Parachutes

 Shirley J.                YA Fiction                    The practice of wealthy Chinese parents "dropping' their children off in America with relatives, friends or families willing to take them in for money to get an education in the United States.

Parachutes by Kelly Yang    496 pages

When I read this book, this was the first time I had heard of this practice.  Since reading it I have learned that this is a pretty common practice and while it is not condoned by the U. S. Government, it still happens.   In this story, a rich Chinese woman feigning a B&B vacation with her daughter "drops" her daughter off with the struggling single mom and her over-achiever academic daughter who seem to be running the B&B but need the money and agree to take Claire under their wing.   Claire is distraught at the prospect of leaving her priviliged life to have to attend highschool in America, have to learn the language and have to live in adequate but meager conditions compared to home.  Claire finds there is actually a small group of other "parachutes" at the highschool and in the community she is now living in.  Dani De La Cruz, the daughter of the woman who took Claire in, is not amused with Claire's constant complaining and talk of all she had at home.   Dani is all about studying and trying to better the lives of her mother and herself through gaining a good education.   So much happens, and it is really a good story introducing the uninformed to a whole secret side of life going on that few are aware of.   I recommend this book to middle schoolers on up.