Cilla Lee-Jenkins is 50% Chinese, 50% Caucasian, and 100% destined for literary greatness! In this middle grade novel, she shares stories about a new sibling, being biracial, and her destiny as a future author extraordinaire.
“Heartwarming and poignant! Meeting Cilla felt like making a new best friend.” —Grace Lin, bestselling author of Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and National Book Award finalist When the Sea Turned to Silver
Priscilla "Cilla" Lee-Jenkins is on a tight deadline. Her baby sister is about to be born, and Cilla needs to become a bestselling author before her family forgets all about her. So she writes about what she knows best—herself! And Cilla has a lot to write about: How did she deal with being bald until the age of five? How did she overcome her struggles with reading? How do family traditions with Grandma and Granpa Jenkins differ from family traditions with her Chinese grandparents, Nai Nai and Ye Ye?
Written by Susan Tan and illustrated by Dana Wolfekotte, Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire is a novel bursting with love and humor, as told through a bright, irresistible biracial protagonist who will win your heart and make you laugh.
Don't miss the sequel!
Cilla Lee-Jenkins: This Book Is a Classic
Praise for Cilla-Lee Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire:
"This story has everything. An irresistible voice, a cast of authentic characters, a hilarious and whip-smart heroine. Also . . . some spectacular baldness and TIME TRAVEL! Cilla Lee-Jenkins is brilliant. Her struggles may seem ordinary, but they’re also extraordinary, exquisite, and very very important." —Kate Beasley, author of Gertie's Leap to Greatness
“Cilla’s empathy, candor, and skill at turning a phrase indicates that her claim to be a future author extraordinaire is completely justified . . . Anyone who spends time with Cilla Lee-Jenkins will look forward to reading her in the future.” —Booklist, starred review
“[Cilla Lee-Jenkins] is 50% Chinese, 50% Caucasian and I think 100% wonderful . . . I suspect young readers will want to reach into the pages and hug her!” —Rachel Renee Russell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dork Diaries, for Omnivoracious.com
“Cilla Lee-Jenkins is the kind of book you can’t wait to share. There’s humor and heartache, and future writers of all kinds will see themselves in Cilla. But above all, this is a book just bursting with love.” —Kate Milford, New York Times bestselling author of Greenglass House
“I challenge anyone to read this book and not fall in love with Cilla Lee-Jenkins. With the spunk of Ivy and Bean and the heart of Ramona Quimby, she’s a charmer from start to finish of this laugh-out-loud-funny book.” —I. W. Gregorio, author of None of the Above
“Cilla’s liveliness, vulnerability, and thoughtfulness make her an endearing and entertaining narrator.” —Horn Book
“Tan, who grew up in a mixed-race family, does a lovely job of showing how Cilla finds joy in both sides of her heritage.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Tan writes in a fun and spunky voice that brings to mind favorite characters such as Junie B. Jones, Ramona Quimby, and Fancy Nancy but is still all her own . . . Readers will identify with Cilla and wish they were friends with her in real life.” —School Library Journal