• Maizy Chen's Last Chance

  • By: Lisa Yee
  • Narrated by: Yu-Li Alice Shen
  • Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (41 ratings)

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Maizy Chen's Last Chance  By  cover art

Maizy Chen's Last Chance

By: Lisa Yee
Narrated by: Yu-Li Alice Shen
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Publisher's summary

NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE

Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family’s Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
School Library JournalBooklist • The Horn Book • New York Public Library

Welcome to the Golden Palace!

Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota . . . until now. Her mom’s plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and as Maizy spends more time in Last Chance and at the Golden Palace—the restaurant that’s been in her family for generations—she makes some discoveries. For instance:

  • You can tell a LOT about someone by the way they order food.
  • People can surprise you. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in disappointing ways.
  • And the Golden Palace has secrets...

But the more Maizy discovers, the more questions she has. Like, why are her mom and her grandmother always fighting? Who are the people in the photographs on the office wall? And when she discovers that a beloved family treasure has gone missing—and someone has left a racist note—Maizy decides it’s time to find the answers.

©2022 Lisa Yee (P)2022 Listening Library

Critic reviews

★ “Lisa Yee combines neglected U.S. history and multi-generational family legends… to create the delightful and enlightening Maizy Chen's Last Chance.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review

★ “A moving, multilayered family narrative.” —Booklist, starred review

★ “Captivating... and prompts readers to consider what it means to be American.” —The Horn Book, starred review

What listeners say about Maizy Chen's Last Chance

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Enjoyable and Interesting

This is a good book with relatable characters. The sun plot of the past adds depth and pulls it all together.

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So Good!

This is a great middle-school novel! I was required to read it for a grad school course, and it is one of my favorites. Yee does a great job incorporating historical elements into the storyline. Warning: You will probably cry.

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Excellent story!

Maizy is a very likable and intelligent character. Her story, and the story of her family is interwoven with historical facts about Chinese individuals who came to settle in America. The history was fascinating, and the story would make a great read for kids, because of this background information and the themes of loyalty, friendship, prejudice, and family.

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  • Overall
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Brilliant

Lisa Yee is an incredible author.
Anxious to read her next book. This book kept me captivated throughout.

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so sad and great I cried

so memorable and good.I cried.I thought that Logan and maizy would get together.I over all loved it.

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The city stood out to me the most

I love this whole story line and all the characters.!
I also like all the description the story hade. 

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Loved this story

Exceptional story and voice of a Chinese American perspective and the bigotry and racism that is faced everyday. It’s also a story of love and joy and family.

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Wonderful story

Mazy is a relatable character. She visits MN as her Grandfather is dying. She learns of her family heritage back to the Transcontinental Railroad. We’ll worth the read!

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