First Love Language

Gr 9 Up–A lie spirals out of control as a teen balances first love with searching for who she is. Catie Carlson, who is biracial (white and Taiwanese), has felt disconnected from her culture since her parents divorced and she moved with her late father to the United States, losing contact with her birth mother. Now, Catie has to move with her white adoptive mother and stepsister, Mavis, to Salt Lake City, UT, where Catie and Mavis are dreading having to live with their aunt, who is a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Catie’s summer starts to look up after she gets her dream job at a salon and has a meet-cute moment with the salon owners’ son, Toby (who describes himself as Korean and “Blackanese.”) But a lie about having a boyfriend forces Catie into a tight spot: Toby will give Catie Mandarin lessons in exchange for dating lessons based on the book The Five Love Languages. As Catie’s lies pile up and her attraction to Toby grows, she has to decide if she should tell Toby the truth and risk of losing him and the culture she is finally beginning to reclaim. Catie and Toby’s growing relationship adds levity and sweetness to the story, balancing depictions of grief. Catie’s hesitancy to confide in her mother about relearning Mandarin and searching for Taiwanese relatives reflects a struggle that many transracial adoptees face when choosing to connect with their birth cultures. Her mother’s reaction and desire to support Catie, while admitting her insecurity around not knowing how to provide that support, is refreshing.