In a follow-up to The Year of the Book (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012), Anna Wang is worried about her baby sister Kaylee, recently adopted from China, who isn't gaining weight. When she isn't worrying about Kaylee or about finding a science project for class, Anna enjoys her friendships with Laura and Camille. These elements merge when the girls devise a science experiment charting Kaylee's food intake with the hypothesis that she will eat more when they are singing to her than when they are not. This story about family and friendship also examines racism in an age-appropriate manner. Anna isn't sure how she feels when Laura says that she looks just like Kaylee-is it simply because they are both Chinese? When Laura's mom thinks all Asian people are smart, Anna wonders how this makes Camille, who is Chinese and struggles in school, feel. These small moments of questioning, tension, and forgiveness combine with the larger arc of the baby-centric science project, resulting in a fresh and engaging story. (Ages 7-10)

Last year, Anna learned how to be a good friend. Now that her family has adopted a baby girl from China, she wants to learn how to be a good sister. But the new year proves challenging when the doctor warns that the baby isn't thriving. Can Anna and her best friends, Laura and Camille, create a science project that saves the day? In this heartwarming sequel to The Year of the Book, readers will be just as moved by Anna's devotion to her new sister as they will be inspired by her loving family and lasting friendships.