"I have the gift of vision. It was given to me by my grandma, handed to me in a lotus seed, a pod that felt as big as my five-year-old hand." Lin is a young child when her grandmother, Obaachan, moves from Japan to live with her family. Obaachan is mysterious and distant, but shy Lin soon feels closer to her than anyone else. As Obaachan helps Lin discover her gift of second sight, Lin must figure out what these strange visions will mean for her and her family.
Summary Quiet, shy, Lin doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of her family: her older sister is fearless and outgoing; her Japanese mother is confident and no-nonsense; and her Irish-American father is boisterous and affectionate. Then, when Lin is five years old, her grandmother comes from Japan to live with the O’Neils, and the two immediately feel a profound connection. Like Lin, Obaachan has the gift of second sight, an ability that she helps Lin to develop through meditation and by contemplating the mysteries of Buddhism. As she grows up, Lin relies on the affection and wisdom of her grandmother, and this special relationship helps Lin to explore and control her special gift, understand her place in the universe, and blossom into the accomplished and caring young woman she is destined to be.
Topics Japanese Americans. Japanese culture. Family history. Family stories. The bombing of Hiroshima. Immigrants. Becoming an American. Racially mixed families. Grandmothers. Precognition. Visions. Vivid dreams. Meditation. Buddhism. Wisdom. Religion. Catholicism. Shyness. Introverts. Loneliness. Alienation. Sisters. Taking your own path. Maturation. Accepting change. Friendship. Courage. Risks. Helping others. Self-confidence. Time. Goodbyes. Death. Grief. History. Love. Communication. Self-awareness. Self-acceptance. Being grateful. Destiny.
SRC Level 3.500000
SRC Points 11.000000
Lexile 610L
Trim Size 5 1/2" x 8 1/4"
Language English
JLG Release Date Feb 2008
Minimum grade 9
Maximum grade 12
Reading level High
Format Print
Young Adult Plus (Grades 9 & Up)
Young Adult Plus
Young Adult Plus (Grades 9 & Up)
For Grades 9 & Up
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