Oliver Phommavanh, What About Thao?, Penguin Random House, August 2022, 224 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760897161
What about Thao? is the latest novel by best-selling author, Oliver Phommavanh, who has written much loved stories about kids’ experiences of cultural diversity, including Thai-riffic and Con-nerd. This story is about Thao who feels tentative to be moving from the city to a small country town and starting at a new school, especially because he’ll be the only kid of Asian background there.
Things get off to a good start with Thao’s family warmly welcomed by their new community. Thao feels well accepted at school and enjoys a new friendship with twins, Jess and Isaac. But when a new, very unhappy and abrasive kid from Syria, named Kadir, starts at the school, Thao finds himself with the daunting task of Kadir’s delegated buddy. Helping Kadir settle in proves even more challenging than Thao expected.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are likable and relatable and I love the insights into Thao’s struggles to reconcile self-interest with concern to help Kadir. The story itself is engaging and eventful and the camaraderie of the kids’ friendships is heart-warming. Thao’s and Kadir’s poetry are an added bonus.
It’s a story about community, friendship, belonging and the migrant experience, as well as facing fears and gaining confidence.
I recommend this book for 8-11 year olds, especially young ethnic diverse people who will easily connect with these authentic characters.
Reviewed by Barbara Swartz
