Anna Wang struggles to understand the other kids in her fourth-grade class. She understands books and hides in them, but she needs to learn how to make and keep friends. Andrea Cheng's first book in her Anna Wang series introduces you to the charming Chinese-American Anna and her family. 

I would have loved Anna when I was a kid. She looks for answers about how to be a better friend and how to fit in despite her differences, and her insights would have helped me to be a better person too. As she grows through the series (or the first 4 books, anyway), she learns more about what it is to be a good friend and how important it is to hold on to the things that make you special. 

The Year of the Book is followed by The Year of the Baby, The Year of the Fortune Cookie, and The Year of the Three Sisters, and each book has a delightful story as well as ideas for crafts or food. There are recipes for fortune cookies and craft ideas that Anna and her friends (spoiler! she does learn to make friends) do. 

Through life changes, family issues, and school, Anna learns how to face her fears and move forward through uncertainties. And she does it with grace, honesty, intelligence, and charm. This is a delightful series for young girls and for the young at heart. Highly recommended! I hope Cheng keeps taking us through the years with Anna Wang.