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Title details for Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd by Lyla Lee - Available

Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd

#1 in series

by Lyla Lee
Shannon Tyo
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
This first book in a sparkling middle grade series "reminiscent of Ann M. Martin's Baby-Sitters Club books" (Kirkus Reviews) follows a young Korean American girl who starts a business with her best friends to support her artistic dreams.
Jiyoung "Gigi" Shin loves to create, from her zany outfits to self-executed haircuts. She dreams of becoming an artist and doodles every chance she gets—at school instead of taking notes, in choir instead of singing, and at home instead of homework. Art is her way of escaping her boring life in suburban Middle of Nowhere, Texas. Unfortunately, her working class, immigrant parents want her to focus on her studies and pursue something more "practical." Gigi only really feels like herself in art class and at lunch with her best friends, Carolina and Zeina.

When Gigi learns about an elite art camp on the east coast, she's determined to go. But she knows her parents won't let her, much less pay for it. After overhearing her little brother Tommy complain about how hard math is and how his teacher goes too fast for him, Gigi has a brilliant idea: forming a tutoring club with her friends to make enough money for the art camp.

With Carolina, Zeina, and Carolina's friend, Emma, the girls go all in, each with a reason for wanting the business to succeed. But the first few sessions with their classmates are a little chaotic, and Gigi wonders if she will end up sacrificing more than she bargained for to achieve her dreams.

  • Creators

  • Series

    Gigi Shin

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    March 5, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781797174235
      • File size: 106689 KB
      • Duration: 03:42:16

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      December 11, 2023
      Korean American seventh grader Jiyoung “Gigi” Shin, who lives in Bluebonnet, Tex., has big dreams of following in her aunt’s footsteps to become a renowned artist—even if her working-class parents would prefer that she take her math and science assignments more seriously (“Art is just an elective, so make sure to focus on your other, more important classes first”). When she learns about the Starscape Young Artists’ Program—a prestigious but expensive art camp on the East Coast where her idol, Korean American graphic novelist Christiana Moon, will be an instructor—Gigi schemes to raise money for the application fee and tuition. With her best friends Carolina Garcia, a Latinx video game enthusiast; hijabi Zeina Hassan, an aspiring picture book author; and book-smart Taiwanese American Emma Chen, Gigi forms tutoring club Ace Squad. But even though the girls initially work well together, Gigi struggles to balance running a new club, keeping her grades up, and emergent friendship troubles with Carolina. Via emphatically depicted character interactions, Lee (the Mindy Kim series) skillfully handles topics surrounding cooperation, financial anxiety, first crushes, and pursuing one’s goals in this sweet and wholesome new series. Ages 8–12. Agent: Penny Moore, Aevitas Creative Management.

    • School Library Journal

      April 1, 2024

      Gr 3-7-Lee's newest series introduces lively seventh grader Jiyoung "Gigi" Shin. Despite her Korean immigrant parents pushing for STEM success, Gigi's passion lies in art, particularly comics. Learning about the Starscape Young Artists' Program-a prestigious summer camp held next on NYU's campus-is both revelatory and discerning, the latter because of the hefty price tag. Also interested are Gigi's best friends, Latinx video game-maker Carolina and Muslim aspiring picture book creator Zeina, but tuition remains a barrier. Joined by Carolina's friend Emma, a fashion-forward Chinese American, the quartet form the Ace Squad, providing tutoring services. Misunderstandings are plenty-especially over cute-boy Paul-but more so are the resounding successes. Now the girls just need to get in. Tyo's crisply youthful voice adjusts effortlessly, distinguishing tweens and teens, younger brothers, older sisters, parents, and teachers. VERDICT With unfinished business cleverly left for future volumes, audiences will certainly appreciate Tyo's future continuity.

      Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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