Author: Milly Lee
Illustrator: Yangsook Choi
Format: Paperback
Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1997

It is 1943, the last day of the school newspaper drive, and Nim and Garland Stephenson are tied for first place. Nim is proud to be helping the war effort, but she becomes even more determined to win after Garland steals some of her papers and taunts her: "This is an American war...and it's going to be an American who wins the contest...not some Chinese smarty-pants." American-born Nim decides to take a bold step to win the contest - leaving Chinatown to get papers from other neighborhoods. Doing so, she risks earning the disapproval of her honored Grandfather. This extremely well-written picture book addresses issues of immigration, prejudice, World War II, and traditional Chinese family values within the context of a wonderful, satisfying story. Choi's subtle paintings perfectly evoke the time and place.