Lisa Yee

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance
by Lisa Yee

Twelve-year-old Maizy Chen has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota. But when her grandpa gets sick, Maizy and her mom head to Last Chance to help at the family’s restaurant, the Golden Palace. Maizy hasn’t seen her grandparents since she was 8, and she’s got questions! During one unforgettable summer, Maizy will learn about her family’s history and realize that people aren’t always what they seem.

About the Author:

Lisa Yee is a Newbery Honoree and National Book Award finalist for Maizy Chen’s Last Chance. She is also the author of over 21 books for young people, including the groundbreaking Millicent Min, Girl Genius; Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time; and the DC Super Hero Girls novel series. Lisa is a frequent contributor to NPR’s Books We Love. A third-generation Chinese American, Lisa divides her time between Western Massachusetts and Los Angeles.

Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee

NOLS Book Talk

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Additional Activities

Explore Cooking

Jen’s mom makes the granola they sell at the farmers market each weekend. Explore cooking with an adult in your life! Find recipes to try on CultureGrams, which has recipes from around the world, or check out a cookbook from NOLS!

Learn about Comics and Drawing

Jen loves comics and spends a lot of time drawing in her sketchbook. Take a drawing class—even one for illustrating comic books!—online through LinkedIn Learning, one of the Online Resources you have access to for free with your NOLS library card. Prefer to learn from a book? Check out a title from NOLS.

Visit a Farmers Market

Have you ever been to or worked at a farmers market like Jen? Plan a trip to a farmers market with your family to see what local farmers are growing and making. The Port Angeles Farmers Market runs year-round on Saturdays at the Gateway Transit Center in downtown Port Angeles. The Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market is every Saturday from May through October at the Sequim Civic Center Plaza.

About Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books is a book group for 4th graders, offered by NOLS in collaboration with schools in Clallam County. Students, including homeschool students, can sign up through their teachers to participate and receive a free copy of each book. From November through March, Library staff will hold book discussions with participating classrooms.