Finally Heard (Finally Seen #2)

by Kelly Yang (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Finally Seen

From the New York Times bestselling author of Front Desk comes the sequel to Finally Seen in which Lina gets a phone and tries to navigate social media, only to discover not everything online is what it seems.

When ten-year-old Lina Gao sees her mom's video on social media take off, she's captivated by the potential to be seen and heard! Maybe online she can finally find the confidence she craves. Whereas in real life she's growing so fast, she feels like microwave popcorn, bursting out of her skin! With the help of her two best friends, Carla and Finn, and her little sister, Millie, Lina sets off to go viral.

Except there's a lot more to social media than Lina ever imagined, like:

1. Seeing inside her classmates' lives! Is she really the only person on the planet who doesn't have a walk-in closet?

2. Group chats! Disappearing videos! What is everyone talking about in the secret chats? And how can she join?

3. A bazillion stories about what to eat, wear, and put on her face. Could they all be telling the truth?

Everyone sounds so sure of what they're saying! As Lina descends deeper and deeper into social media, it will take all her strength to break free from the likes and find the courage to be her authentic self in this fast-paced world.

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Kirkus

This highly anticipated sequel delivers less heart and more education.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 4-6--Lina Gao of Finally Seen is back in Yang's latest novel, learning to find her voice amid new technology and pubescent self-esteem struggles. Lina's mom is hoping to grow her small bath bomb business with the help of a social media influencer--until she discovers the cost. Encouraged by her daughters, Mrs. Gao creates her own simple, heartfelt video, which quickly garners a wave of positive attention. Lina, despite feeling uncomfortable in her changing body, flexes her creative muscles and, with the help of her best buds, begins creating social media promotion videos for her mom and other struggling small businesses. Things are going great until Lina's mom hands over her phone (and unfettered social media access) to Lina permanently. Yang's novel posits the Internet as the great equalizer, in ways both good and bad. On the plus side, it allows small businesses to spread the word about their products freely, and one's creative visions can be realized with a few taps on a screen. Conversely, kids and grown-ups alike struggle with misinformation, trolls, insecurity, addiction, and scams. In addition to offering plenty of food for thought in her characters' choices, Yang smartly employs Lina's teacher as a conduit for sharing information about the effects of social media on the brain. The lesson learned is how to make healthier technology choices rather than abstaining from it entirely. VERDICT A recommended first purchase that tackles tweenhood and technology woes head-on.--Lindsay Loup

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Kelly Yang
Kelly Yang is the New York Times bestselling author of Front Desk (winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Children's Literature), Three Keys, Room to Dream, Key Player, Top Story, Parachutes, Private Label, Yes We Will, New from Here, Finally Seen, and Finally Heard. Front Desk also won the Parents' Choice Gold Medal, was the 2019 Global Read Aloud, and has earned numerous other honors including being named a best book of the year by The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and NPR. Learn more at KellyYang.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781665947930
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date
February 27, 2024
Series
Finally Seen
BISAC categories
JUV039090 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | New Experience
JUV049000 - Juvenile Fiction | Computers & Digital Media
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Social media
Chinese Americans
Novels
Self-actualization

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