Book Review of Where Am I From?
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The Children’s Book Review
Where Am I From?
Written by Jade Amez
Illustrated by Meg Rafferty
Ages: 4+ | 28 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published (2024) | ISBN: 9798990140011
What to Expect: Family, cultural diversity, identity, belonging, self-discovery, adoption, and Taiwanese culture.
This beautifully written and illustrated picture book offers both validation and hope to any and all readers who have ever felt their stomachs clench when asked where they’re from.
“Where are you from?” It’s a popular ice-breaker—but many people don’t realize just how difficult it can be to answer. It’s a question Jade always struggles with, because her identity spans continents, cultures, and ethnicities. Adopted from Taiwan into an interracial family by Midwest parents, Jade comes from many places and many people—and she’s experienced love and acceptance in many different forms. But how to explain to people that her identity cannot be packaged into a short and easy response to small talk? On each page of her story, Jade offers a different answer to this difficult and invasive question, challenging readers to recognize that identity and belonging come in many shapes and sizes.
Based on the author’s real-life experiences of international adoption, the story presents an adoptee who is curious, open-hearted, and honest about both the challenges and the rewards that her non-traditional origin story has brought her. Despite the rich detail that focuses on the complexity and diversity of her family history, the story’s emphasis is on belonging, acceptance, and shared kinship, helping readers understand that identity does not necessarily need to be defined by where you were born or what you look like.
The story relies heavily on visual elements, sometimes only revealing Jade’s struggles through subtle details in the illustration, so it is wonderful that those illustrations are vibrant and filled with first-person details that draw the reader into Jade’s own viewpoint and perspective on the world.
Poignant and joyful, Where Am I From? is a true celebration of what family can mean.
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About the Author
Jade Amez is an Asian-American children’s book author and proud Midwesterner. She loves fall for its vibrant colors and start of football season, measures distance in time, and is a big fan of cheese (but not a Cheese Head).
Growing up, Jade rarely saw books that featured adoption, mixed-race, or multicultural families. This inspired her to write stories that teach children that families come in all forms – you don’t have to look like everyone in your family to call them family. Her book introduces these topics in a way that’s more accessible for children who may not yet have the words to voice their own experiences.
When not writing, Jade can be found traveling the world, playing hockey or soccer with friends, or looking for a new food truck to try. She’s a huge fan of dumplings – the Xiao Long Baos from Din Tai Fung are a favorite – and she’d love to hear your suggestions for great dumpling restaurants. Just a fun fact: if you look closely at her children’s book, you may even spot a few hidden dumplings!
For more information, visit whereamifrombook.com
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