A.M. Dassu: I Wish I’d Written

A.M. Dassu chooses a book that’s an easy read, but which offers so much to discuss.

I think if there was one book I wish I’d written, it’d be Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai.

This wonderfully illustrated middle grade novel is about a Chinese family that migrates to Australia after their father dies, and their struggles to settle into their new country. Eleven-year-old Jingwen thinks he’s landed in an alien world, only to find that he’s the alien. He sees himself as an alien when he can’t communicate with his teacher or school friends in English and soon becomes weary of trying to fit in. The story shows him slowly overcoming his fears and grief and embracing the move like his little brother and mother have.

It’s a charming story in which food and cooking is used as comfort and a coping mechanism. Remy Lai writes about serious, life changing events in a humorous and light manner. I’m glad I read it after I’d written Boy, Everywhere, otherwise I may never have written it!

I love the balance of words and art, and the space on the page, making it an easy read. There’s so much to discuss too; belonging, starting again, bullying, annoying siblings, grief, the expectations of parents; all of which I also explore in my books – just not in as a hilarious way! It’s a really sweet, heartwarming book.

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai is published by Henry Holt, 978-1250314109.

A.M. Dassu’s new book, Wild Journey, is out now, published by Zephyr and illustrated by Joe Lillington, ‎ 978-1035911899, £12.99 pbk.