GIGI SHIN, LIVE FROM MANHATTAN

The second installment of Gigi Shin’s story brings her to New York City for a summer art camp.

Seventh grade is over, and Gigi’s tutoring club has raised enough money for the four tutors to travel to New York City for Starscape, a summer program for the arts. Gigi is understandably excited: She’ll be together with her friends, learning from her favorite graphic novelist, Christiana Moon, and seeing her aunt Yeji. Unfortunately, Gigi ends up assigned to a different dorm from her friends, and Aunt Yeji keeps flaking on their plans. Even worse, Gigi’s graphic novel class is overwhelming, and Christiana Moon is critical and dismissive of both her artwork and her ideas. Gigi perseveres, however, thanks to her indominable spirit and support from friends, family, and new boyfriend Paul, and she still finds joy in the exhilarating experience of being independent in New York City—from eating pizza to finding inspiration at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She also grows as an artist with help from children’s author Mr. Hernandez, another teacher mentor, and Sohee, her South Korean roommate, who becomes a new friend. Gigi blossoms, overcoming setbacks with determination and grace. This concise story moves quickly, keeping pages turning. Gigi’s and Paul’s Korean heritage are cued subtly, and the friends’ varied ethnic and economic backgrounds were previously established.

A worthy sequel in which the protagonist matures and flourishes in an exciting urban atmosphere.