Julia and Patrick become fast friends as they work on a science project together. Julia wants to do an all-American project, but Patrick wants to raise silkworms. They work through their challenges as they settle on a project. Several topics are discussed within the novel such as Julia’s mom being a racist, kids making fun of Julia’s Korean culture, and a conversation about “Animal Husbandry” being changed to “Animal Parentry”. 259 pgs, pb.
Julia Song and her friend Patrick would love to win a blue ribbon, maybe even two, at the state fair. They’ve always done projects together, and they work well as a team. This time, though, they’re having trouble coming up with just the right project. Then Julia’s mother offers a suggestion: They can raise silkworms, as she did when she was a girl in Korea.
Patrick thinks it’s a great idea. Of course there are obstacles—for example, where will they get mulberry leaves, the only thing silkworms eat?—but nothing they can’t handle.
Julia isn’t so sure. The club where kids do their projects is all about traditional American stuff, and raising silkworms just doesn’t fit in. Moreover, the author, Ms. Park, seems determined to make Julia’s life as complicated as possible, no matter how hard Julia tries to talk her out of it.
