Maizy Chen's Last Chance

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

Packed with surprises, heart, and stories within stories, this irresistible novel from an award-winning author celebrates food, fortune, and family.

Welcome to the Golden Palace!

Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota . . . until now. Her mom’s plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and as Maizy spends more time in Last Chance (where she and her family are the only Asian Americans) and at the Golden Palace—the restaurant that’s been in her family for generations—she makes some discoveries. For instance:

You can tell a LOT about someone by the way they order food. And people can surprise you. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in disappointing ways.And the Golden Palace has secrets.

But the more Maizy discovers, the more questions she has. Like, why are her mom and her grandmother always fighting? Who are the people in the photographs on the office wall? And when she discovers that a beloved family treasure has gone missing—and someone has left a racist note—Maizy decides it’s time to find the answers.

“Heartfelt, personal, and real—this book is a gift.” —TAE KELLER, Newbery Medal–winning author of When You Trap a Tiger

Story Locale:Last Chance, Minnesota

About the Author

Lisa Yee is the award-winning author of Millicent Min, Girl Genius and many other books. Lisa is a third-generation Chinese American. She says, “I wrote Maizy Chen’s Last Chance as a tribute to my grandparents and to all the immigrants who made the journey to America.” Lisa divides her time between Massachusetts and Los Angeles. 

Author Residence: Los Angeles, CA and Northampton, MA

Author Hometown: Los Angeles, CA