THE INVINCIBLE LIST OF LANI LI

Can a girl go outside her comfort zone to do something meaningful for her brother?

Thirteen-year-old Lani Li has a 10-year-old brother, Gavin; the six older siblings in their big Chinese American family always seem a bit separate from the two youngest Lis. Lani is excited to leave Provo, Utah, behind for her band trip to London. She’ll get to see a new country with her best friend, Sam Aina, who’s Hawaiian Māori Chinese, and get a little more attention from her parents, who are chaperoning (and bringing Gavin along). Her younger brother plans to compete in—and win—a 200-year-old race that involves chasing a wheel of cheese down a hill in Gloucestershire. When Gavin’s congenital heart condition, Tetralogy of Fallot, rears its head, he’s forced to stay home to recover with Dad, while Lani and Mom go to England. Gavin asks Lani to enter the cheese race in his place, but she isn’t sure she can do something so daring. She turns for help to the traditional Chinese stories that are beloved by her family. Phan’s playful illustrations as well as excerpts from the folktales Lani uses to guide her path break up the central narrative and complement the travel adventures. While some of the dialogue feels wooden, the story balances fun elements with more serious topics, like Gavin’s health, and the folktales help unify the various themes.

A thoughtful exploration of sibling bonds and the power of stories.