A young teen searches for meaning after the loss of her father.Eight months after the sudden passing of her dad, 13-year-old Freya June Sun can't help but double down on following the Chinese superstitions that he taught her. She habitually searches for signs from Dad for guidance as friendship dynamics shift at school, tensions simmer between her mother and sister at home, and an orchestra competition looms. When Freya spies two red birds before her viola solo, she's convinced that it's a good-luck signal from Dad to continue with the instrument despite its becoming a growing source of anxiety. As she begins to come to terms with her grief, she's surprised to find support from her longtime nemesis, Korean American Gus Choi, and discovers a passion for baking as another means of connecting with memories of her father, who had a sweet tooth. Freya's internal struggle between pursuing the viola and her new interests may resonate with young readers who find themselves venturing beyond the perceived scope of parental expectations. Combining a dash of wholesome middle school romance, a generous helping of familial support, and a sprinkling of self-made luck, Shen serves up a realistic portrayal of the many ways that grief and healing can take shape in our lives.A hopeful and uplifting tale of loss, self-discovery, and the restorative powers of baking. (author's note, recipes) (Fiction. 10-14)

Thirteen-year-old Chinese American seventh grader Freya June Sun plays the viola in memory of her father, who died suddenly eight months ago. Having bonded with him over Chinese superstitions, Freya looks for signs—such as the two red birds she’s constantly seeing—whenever she doubts her desire or ability to continue playing. After being partnered with Korean American schoolmate Gus Choi, whom Freya dubs “the most annoying kid on the planet,” for a Cooking & Careers class project, Freya discovers an unexplored comfort in baking and, as she grows closer to Gus, makes a new and compassionate friend. As quiet and sensitive Freya struggles to manage increasingly frequent anxiety attacks, she also gains a deeper understanding of her newly single mother and finds an unlikely supporter and trusted confidant in her older sister. With endearing narration and quick pacing, this gentle meditation on grief and healing by Shen (The Comeback) carefully balances heavier moments of fraught emotion and high-stress situations with Freya’s sweet memories of her father and her growing appreciation for her new life without him. Includes recipes. Ages 10–14. Agent: Marietta Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Jan.)