Morning Sun in Wuhan

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

Authentically capturing the panic in an ancient city as an historic pandemic takes hold, this vivid novel shows how a thirteen-year-old girl finds a way to help her community through her love of cooking Wuhan’s comforting and distinctive cuisine.

Weaving in the tastes and sounds of the historic city, Wuhan’s comforting and distinctive cuisine comes to life as the reader follows thirteen-year-old Mei who, through her love for cooking, makes a difference in her community. Written by an award-winning author originally from Wuhan. Grieving the death of her mother and an outcast at school, thirteen-year-old Mei finds solace in cooking and computer games. When her friend’s grandmother falls ill, Mei seeks out her father, a doctor, for help, and discovers the hospital is overcrowded. As the virus spreads, Mei finds herself alone in a locked-down city trying to find a way to help.Author Ying Chang Compestine draws on her own experiences growing up in Wuhan to illustrate that the darkest times can bring out the best in people, friendship can give one courage in frightening times, and most importantly, young people can make an impact on the world. Readers can follow Mei’s tantalizing recipes and cook them at home.

About the Author

Ying Chang Compestine is the former editor of Martha Stewart’s Body & Soul magazine and the author of fifteen books for adults and children. A native of Wuhan, she is the author of the acclaimed novel Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party, which chronicles her experience of growing up in China during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Visit her at www.yingc.com.