until her family gets to move to America—the so-called beautiful country—though she’s only ever known life in Taiwan.But the beautiful country isn’t at all what Anna pictured. Her family can only afford a cramped one-bedroom apartment. Anna is bullied and lost at school because she doesn’t understand the new language. And the restaurant her father poured his savings into is struggling to stay afloat. Why is the version of America Anna and her family are experiencing anything but beautiful?This lyrical and emotionally nuanced story, perfect for fans of Inside Out and Back Again, is about the struggle to make a place for yourself in the world and what it truly means to have a home.

About the Author

Jane Kuo is a Chinese and Taiwanese American writer who grew up in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Jane’s debut novel, In the Beautiful Country, is a fictional story inspired by the weekends and summers she spent working in her family’s fast food restaurant. Please visit her online at janekuo.com.