Emily Out of Focus

Written by Miriam Spitzer Franklin

A journey to China reveals secrets and tests a young girl's sense of family and identity.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 212 ratings

240 pages· 46,367 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

$15.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Twelve-year-old Emily travels to China with her parents to adopt a baby sister, but feels overshadowed by the new arrival. In a foreign land, she befriends Katherine, a Chinese-American girl on a quest to find her birth mother. As Emily grapples with her changing family dynamics, she must decide whether to help Katherine in her search. Will Emily find her own place in this new family, or will the journey leave her feeling more alone than ever? Discover the challenges and secrets that await in this heartfelt tale of identity and belonging.

From the publisher

From the author of Extraordinary and Call Me Sunflower, Emily Out of Focus is a warm and winning exploration of the complexity of family, friendship, and identity that readers will love. Twelve-year-old Emily is flying with her parents to China to adopt and bring home a new baby sister. She’s excited but nervous to travel across the world and very aware that this trip will change her entire life. And the cracks are already starting to show the moment they reach the hotel–her parents are all about the new baby and have no interest in exploring. In the adoption trip group, Emily meets Katherine, a Chinese-American girl whose family has returned to China to adopt a second child. The girls eventually become friends and Katherine reveals a secret: she’s determined to find her birth mother, and she wants Emily’s help. New country, new family, new responsibilities–it’s all a lot to handle, and Emily has never felt more alone.

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