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Straight to the Source

by K-Ming Chang

A school-paper investigation reopens old ties

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AlbakiReads Editorial

A school-paper investigation reopens old ties

Wendy Lin’s pursuit of a story about a fire that devastated an immigrant community draws her back into the orbit of Helen Ouyang, her former best friend and unresolved crush. The investigation links their strained relationship to a history neither girl has fully confronted, bringing together contemporary sapphic romance, family secrets, and questions of what a journalist uncovers—and why. Wendy’s ambitions at the school paper provide the framework for a story that reaches beyond high-school rivalries into the past of their families and community.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Teen and young adult readers interested in contemporary sapphic romance.
  • Readers who enjoy stories combining school journalism with family and community history.
  • Readers drawn to former-friends dynamics and unresolved romantic feelings.

Themes

Sapphic romanceFriendship and estrangementJournalism and investigationImmigrant community historyFamily secrets

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

I Kissed Shara Wheeler meets Last Night at the Telegraph Club in this stylish sapphic YA romance from the award-winning author of Bestiary.

Taiwanese American teen and aspiring journalist Wendy Lin wants nothing more than to witness the downfall of her personal nemesis, the annoyingly perfect high achiever Helen Ouyang.

Yep, Helen Ouyang. As in, Wendy's childhood best friend. Now most-decidedly-ex-best-friend. Perhaps, maybe, still her unrequited-crush-friend. After a falling out that may or may not have involved some simmering romantic feelings, the two haven't spoken in years, and Wendy has had to witness Helen's meteoric rise to high school success from the sidelines.

But not for long.

Chasing up a lead for the school paper, Wendy soon turns up a major story with Helen at its center--one involving a mysterious fire that destroyed a building and tore apart an immigrant community a decade earlier. Wendy investigates, certain she finally has the dirt she needs to bring Helen down. But when the girls reconnect, old feelings come rushing to the surface. . .and with them, long-buried skeletons in both girls' family closets.
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Customer reviews

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Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.