OUTSIDER KIDS: A Parachute Kids Graphic Novel, by Betty C. Tang, Graphix, April 15, 2025, Paperback, $14.99 (ages 9-12)
A spoiled cousin could upend the lives of three undocumented siblings in Outsider Kids, in the sequel to Parachute Kids, by Betty C. Tang.
After seven months on their own as undocumented immigrants, the Lin siblings have settled into their new lives in California. Sis has a new job, Bro has a new crush, and Feng-Li (Ann) is excited to celebrate her eleventh birthday with her new friends. Their parents still await visa approval in Taiwan, so the trio is trying to take better care of one another and stay under the radar of immigration authorities.
But when their cousin Josephine―a violin prodigy―arrives with her privilege and demands, suddenly their world is turned upside down. Will they have to give up the life and the stability they worked so hard to achieve? —Synopsis provided by Graphix
Outsider Kids is an excellent sequel to Parachute Kids, which is, in turn, an excellent graphic novel. Though you technically could read Outsider Kids without reading its predecessor, they should be read together.
The term parachute kids refers to children who have been “dropped off” in a foreign country while their parents stay in the home country. The idea is that these kids will gain a better education and a promising future by coming to America.
Outsider Kids explores “all the raw emotions of what can happen to newcomers after their arrival.” It’s a continuation of the conversation “about the fate of undocumented immigrants and the fragility of their lives,” author Betty C. Tang says in her author’s note. Each situation is nuanced and the slightest thing can cause stress and uproot lives.
Tang herself was a parachute kid, and while not autobiographical, both books draw from her own experiences. Trang utilizes humor and heart throughout her text and illustrations, drawing readers in with emotion. Her detailed illustrations are full of energy. And her spot-on pacing makes you want to keep reading.
Outsider Kids is a fantastic graphic novel that will appeal to a lot of kids. My own daughter has read it at least four times.
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